Planeta Chardonnay 2000 - Sicily, Italy

Golden yellow in the glass. The nose goes to the tropical side with pineapple, guava and ripe peach. A touch of butterscotch from the development. This Chardonnay is now fully mature, with a full bodied palate coming across with the shape of a Meursault. Grapefruit acidity balances the weight on the finish and holds the mouthfeel in place. Drink up!

92 Points

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