2004 Ernie Els Limited Release (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
62% Cab Sauv, 24% Merlot with the other 3 red Bdx grapes making the balance. A gift from a close family friend and a really impressive wine that I reckon could hold its own against a lot of top young Bordeaux. Deep purple colour, packed with rich dark fruited flavours, cassis, coal smoke, earth and well integrated oak on the nose and palate. Very ripe and concentrated but quite well balanced with chewy tannins and surprising acidity underneath the fruit. Long, savoury finish.
2001 C.H. Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese
Drinking very nicely now with a surprisingly advanced nose showing intense petrol and smoky elements over pear and green apple fruit and softer floral notes emerging with air. Very light and gentle in the mouth with a polished texture and flavours of green apple, guava and lemon curd over softer smoky and mineral notes, lots of acidity here with barely perceptible sweetness.
2005 Dönnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Spätlese
I'm stunned at how well this is drinking right now (although from a very cold cellar) - lots of bright fruit ranging from citrus and apples to mandarin orange and yellow plums and a bed of rocks underneath. There's an incredible precision and lightness to the flavours and a finish that just keeps expanding and seems to keep going on and on. Wow. (So far my favourite 05 Spatlese from Donnhoff, which is saying something given how amazing the whole collection was)
2000 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie
Stunning aromatics of blood, leather, violets and earth over gentle red and dark fruited flavours - this is a wine I could have kept smelling all day. The flavours aren't as developed in the mouth with the cherry and plum fruit more dominant and the earth and sauvage elements taking a back seat. Very polished, silken texture with fine tannins and bright acidity. Yum.
N.V. Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve
Served on board Singapore Airlines. A 19 hour flight becomes so much more fun when you've got a good wine to drink.
Light gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles. Smoky, yeasty nose with toast and biscuit flavours over citrus and pear fruit and hints of hazelnut and almond. There's a lovely creamy richness in the mouth with the almond and hazelnut flavours more prominent over the fruit and biscuit notes and good acidity underneath. Very enjoyable.2001 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese
Fantastic once again. Still very primary and young but really wonderful with a seamless combination of ripe apple and lime fruit, slate, flowers, honey and vanilla. There's a lovely creaminess in the mouth that gives it an almost pillowy mouthfeel and bright acidity underneath. Incredibly long, expansive finish that leaves streaks of slate-infused limes in the mouth. Not bad for a shabby unstarred wine.
2007 Kurt Darting Ungsteiner Herrenberg Scheurebe Beerenauslese
This is fun! Typically insane Scheu aromatics with loads of mango, pineapple, sage and flowers drenched in honey and spices. Ridiculous in the mouth with just about every ripe tropical fruit imaginable (durian excepted!) with honey, sage and other herbal and spicy flavours underneath and an incredible length and persistence to the flavours. I love the Darting sweet wines - and as usual this is a ridiculous value.
