All wines tasted double blind.
NV Solessance Rosé, JM Sélèque
A nice, low key start with this Rosé, with 3 gr sugar and 2016 as the base wine. It is light and fresh with notes of red currants, gravel and hints of wild strawberries.
The taste is cool and nice with notes of red currants, lingonberries, grapefruit and gravel. Very dry. I think that this would have faired well with a sligthly higher dosage.
87p (tasted 2019/03)
2016 Maía, Siddüra
A Vermentino from Sardinia, of course I nailed this one... The nose is finely tuned, light and aromatic with notes of lemon peel, cement, licorice and lots of fine flowers. Elegant.
The taste is cool and stony with notes of gravel, lemon peel and dried flowers. A fine acidity. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2019/03)
2017 Cascaï, Château Ferrylacombe
Another Vermentino, this time from Provence where its called Rolle. This is a lovely wine, with a young, perky nose with notes of grass, ripe pears, minerals and elderberries. On its toes. Very fine.
The taste is young, tight and finely scented with notes of grey pears, minerals, quinine and white currants. Long and refined.
91p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Haynes Vineyard Chardonnay, Failla
Four wines were then poured and the consensus were Chardonnay. Even a blind hen... But for some wines we had them pegged as Burgundian. But no...
The first one sports a cool, smoky nose with notes of lemon cream, white flowers and butter cookies. Very, very good.
The taste is lightly smoky, balanced and fine with notes of smoke, lemon cream, dried flowers and melon. A hint of warmth in the end. Very fine.
91p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 The Vanguard Chardonnay, The Hilt
The next wine sports a deep, interesting nose with notes of birch leaves, almonds, smoke and tangerines. Very, very good.
The taste is young, sporty and smoky with a fine acidity and notes of lemon cream, oranges, smoke and dry toffee. Long and very fine.
91p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay Four, Liquid Farm
Aaaah, what a wine. The nose soars up from the glass with gorgeous notes of white flowers, cold butter, chalk and almond paste. A high, intense and captivating nose.
The taste is handsome, balanced and fine with notes of white peach, salt caramel, dried up vanilla ice cream and a hint of smoke. Complex. Still young. Great wine.
94p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Santa Maria Hills Bien Bien Chardonny, Liquid Farm
The other Liquid Farm is almost as good. The nose is deep and smoky with notes of lemon cream, undergrowth, dried pineapple and grass. Very fine.
The taste is creamy and fine with notes of dried pineapple, lemon cream, smoke and chrushed rocks. Long, juicy and perky.
93p (tasted 2019/03)
2010 Serinae, Anthony Parent
This Vin de Pays deliveres a maturing, rustic nose with notes of red beets, iron, bakelite and ripening blueberries. Upfront and very good.
The taste is tighter and younger feeling than the nose leads on. Fine notes of ink, blueberries and plums. Long and dry. Very, very good.
89p (tasted 2019/03)
2010 Santa Rita Hills Melville Vineyard Syrah, Ojai
A deep, fine nose with a cool warmth and notes of red currants, dry licorice, fir wood and dried flowers. Refined. Some chalky scents.
The taste is concentrated and fine with notes of iron, blueberries, violets and dried flowers. Very long and elegant. A hint of maturity. Racy.
93p (tasted 2019/03)
2010 Griffins Lair Syrah, Pax
In contrast to the recently tasted train wreck from Pax, this was really fine. The nose is deep and sweet with notes of iodine, ripe plums, bakelite and rubber. Very, very good.
The taste is very tight and concentrated with notes of iron, scorched earth, diesel and ripe plums. Very long. There is lots going on here and most of it is good.
90p (tasted 2019/03)
2012 In The Rocks Syrah, Reynvaan
The 2010 was a revelation a couple of months back, and the 2012 follow suit. The nose is a dream with a lovely meaty aroma combined with freshly grounded black pepper, leather, ripe blueberries and ink. Very deep and refined.
The taste is elegant and multi layered with notes of violet pastilles, dried plums, peppered meat and forest floor. A very fine acidity. A purebred.
94p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Liquid Farm
Another stunner from Liquid Farm! The Pinot offers up a deep, barnyardy nose with notes of dark roses, damp earth, root vegetables and ripe wild raspberries. A lovely sweetness.
The taste is refined and racy with a very fine acidity and notes of warm tiles, ripe red currants, earth and beet roots. Long and lingering. Very handsome.
94p (tasted 2019/03)
2016 Le Clos St Vincent, Vin de Bellet
This Folle Noir based wine shows a medium bodied, nice nose with notes of asphalt, dried herbs and a mix of assorted red and blue berries. Very good but a tad anonymous.
The taste is high spirited with notes of red currants, cherry pips, gravel and some peppery notes. A fine, light finish. Very good.
87p (tasted 2019/03)
2012 Old Garden Mourvédre, Hewitson
This Barossa Mourvédre (from the oldest Mourvédre vineyard on earth, planted in 1853) displays a spicy, open, flirty nose with notes of vanilla cooked fruit, hot asphalt, grilled meat and warm herbs. A kind of in-your-face wine but it also has a balance. Very, very good.
The taste is big and steady with notes of plums, scorched earth, grilled herbs and a some tobacco flavours. Also warm tiles. Long. Highly likeable.
89p (tasted 2019/03)
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