2022 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Frog’s Leap

 

2022 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Frog’s Leap

A finely tuned, cool nose with notes of black currants, new leather, cigarette smoke and a hint of green bell pepper.

The taste is tight and refined with notes of black currants, plums, tobacco and mocca. A long, balanced, dry finish. Very fine. 5+ years.

93p   (tasted 2026/04)

2015 Château Mancèdre

2015 Château Mancèdre

This Pessac-Léognan turned out a big surprise. I had never heard about the Châteaux and hence never tasted its wines. The 2015 displays a beautiful, somewhat mature nose with notes of plums, dried flowers, chocolate biscuits and coffee. Very fine.

The taste is medium bodied, refined and long with notes of black currants, cold coffee and a fine peppery note. A very fine dry finish. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

I need to hunt down more vintages of Château Mancrède.

93p   (tasted 2026/04)

2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis, Roccheviberti

2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis, Roccheviberti

A favourite producer of mine, Claudio makes great wines (see notes from my two visits to the cantina below). The 2015 Bricco Boschis offers up a very deep, layered nose with notes of ripe black cherries, shoepolish, tobacco and autumn Langhe earth. Very, very fine.

The taste is broad and taut with notes of cherry pips, licorice, tobacco, Beautiful stern tannins. Very long. Great wine. 6+ years.

96p   (tasted 2026/04)

My two visits to Roccheviberti:

Barolista: A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - Visits To Roccheviberti & Monchiero

Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visit To Roccheviberti

2021 Dry Red Wine No 1, Yarra Yerring

2021 Dry Red Wine No1, Yarra Yerring

An open, gorgeous nose with notes of plums, sweet violets, ripe black currants, iron and a touch of tapenade. Deep and complex.

The taste is tight and concentrated with luscious black fruit, polished tannins and additional notes of chocolate biscuits, mint and iron. Very long.

A tasting sample from The Wineagency.

95p   (tasted 2026/04)

2022 Barbera d´Alba Carrà, Cascina Penna-Currado

2022 Barbera d´Alba Carrà, Cascina Penna-Currado

Right out of the gate this shows of a hedonistic and complex nose, with notes of a mix of ripe rasp- and blueberries, bonfire smoke, cured meat and licorice en masse. Just lovely.

The taste is rich and intense with stunning fruit, a piercing acidity and a long, long, lingering finish. Tasted at Grandi Langhe last year with the same impression.

94p   (tasted 2026/04)

Tasting Through The Sortiment Of Ward Wines

Last week I tasted through some of Ward Wines sortiment at Magnusson Fine Wines. These were my highlights.

Whites:

2023 Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Le Clos Reyssier, Georges Duboeuf

A pure, racy nose with notes of grass and wet cement. 

The taste is young and tight with fine yellow fruit and a fresh acidity.

91p   (tasted 2026/03)

2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Plateau Blanc, Château Mont-Redon

A deep, layered nose with notes of ripe oranges, fudge and a hint of oak.

The taste is broad and lively with notes of orange juice, ripe flowers and white raisins.

93p   (tasted 2026/03)

Reds:

2019 Corton Les Grandes Lolières, Domaine Leflaive

A very handsome, old school Pinot nose with decadent, sweet red fruit, red beets and fresh herbs.

The taste is seamless and intense with gorgeous fruit, a cleansing acidity and a long, long finish.

95p   (tasted 2026/03)

2019 Hermitage Les Bessard, Delas Frères

A deep, meaty nose with notes of rubber, blackberries and saw dust.

The taste is taut and rich with notes of black pepper, dried meat and violets.

92p   (tasted 2026/03)

2021 Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione, Marchesi Antinori

A low keyed, elegant nose with notes of sour cherries, tobacco and rosemary.

The taste is high and refined with fine cherry fruit and silky tannins.

91p   (tasted 2026/03)

2022 Guado al Tasso, Marchesi Antinori

A dense, restrained nose with notes of hard cherry candy, undergrowth and leather. 

The taste is tight and seedy with a fine structure, ripe cherry fruit and a long, warm finish.

92p   (tasted 2026/03)

2018 Valtellina Superiore Vigna Fracia Valgella, Nino Negri

A finely tuned, high nose with notes of sweet/sour cherries, gravel and dry licorice.

The taste is structured and pure with lovely dark cherries, licorice and fir wood.

91p   (tasted 2026/03)

2020 Valtellina Superiore Vigna Sassorosso, Nino Negri

A very deep, refined nose with notes of ripe red apples, dried cherries and warm tiles.

The taste is high and intense with racy fruit, polished tannins and a minute long finish.

93p   (tasted 2026/03)

Three Times Bordeaux

2005 Château La Bridane

This Saint Julien offers up a cool, somewhat mature nose with notes of red and black currants, shoe cream, almond paste and autumn leaves. Very, very good.

The taste is dry and structured with still perky tannins, dried black currant fruit and a long, warm finish.

89p   (tasted 2005/04)

1999 Château La Serre

This needed some time to open up, but then displayed a warm, soft nose with notes of leather, plums, sugared coffee and a hint of green bell peppers.

The taste is elegant and mature with notes of damsons, sun warm gravel and forest floor. A medium long, low keyd finish.

87p   (tasted 2026/04)

1996 Château Cissac

A very fine, mature nose with notes of freezedried coffee, fresh stables, expensive leather and sweet black currants. A poster child for a mature Bordeaux. Lovely.

The taste is round and refined with a very fine structure and balance, notes of dried black currants, tiles and sandelwood. A long, dry finish. Very fine.

92p   (tasted 2026/04)

Lunch Tasting With Wines From Gran Clos

I was invited by Vinunic to meet Xavier Benas from Gran Clos at Agnes, who served a great lunch (as usual).

2023 Gran Clos Blanc

A large scaled, smoky, perfumed nose with notes of ripe peach, matchbox and grilled lemons. A fine salty touch.

The taste is open and smoky with fine yellow fruit, a matching acidity and a long finish.

88p   (tasted 2026/03)

2022 Finca el Puig

A tad restrained nose with notes of damsons, dusty earth, blackberries and a light peppery note.

The taste is young and tight with peppery black fruit, a fine warmth and a long finish with a nice bitter touch. Needs a couple of years in the cellar.

89p   (tasted 2026/03)

2019 Finca el Puig

From magnum. The 2019 offers up a smoky, earth filled nose with notes of red apple skin, dried blueberries and hints of diesel. Very, very good.

The taste is warm and seedy with notes of dried black fruit, smoke and scorched earth. A tad dry on the finish.

88p   (tasted 2026/03)

2013 Finca el Puig

From magnum. A deep, spicy nose with notes of ripe blue- and blackberries, vintage leather and scorched earth. Very fine.

The taste is warm and creamy with notes of asphalt, dried up blackberry jam and sun warm gravel. The finish is long and structured. Some maturity. Lovely.

92p   (tasted 2026/03)

2019 Cornas Terres Brulées, Domaine Colombo

2019 Cornas Terres Brulées, Domaine Colombo

A young, warm nose with notes of ripening blackberries, asphalt and freshly chrushed black pepper. Very good but a tad anonymous.

The taste is cool and iron filled with notes of blueberries, dried flowers and dusty earth. A fine acidity. Still young, 4+ years.

88p   (tasted 2026/03)

Six Malbec Bottles

I taste Malbec to seldom. These were poured by Mikke at our latest tasting group meeting. No one was close to pinpoint these as Malbec dominated wines.

2021 Alberto, Bodega Noemia

A young, forward nose with notes of hot earth, bakelite and some peppery black fruit. Very nice.

The taste is upfront and fruity with notes of tobacco and asphalt. A tad short.

87p   (tasted 2026/03)

2016 Volare Del Camino, Viticultores de Gualtallary

A herb filled nose with additional notes of leather, dusty earth and dark raspberries. Very, very good.

The taste is structured and fine with notes of herbs, undergrowth and dried raspberries. A very fine warmth.

90p   (tasted 2026/03)

2014 Colomé, Hess Family

A deep, warm nose with notes of bonfire smoke, dried meat, red beets and undergrowth. Very fine.

The taste is firm and peppery with a very fine structure, balance and focus. Lovely sweet fruit.

93p   (tasted 2026/03)

2013 Finca Piedra Infinita, Zuccardi

A deep, lightly oaky nose with notes of red bell peppers, blueberries, scorched earth and dried meat. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and peppery with notes of ginger bread, asphalt and balsamic vinegar. Very long.

90p   (tasted 2026/03)

2007 Malbec Viña Fausto Orellana de Escobar, Trapiche

A finely tuned Bx look-a-like nose with notes of leather, dried black currants, stables and forest floor. Lovely.

The taste is cool and slightly mature with notes of dried black fruit, leather and asphalt. Silky tannins.

91p   (tasted 2026/03)

2007 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard, Catena Zapata

A deep, velvety nose with notes of blackberries, dried meat, bakelite and dark chocolate. Very fine.

The taste is taut and restrained with notes of scorched earth, chocolate wafers and dark flowers. A long, seedy finish.

92p   (tasted 2026/03)