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It is a tough job - but somebody has to taste these wines!

Thanks - as I think is probably obvious from my presentations I really found these an interesting set of wines, really enjoyable, but challenging my perception of the Chablis region.

I wouldn't try to suggest this is in the same league as Vinedo Chadwick, but I did think it showed what I've seen with the wines of Los Vascos, Luis Philippe Edwards and others. Namely that at this entry level, Chilean Cabernet Sauvignons show distinct varietal character and offer decent drinking at a good price. i guess it is a sign of a top winery if they can excel at every quality level.

Indeed, in some ways completely atypical, however what I was trying to say is that the steeliness is still there, just overlaid by richness.

My memories of Penfolds wines in the 1990s involves selling them in Oddbins (remember them?). Bin 28 Shiraz at £4.99 a bottle and Grange 1982 going up from £21.99 to £24.99. prices have indeed risen a little since then!

@@winesearcher I do remember Oddbins, and also Threshers and Winerack.

No I didn't think so - if the pH is good these SO2 levels should be OK to protect it - the lees will have protected it during elevage. There certainly wasn't the cider-like note that some less successful natural wines can exhibit.

I think that is also a fair point - the 89 is an aggregation of Critic's scores so could be being pulled down as a result of the wine being atypical for Chablis. I certainly felt this wine was of a higher quality than that aggregation indicated.

This one significantly exceeded my expectations, but i've certainly always enjoyed their Meysonniers Crozes Hermitage which has always seemed good quality at a surprisingly reasonable price.

I thought a really well made wine.

@@winesearcher absolutely, could pay a lot more for much less well made SB from NZ

Indeed - hopefully it will ensure greater consistency in the way the aged product matures. I note from some brief googling that the first Scewcap trials for bin 389 took place with the 1996 vintage, so the producer has quite a bit of experience with the closure now.

Thank you for you very kind remarks - Indeed, the wine has impressive minerality, citrus fruit and 30 months on lees. To an extent this is probably an acquired taste - but one well worth acquiring. Our next couple of reviews will be of two of their reds.

Quite correct we have dealt with this issue on the newer videos. If you want to listen to these older videos be sure to turn up the volume not just on the computer/device but also on UA-cam, where there is a speaker symbol on the bottom left of the video. If you haven't done that already it might well help.

I didn't see any of the waxy/oily notes, possibly because they are likely to be bottle development characteristics and this is perhaps a little young for them to develop.

Clearly a decent wine and one that seems likely to have a long life if you have the patience to keep it.

Good question. I would give at least an hour, but almost certainly the longer the better. Young Amarones like this would benefit from decanting and often taste better if you come back to them the next day. Their concentration and rich alcohol means they are not going to fall apart if you give them too much oxygen. So I guess I'm really saying 3-4 hrs ideally.

It is going to be a great event, but we have plenty more Pinot Noirs to try before then!

Thank you for saying so!

Thank you - I'm always quite impressed with Bin 28, however I do long for the days of selling it for GBP 4.99 at Oddbins in the early 1990s.

@@winesearcher Amazing times. Just another quick observation. I agree with you about waiting so long to open a bottle. Sure, some wines need it but a lot of wine is fine after just a few years, especially when partnered with food.

The ideal of course is to buy 6-12 bottles and drink it over a period of time that way you see how it develops and changes.

Not a bad tasting at all!

Thankfully I'm past the sleeping baby stage. Sorry - I'm not actually whispering, in fact I am speaking up and using a microphone - I've since found that if you record on an iPhone you need to boost the volume before posting your videos. If you watch any of the Penfolds videos we are publishing this week you will see the volume on those is much higher, the only answer for this on though is to increase the volume both on your device and on UA-cam.

Thank you!

Indeed - I can remember starting my visit here with the Guidalberto and just thinking wow, and this is just the start!

Thank you - alas this particular wine is no more, but there are producers doing the variety some justice.

If I'm honest I'm not the biggest fan of Mencia as a grape variety, but this is clearly a well-made, concentrated wine with character. I have huge respect for winemakers who are finding these parcels of old vines and working with them - people like Alvaro, like Fernando Mora and Norrel Robertson. There are still gems in France in places like Rousillon and the Minervious, witness Anne Gros and Jean Paul Tollot for instance or Clos de Fees and Boire de Maurel

@@winesearcher Completely agree and I don't want to come off as a Spanish only fanboy. Rousillon is doing great stuff and it's a region I love. There's a lot of good value stuff in Italy too but you need a helping hand. When I started my wine journey 40 years ago I loved single variety southern French stuff like Minervious and Corbieres and I still do.

I guess though, the prices for wines from Rousillon etc have risen, I think I am more likely to look to Spain for sensational pricing.

If you like rich hedonistic styles it is difficult to go wrong with Denis Durantou's wines - I'm confident you will enjoy them

I have to say I'm interested by the Exhibition Series Chardonnay, It seems to be priced between the Estate Chardonnay and the Village wines. The back label I've seen claims it comes from a plot adjacent to Mate's Vineyard, so I'm not sure where that would be. So I'm not aware of having tasted it. Speaking to Michael & Paul Brajkovich on Monday though, they suggest their wines are best with 5-6 yrs bottle age, while we were mostly concentrating on the Estate and single-vineyard wines I'd think 5 years might be a good point, especially as they are two really good vintages.

​@@winesearcherThanks, David. Very helpful.

I have bought two bottles of the Wine Society's 150 Kumeu River. It is a 2019 special bottling: almost equal parts Maté's and Coddington. A bit pricey but probably better value than equivalent quality from Burgundy. The recommended drinking window goes out to 2034, although I might open the first one next year for my 70th. Cheers.

Thanks, I have to admit to being a big Kumeu River fan!

I agree, though most wines compare favorably with Burgundy in terms of prices these days. You are correct that is Schloss Johannisburg in the poster, I hope Lufthansa appreciate us promoting them like this! I would love to look at a set of their wines, alas they don't seem to be distibuted in New Zealand at present so i may need to see if I can pick something up next time I am in the UK

Wonderful freshness the hallmark of Mosel Riesling, but here with wonderful concentration and complexity as well - delicious.

Our pleasure!

Thanks for your kind words, I have really enjoyed tasting these wines - This in particular was superb.

Thank you for the feedback, a subtle difference, but one I will try and keep in mind for the future.