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Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reds: The Flamboyant 2014s and the Structured 2013s (Apr 2016)

Vivid ruby. Intense red and dark berry aromas are complemented by peppery spice, garrigue and floral pastille notes. Sappy and precise on the palate, offering concentrated, vivacious black raspberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors. Supple, harmonious tannins build steadily on the very long, seamless finish, which leaves behind lavender and juicy dark berry notes.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Weathers the Challenges and Changes (Oct 2021)

Shimmering ruby-red. Expansive red fruit preserve, lavender and allspice scents show excellent clarity and pick up a hint of incense with air. Gently chewy and energetic on the palate, offering alluringly sweet cherry, black raspberry and spicecake flavors that flesh out steadily on the back half. Shows impressive depth but comes off lively, finishing extremely…

’16 vs. ’15 Northern Rhône: Heads You Win, Tails You Win (Apr 2018)

Opaque ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, potpourri and smoky minerals, backed by an earthy olive note. Rich, palate-staining black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors are complicated by building spice and mineral notes that expand with air. Closes on a youthfully tannic note, showing excellent clarity and mineral-driven persistence and…

A Janus with Soul: Figeac 1943–2016 (Dec 2021)

The 1990 Figeac has been variable over the years, perhaps some bottles showing some brettanomyces? My last bottle was definitely one of the best. Deep in colour, it has a very expressive Cabernet component. Black truffle, Earl grey and cigar humidor scents gain momentum in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, a little leathery on…

1982 Bordeaux, 20 Years On (Jul 2002)

Full red. Initially cool aromas of cherry, blackberry, minerals, iron and menthol; an initial musty note dissipated with aeration. Sweet, supple and layered, with a deeply spicy cabernet component. Lovely ripe acids give clarity to the very rich flavors. Finishes with superb firmness and persistence. An excellent vintage for Figeac. Drink between 2005 and 2020.

2000, 1999 and 1998 Bordeaux (May 2001)

Dark ruby. Superripe, oaky aromas of raw blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. More concentrated than most recent vintages of this wine; not yet complex, but ripe, solid and well-made. The chocolatey quality carries through on the palate and aftertaste.