2004 André Perret Condrieu Chery
Beautiful aromatics - perfumed florality, exotic spice and ripe apricot and tropical fruits combining into a lovely fragrance that's hard to move away from. This conveys flavour with a sense of power and weight without ever feeling too heavy or ponderous; perfectly balanced and drinking superbly now.
2001 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I wish more CdP tasted like this. Layers of rich red fruits, fresh herbs and spices and savoury earthiness combining seamlessly into a polished, medium weight whole. Everything's in great balance here, and it's drinking very well right now though I expect this has years ahead of it with the structure, fruit and balance to age superbly.
1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert
Fantastic stuff, combining black olives, iron, bloody and meaty notes into a seamless, fragrant whole. There's a real polish and finesse to the flavours, bright acidity beneath with the tannins mostly resolved and this is drinking amazingly well with the fruit still fresh but complemented by classic mature Northern Rhone flavours. Great wine.
2007 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot
Double decanted and enjoyed over a few hours; incredibly youthful but so compelling with an incredible fragrance of violets, black pepper, wild meatiness and fresh Syrah fruit. There's a sense of real finesse and polish here; flavour conveyed with a lightness and elegance I'd look for in a top Burgundy. An amazing wine (that I do not own enough of) and I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops.