I spent a lot more time at this year’s wine show chatting with fellow tasters about the wines and old times than usual! As a result, I ended up tasting a smaller selection than normal for this year’s report. No doubt I have missed out on some great wines and you will therefore not see them on my lists below.
My ticket was for Thursday night which includes the special selections table of about 30 top flight wines. Below are my top wines (♥♥+ and ♥♥♥) from the general selections available at all the tasting sessions.
Shottesbrooke Estate Series McLaren Vale Shiraz, Australia ($23.83) ♥♥♥ – fab
Shottesbrooke Discovery Series Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia ($18.83) ♥♥+ – wonderful aroma
Chateau Pesquie Terrasses White, France ($19.98) ♥♥+ cherry
Avalon Chardonnay, USA ($21.96) ♥♥+
Domaine des Gominet Pouilly Fume, France ($38.16) ♥♥+
Thelema Shiraz, South Africa ($26.52) ♥♥+ elegant, lovely
Montipagano Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy ($17.99) ♥♥+
Outlot Chardonnay, USA ($29.97) ♥♥♥ – absolutely lovely
Domaine La Forchetiere Muscadet, France ($17.73) ♥♥+
The special selections table mainly featured red and white wines from Bordeaux, but a handful of other place – South Africa, Italy, Chile, and the US + Port – rounded out the offerings. For brevity I have listed only my top-top selections (♥♥♥).
Chateau Cos d’Estournel Blanc 2006, Bordeaux ($167.62) ♥♥♥ – sets the standard!
Chateau de Fieuzal Blanc 2010, Bordeaux ($59.87) ♥♥♥ – nearly as good as the Cos at 1/3rd the price
Chateau La Lagune 2010, Bordeaux ($120.09) ♥♥♥ – big sweet fruit
Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2013, Bordeaux ($93.99) ♥♥♥ – beautiful nose, good balance, needs time
Chateau Cos Labory 2008, Bordeaux ($62.07) ♥♥♥
Chateau Lafon-Rochet 2010, Bordeaux ($90.57) ♥♥♥ – excellent, under the radar
Thelema Estate Rabelais 2013, South Africa ($66.50) ♥♥♥ – excellent
Croft Vintage Port 2007, Portugal ($55.96 for 375ml) ♥♥♥
Delaforce Fintage Port 2000, Portugal ($53.92 for 375ml) ♥♥♥ – wonderful developed fruit
On Friday evening of the show, P&S hosted a wine tasting dinner at the Delta. The event featured a reception tidbit followed by four courses and desert – each accompanied by some of their great wines on offering at the wine show. The meal was top-drawer, and its quality was matched with some exceptional wines. Once again I have listed by top choices.
Flor the Penalva Black Label 2015, Portugal ($19.00) ♥♥+ – great value
Grainha Reserva Tinto 2014, Portugal ($38.00) ♥♥+
Campo Largo Baga 2013, Portugal ($37.00) ♥♥♥ – big fruit and structure, luscious full body
Susana Balbo Signature Malbec 2016, Argentina ($40.00) ♥♥+ – big fresh fruit
Susana Balbo Benmarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Argentina ($30.00) ♥♥+ – bright and lively
D’Iatra 2014, Spain ($42.00) ♥♥♥ – reminded me of the fabulous Priorats of the past; a bargain
We enjoyed our last virtual tasting so much we had to do it again – a great excuse to pull out some wines a little more special than normal, particularly the sweets, which are rare without (real) company. And then we combine this with a chat about the wines (and other things) with our wine […]
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We had been interested in setting a date for a dinner and tasting with our two close-by friends, but it was derailed by the recent omicron surge! Instead, we arranged to dine separately, but using the same wine selection, and then connect on Zoom over the dessert wine and discuss the wines, and the match […]
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Steve Delaney
November 29, 2018
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, USA
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