Chateau Palmer 1961 - Margaux, France

The colour remains firm, inky purple with a dark center. I have previously rated the 1983 as one of the greatest Palmer's tasted in my lifetime. The 1961 eclipses the 83 with depth, complexity and sheer class which is not a easy statement to make. Aromas, changing at time intervals, range from cedar, new leather, heavily smoked meat, dried mushroom and crushed woody herbs. On the palate, the wine has reached the peak of maturity, balance is nothing short of perfection. Full bodied and decadent, the weight and pure openness of this Cabernet can only be admired and applauded. Truly, one of the most memorable and incredible wines I have tasted to date.

100 points

Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso 1998 - Bolgheri, Italy

A dark purple fading to brick red on the outer rim. The nose pulls you into the glass with deep dark fruit, blackberry and mocha, seasoned spicy oak and some floral notes. A fully mature wine, with a brilliant silky mouthfeel, flesh, earth and length. One might mistake this for a Napa Cabernet in a blind tasting.

94 Points

Tua Rita Redigaffi 1999 - Tuscany, Italy

The Redigaffi 1999 shows almost no colour development and remains a very vibrant dark purple. The nose is very fruit forward with blackberry conserve, rich melted vanilla/chcolate and candied mint. I was quite surprised at the slow the evolution for the 1999, all the primary fruit is still on display with medium-high tannin still present. For a wine at 10+ years, there is no sign of the wine unlocking. My advice would be forget about this for another 10 years and then take a look at what might be Italy's greatest Merlot for the vintage. A$325/bottle

96 Points

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1971 - Piedmont, Italy

When initially poured, the wine looked very light, Burgundy like. This was a tasting glass before the wine was decanted. Once decanted and into regular glasses, the 1971 showed dark, very dark purple with no light escaping the pitch black center. The nose is extremely powerful, with deep concentrated notes of black fruit and crushed cherry, truffle, new leather and forest floor. I can not begin to explain the power the 71 still caries at 40+ years of age. Nothing short of breathtaking. Followers that have this wine in their possession, give another 10 years of cellaring as the tannin has not fully shed from this monster Barolo. Sounds unbelievable but certainly true, the wine has years left until maturity is reached. This Conterno will reach perfection in the future.

100 Points

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1982 - Piedmont, Italy

The colour is murky, faded cherry red with maroon to lightly brownish edges. The nose is pretty, powerful, mysterious and alluring all in one that still does not sum up how amazing this wine smells. Over a 2-3 hour time frame aromas moved from cherry and many spices, to leather and prune onwards to mint/eucalyptus upwards to coffee beans and coconut and spiked dates. The wine is at optimum drinking age, all edges are fully softened in this Barolo and all that remains is a decadent, full flavoured wine that has superb length, astounding complexity and surreal balance. Enough said, the first 100 point wine for the Wine Grail.

100 Points

Dom Perignon Oenetheque 1995 - Champagne, France

Pale Shining gold. Aromas lead with ripe peach, dough and flour and a gentle smokiness. Simply amazing intensity of flavour, perhaps the most wonderfully persistent Champagne I have ever tasted. The bakery flavours on the front of the palate lead into a very fine acid on the finish with length that can be admired long after the wine is swallowed. Pure sparkling bliss. A$450/bottle

99 Points

Dom Perignon 2000 - Champagne, France

Golden lemon colour in the glass. The nose is a wonderful mix of toasted brioche, fresh fig, apple and candied lemon. Such a mouth filling champagne all the way across the palate with no complaints on any aspect of this wine. The depth and weight initially makes you think seriously about all the complexities of Dom Perignon and then the wine rushes for the back palate and dances with freshness and vibrancy. This wine has not moved much from the primary flavours on release. A magic Champagne. A$250/bottle

98 points

Bollinger La Grande Annee Rose 2004 - Champagne, France

Bright deep red with a gentle bead. Straight away the nose leans towards a top Burgundy with cherries and savoury, meaty aromas. The palate is quite thick, deep and complicated with layers of toast, cream and red berries. After all the flesh and interest in the middle the wine comes out the end with a bright freshness and lightness with pure and beautiful acidity. A$150/bottle

96 Points

Jean-Paul Mollet Pouilly Fume 2010 - Loire, France

Another water like appearance with a slight golden shine on the edges. This wine is wonderfully floral with lychee, fresh green pepper and asparagus aromas. A nice texture with honeycomb in the center and a bone dry finish drawing the saliva from the palate. A great aperitif white. A$25/bottle

89 Points

La Promese Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2010 - Loire, France

Water like appearance. Fresh aromas of lemon peel, flint and talc powder. This wine is youthful and citrus packed with tropical fruit flavours, almost heading towards a New Zealand style. The mineral drive reminds of origin. A$18/bottle

84 Points

Chateau Labatut Cuvee Prestige 2009 - Bordeaux, France

Light cherry red colour in the glass. Aromas of burnt earth, peppercorn spice and red fruit. The palate has typical Cabernet Franc lightness, with similar red fruit flavours as with the nose.  Tart,  mouth puckering acidity to finish. A$14/bottle

79 Points

Chateau Roques Mauriac Grand Vin 2009 - Bordeaux, France

Dark inky blue colour. Dried cocoa, hung cured meats wrap around some choc-cherry aromas. The palate is juicy at first but leads into some youthful, drying tannin. Another 3-4 years in bottle should yield a much more pleasant wine. Certainly excellent value and worth seeking out to drink over the next few years. A$17/bottle

86 Points

Cien Y Pico Dobble Pasta 2008 - Mahora, Spain

Bright vibrant purple in the glass. The nose jumps out with blueberry, sweet vanilla and lashings of cinnamon. The palate is medium bodied with a peppery red fruit flavour spectrum leading into very drying tannin on the finish. I am not positive this wine will balance out in the future unfortunately. A$25/bottle

85 Points

Chateau Chateau Columns Grenache 2007 - Barossa Valley, Australia

The colour is seriously light, the only other Grenache I have seen at this lightness versus richness is the Chateau Rayas which commands a much higher price. The nose has some sweet oak, dry earth and some minty chocolate aromas. On initial tasting, the wine has an incredible richness, almost fortified like in texture. It makes one look twice at the colour again. The ending backs away from the richness and goes to an elegant, spicy acid drive that carries the flavour all the way. One of the most powerful Grenache wines I have tasted from Australia. A$70/bottle

95 Points

Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir 1996 - Gippsland, Australia

Followers note this wine was served from a half bottle (375ml).

Pale brick red with signature cloudy maroon appearance. The nose is very complex and detailed, taking a few minutes to draw from the glass. Violets, wet oak, stewed mushroom and sour cherry to list a few of the many aromas. The wine floods forward on the palate with layers of fruit and spice leading to a very long finish with tart acidity in check. The wine is drinking now but if followers have this vintage in regular 750ml bottles, I would hang on for another 5-7 years. Certainly a very fine Pinot Noir capable of standing next to top Burgundies in my eyes.

96 Points

Chateau Latour 1981 - Pauillac, France

Followers should note this bottle was in impeccable condition. Since release stored in a temperature controlled cellar not being moved once from slumber.

Colour starting to fade away to a red brick with maroon flashes. The nose leads with new leather and interesting spice which gives way to a core of coffee bean and wild berry. The palate is just drying a touch but a great frame and certainly a wonderful wine remains. Impeccable length and complexity on the palate and the wine is drinking now with more power visible 5 years earlier. 

95 Points

Chateau Latour 1975 - Pauillac, France

Followers should note this bottle was in impeccable condition. Since release stored in a temperature controlled cellar not being moved once from slumber.

Colour remains dark with slightly faded edges. The nose is absolutely faultless, Cabernet at the highest level of purity. Dark forest fruits wind into leather, cured meat and burnt coffee. Perfect drinking age has been reached making this 1975 a rare treat of balance, length and a super fine finish.

This wine along with the 1981 tasted on the same evening, concreted my opinion that the consistency of Chateau Latour in the First Growth line up is unmatched.

98 Points