Vitteaut-Alberti Blanc de Blancs NV Crémant de Bourgogne: 16 points. Drink 2008-09
A little appley, but there is some development here and interest too. Not painful to drink. Well sourced! Not bone dry, but easy to serve to a large party.

Wine Spectator skriver bl.a. som flg: A firm, fresh red, with a smoky baseline and balanced flavors of black cherry, damson plum, violet, polished oak and spice. This is structured by bright acidity and chewy tannins that come to the fore on the finish....

Jancis Robinson skriver bl.a. som flg: Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta. Aged in 100% new barriques. Very dark, impenetrable ruby, with broader violet rim. Brooding, dark sweet fruit with hint of smoke. A touch alcoholic perhaps. Notes of liquorice and dried date. Signature Allegrini acidity and powerful tannins, which are not yet integrated. The wine is struggling a little with the alcohol on the finish, but will settle with age. Very long, powerful finish..... 

Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "...The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi is a seductive Barbaresco endowed with superb purity and definition in its dark red fruit. Texturally brilliant and refined, the Brich Ronchi impresses for its fabulous concentration and........ remarkable finesse. There is a weightless elegance to the Bric Ronchi........."

Gambero Rosso skrev bl.a.: ".....deliciously crunchy, with spice and dried rose petals preceeding a caressing palate that is also self-confident and cleanly tannic......".

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.: "....A picture of elegance, this exudes rose, strawberry, raspberry and spice flavors......... chewy texture as it cruises to a long finish. Medium-weight, vibrant and harmonious......"

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.: ".... Pale, youthful ruby. Backward, but with focused red fruit and ripeness. Has lots of class, despite the slightly astringent tannins and will need much more time..."

Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: ".....Rocca’s 2007 Barbaresco bursts from the glass with generous dark red fruit, licorice, new leather, mint and spices. ..........Barbaresco possesses terrific balance and a warm, open personality that makes it an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. The round, harmonious............. impossible to resist a second taste. This is a superb effort from proprietor Angelo Rocca".

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.: ".......pale, mature ruby. Brooding and quite backward on the palate. Shows great balance and very fine, ongoing waves of tannin. Will need at least some years to open up"

Gambero rosso skrev bl.a.: "..... The Rocca's fine hand with the 07 vintage continues apace with a dense, approachable Barbaresco '07...".

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.: ".....Though smooth and charming this red shows the unmistakable licorice, tar and cherry flavors of Nebbiolo. This is round, featuring a hint of oak spice and tannins embedded in its ample flesh........... with licorice and spice.

Wine spectator skrev bl.a.: "Perfumed and aromatic, with fresh ripe strawberry and toasty oak. Full-bodied.......chewy tannins and loads of wood and jammy fruit. Powerful......needs time".

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.: "...Dark crimson. Very serious and high toned. Thick with vegetation scents. Looks very exciting....hint of rose petal"

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "The 2005 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra emerges from the glass with endless layers of sweet spices, menthol, violets and dark fruit on a powerful, authoritative frame. This is a beautifully defined, sculpted wine of the very highest level. Tar, smoke and licorice linger on the finish. The tannins are massive at this stage, and the wine needs time, but the 2005 is undoubtedly one of the stars of the vintage".

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "The 2007 Barolo Marenca boasts tons of richness and depth. Beautiful, well-delineated aromatics are woven throughout a core of expressive, racy fruit, adding lift and freshness. The Marenca is usually the biggest of the Baroli here, and the 2007..................is also beautifully balanced. Waves of fruit build effortlessly to the pulsating finish".

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.: "Very dark blackish ruby.........smells warm and round. Tastes all-enveloping. No pain! But no faults such as flashy sweetness nor oakiness nor excess alcohol. Very well done..........Such length and completeness. Very clean and admirable".

Gambero Rosso skrev bl.a.: ".....Margheria 06 is more tannic (end Marenca 2006), severe and closed, but all signs are for a superb, long and lovely life.....".

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.: "A beautiful Barolo, rich and saturated with black cherry, blackberry, spice and mineral flavors. This is elegant, yet shows a solid masculinity that provides a firm structure for aging. Hints of licorice and tar emerge on the long finish..."

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "The 2006 Barolo Margheria is an imposing, weighty wine packed with dark red fruit, scorched earth, spices and licorice. Though still impressively clenched and tight, the Margheria seems to have enough fruit to balance out its structural components..............the wine is remarkable for its sheer power and length, both of which augur well for the future".

Gambero Rosso skrev bl.a.: "...The excellent Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata opens with tobacco, raspberry andcinchona, leading to good thrust, close-knit tannins and superb length..........".

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.: "....supple and laced with cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco flavors, this red is graceful and lithe. There are ample tannins to keep this structured and potentially long-lived...........".

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.: ".........Light ruby with orange tinge. Restrained herbal nose, tealeaves, and notes of orange peel.................youthful, taut, lingering, with massive tannin but well balanced".

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "The 2006 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata reveals the grace of a ballerina. Sweet, silky tannins support an expressive, fragrant core of fruit. The inner perfume, bright-toned red fruit and floral notes...............they come together with unusual elegance and finesse. The finish is long and impeccably pure. Despite the wine’s early approachability, the Rocche appears to have the structure and freshness to develop quite nicely over the coming years".

Wine Spectator Skrev bl.a.: "This ripe red shows a licorice tinge to its cherry, raspberry and spice flavors. Generous and slightly chewy, with firms tannins..............".

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "Mauro Veglio's straight Barolo is once again lovely in 2007. A graceful, effortless wine, the Barolo shows gorgeous depth...........approachable style that defines the essence of La Morra. Red berries, flowers and licorice are woven together nicely all the way through to the inviting, satisfying finish.......... a great value and also a beautiful wine to enjoy right out of the gate.........".

Wine Advocate skrev bl.a.: "........2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a big, powerful wine packed with black cherries, smoke, tar, leather and licorice. This is a fairly intense, brooding Brunello that needs further time in bottle, but the depth of the fruit and the expressiveness of the bouquet suggest a bright future..........."

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.: "...... tobacco, tar, leather and dried cherry aromas and flavors mark this Brunello, ............ sweet and tannic, the two components playing off each other through the finish. This has excellent harmony and a long aftertaste....."

Robert Parker skrev bl.a.:

"...The dark, ruggedly built, rustic, angular 2005 exhibits an impressively saturated color along with aromas of charcoal smoke and black fruits..."

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Shows blackberry, treacle tart and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, with wonderful vanilla, berry and milk chocolate character, followed by a long finish. Needs time to develop. Best after 2010. 10,000 cases made."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"Very dark. Pretty ripe – borderline brett. Very sweet, black cherry aromas but fleshy and hedonistic with the tannins reasonably mature and fresh. Good wine in modern idiom."

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.:

"Offers blackberry and black licorice on the nose, turning to light jam. Full-bodied, with lovely, silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Beautiful and refined"

Robert Parker fra Wine Advocate skrev:

"...this sensational sleeper of the vintage is not far off the pace of Gloria’s brilliant 2005. Sweet cedary, cigar box, roasted herb, and black currant fruit aromas are followed by a lush, full-bodied, textured, concentrated wine. A steal in today’s marketplace, this is a gorgeous St.-Julien to enjoy now and over the next 15+ years. Good value."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"Still impressive. Rich and heady. Wonderfully velvet texture. Pretty classic Pauillac. No shortage of fine tannins on the finish and this is not a forward wine but has great integrity. Classic ripe vintage rendition of Pauillac. A bargain?"

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Crushed berries and sweet tobacco, with hints of mineral and cigar box. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and good fruity character. Straightforward and friendly. Best after 2009. 8,330 cases made. –JS"

Robert Parker skrev:

"Another “best ever” performance, the Grand-Puy-Ducasse is made in a charming style for a 2005 Pauillac. This deep ruby-hued, very concentrated, precocious, showy effort displays copious quantities of sweet oak intermixed with black cherries, black currants, velvety tannins, medium body, and loads of fruit. It can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years."

Robert Parker skrev bl.a.: "...While not at the level of the phenomenal 2005, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has produced another classic wine with the creme de cassis fruit that I often find in both Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, yet both of those vineyards are closer to the Gironde River. This wine has a pure personality, with the aforementioned classic creme de cassis notes, medium to full body, beautiful density, purity, texture, and length. If anything, this recalls a hypothetical blend of their brilliant 1995 and 1996. Tannins are elevated, so patience will be required..."

Displays blueberry on the nose, with a hint of fresh tobacco and some licorice. Full-bodied, with chocolate, berry and toasty oak. Long and very silky. Very pretty and balanced. Best after 2013

Robert Parker skrev:

"While not at the level of the phenomenal 2005, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has produced another classic wine with the creme de cassis fruit that I often find in both Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, yet both of those vineyards are closer to the Gironde River. This wine has a pure personality, with the aforementioned classic creme de cassis notes, medium to full body, beautiful density, purity, texture, and length. If anything, this recalls a hypothetical blend of their brilliant 1995 and 1996. Tannins are elevated, so patience will be required. This was Xavier Borie’s first vintage in his new state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"No darker than Haut-Batailley. Thick and opulent on the nose. Very sweet and engaging, with lots of fine tannins – something reminiscent of port about this! The tannins are not at all green – very mouth-cleaning, This wine rinses the mouth. Really complete. Very gentle extraction. Much rounder tannins than most other similar wines. Totally charming. Not big but great balance and vivacity, Bravo!"

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"Rich, distinctive nose reminiscent of some decongestant! Some unusual oak note… Oak tannins rather than underripe grape tannins dominate here – not sure the fruit will ever completely triumph but there is no shortage of character here."

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.:

"Berry, cola and subtle mahogany aromas follow through to a medium body, with slightly earthy, funky character, but I like the meat, berry and chocolate flavors on the aftertaste..."

(Ch. Haut-Bages Averous er ikke anmeldt. Dette er 1. vinen Ch. Lynch Bages): Deep crimson with some slight chestnut tones. Intense and spicy. Exotic cocktail. Petit Mouton-like! Aromatic and piercing. Rich and velvety on the nose. Good mix of ripeness and refreshment. Dry finish, but an explosive, rich start. Surely Lynch. Round and seductive. Ripe tannins underneath. Very deep phenolics. An early drinker.

A clean and focused wine, with raspberry, currant and just the right amount of wood on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Second wine of Lynch-Bages. Best after 2005. 10,000 cases made. –JS

JS skrev bl.a.: "....Dark purplish crimson. Medium weight with slight oak influence on the palate. Very slightly raw notes but good lift and zest. Very juicy. Just not very complex. Confident. Dry tannins but just about in balance. Should be fine in the long run for a zippy easy drink....."

Wine Spectator skrev: "Plump and ripe, with a warm edge to the steeped plum, cherry and currant fruit, which mingles gently with light toasty vanilla and tobacco on the finish. A supple, approachable style".

Robert Parker skrev: "This dense purple wine displays notes of charcoal, subtle toast and white chocolate as well as blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with hints of graphite and licorice. Dense, full-bodied, unctuously textured, and quite long and thick, this concentrated, impressively endowed wine is silky-textured and already accessible. However, I suspect its best days are at least 5-7 years ahead of it. It should keep for a minimum of two decades".

Jancis Robinson skrev: "Very dark. Very subtle and complex on the nose. Round and easy and pretty relaxed. Seems rather effortless. Lots of pleasure and nice ripeness rather than simple sweetness. Good!"

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Rather light, with plum and berry character and a hint of chocolate. A wine for early drinking."

Jancis Robinson sagde bl.a..........
"Deep and rich purple. Plump and spicy but with great density from the same stable as Poyferré. Really very winning. Lots of ripe sweetness but real structure too. Could be quite a good buy..."

Robert Parker skrev bl.a.: "....is another fruit-driven, front end-loaded wine with lots of black cherry and black currant fruit. Medium to full-bodied, its damp earth, licorice and spice box notes make for a classic Medoc, although it is lower in acidity than most vintages and has riper fruit. This wine should drink nicely for 7-8 years....."

RP skrev bl.a.: "...Space limitations did not allow complete tasting notes for this Cru Bourgeois, but 2005 is the finest vintage for these wines since 1982. The range of scores for these wines should give readers an idea of just how consistent this vintage is at this level. Given the style of the vintage, most of these wines should be accessible young yet evolve for a decade or more because of their concentration and tannic structure...."

JS skrev bl.a.: "...Very nicely balance already. Not a standout and a little stringy on the finish but it ....delivers at the beginning...."

WS skrev bl.a.: "...Firm, with blackberry, cedar and sweet tobacco character. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a long, slightly chewy finish....."

Wine Spectator skrev bl. a.: "....Simple and fruity with currant and tobacco character, medium body and a fresh finish. Slightly angular but pleasant...."

Jancis robinson skrev bl.a.: "........Dark black cherry colour and intense cherry aroma. Dense, compact, highly structured but all in proportion. Rich, firm and rounded....."

Robert Parker skrev bl.a.: "...........This dark ruby/purple-tinged sleeper...........offers a sweet bouquet of black currants, underbrush, licorice and berry fruit. Medium to full-bodied with excellent depth, good acidity and an endearing roundness..............be enjoyed now and over the next 8-10 years....." (FVI: forventet holdbarhed: 2011-2019)

Wine spectator skrev bl.a.: ".........Tangy and vibrant, showing brisk pomegranate, damson plum, tobacco and mineral notes that have good cut on the mouthwatering finish..........". FVI: Forventet holdbarhed: 2011-2019.

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.:

"Spicy raspberry and blackberry aromas lead to a full body, with sweet, ripe fruit, subtle silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. This wine is all in elegance and finish. Very fine."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"Very deep purplish crimson. Appetising, sappy nose with lots of fruit. Full and sweet on the front palate – almost raw meat-like – and then some sophisticated oaking. Good balance between fruit and oak with notable tannins but I think this wine will get there in the end."

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Lots of blackberry aromas, with hints of cedar, follow through to a full-bodied palate. A chunky wine, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Needs time. Very well done for the vintage. Best after 2010. 14,220 cases made. –JS"

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Has a taut feel thanks to its slightly rigid structure, but also sports tangy red currant and plum fruit, with mineral and tobacco notes on the finish. Drink now through 2016."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

" Not especially deep in colour. Relatively light but well balanced nose. Spicy and quite thick - and certainly very sweet but without the toughness of so many. A deliberately lighter style. Very fruity. Easy but not especially ambitious."

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.:

" Very focused, with a tight, graphite-framed palette of red currant, crushed plum and spice cake. Incense note weaves in and out, with fine-grained grip framing the finish. This has fleshed out a touch since release...."

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.:

" Juicy and forward, with dark berry, licorice, plum cake and toast notes. Has nice racy minerality, with another wave of raspberry on the finish. Drink now through 2012..."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

" Cherry liqueur – lots of alcohol and sweetness. Exotic fruit and some oak notes. Lots of pleasure and lots of potential. Tannins well managed and more ‘civilised’ than most but this is certainly Châteauneuf-du-Pape . Neat though not especially persistent finish. Assemblage from tank and casks."

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a.: " A floral, high-toned style, with rose petal, red cherry, damson plum and red licorice notes supported by a hint of kirsch and gentle acidity on the sandalwood-tinged finish. Drink now through 2024...."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"Both herbal and sweet - very attractive. Hides its alcohol very well behind gently spicy dark fruit, already velvety tannins and excellent balance. Delicious and seems so gentle though it is not without power."

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.:

" Looks healthy – smells light..."

Wine Spectator skrev bla.:

"This has a core of dark plum and fig fruit, but it's pushed by a slightly high-toned black cherry and floral note, with hints of anise and black licorice checking in on the finish. Tangy for the vintage. Drink now through 2019..."

Wine Spectator skrev bl. a.: ".......This sleek red offers red currant, blueberry and red licorice notes.............and extending through the finish, thanks to well-embedded acidity..........."

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Bright crushed berry, chocolate and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with ultrarefined tannins and a long, polished finish. There's a lovely texture to this wine. Best after 2013. –JS"

Robert Parker skrev:

"The finest vintage since 2000, the 2006 Nenin comes across as a classic Pomerol with lush kirsch liqueur, mocha, mineral, and floral characteristics. Made in a muscular, rich, full-bodied style with moderate tannins as well as impeccable purity, texture, and length, it should drink well between 2012-2025.

Owned by Jean-Hubert Delon, of the renowned St.-Julien estate of Leoville Las Cases, Nenin is situated adjacent to the city of Libourne."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, including 17% press wine. Only 20% new oak. 13.98%. Like Las Cases, this went into barrel early and therefore tastes especially gorgeous already.
Mid crimson. Introvert nose with some complexity. Round and mellifluous – again the tannins are of a quite different quality from most Pomerols. Very supple. Nice freshness – much livelier than many earlier vintages of Nénin with real lift and souplesse. Congratulations! Very grown up. Briary but interesting and round and potentially long lived, I think."

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Delicate and reserved, with tobacco, blackberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Best after 2009. –JS"

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"[59 hl/ha average yield – high, on this sister property to Léoville Las Cases.] Deep, bright crimson. Aromatic. Quite meaty nose with some appetising quality (unlike the second wine, Fugue). Big and round and sweet, a little bit astringent on the finish. As though made from semi dried grapes on the palate. Pretty aggressive. Tannins dominate."

Robert Parker skrev:

"This structured Pomerol reveals classic sweet cherry and kirsch liqueur-like notes intermixed with hints of minerals and flowers. Lovely ripeness, medium body, and a restrained but noble style suggest it will drink well for 10-15 years. Also tasted: 2004 Fugue de Nenin (86)"

Robert Parker skrev:

"The finest Phelan-Segur since the 1990, the 2005 offers up scents of charcoal, creme de cassis, blueberries, and white flowers. With lovely fruit, abundant fat and richness, medium to full body, and moderately high but sweet tannin, it should drink well for 15 or more years."

Jancis Robinson skrev:

"Very dark with some evolution. Quite a developed nose and lots of richness. This could be Lafon-Rochet – flattering but not the densest. Good balance."

Wine Spectator skrev:

"Dark in color, with aromas of raspberry, currant and a hint of fresh herbs. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Comes up a little short, but this is stylish."

Deep crimson ruby. Cedary and perfumed, red berries and cassis leaf but also some cassis fruit. Fresh sweet spice. Even something a little floral. Rich and dense but surprisingly velvety even though it is firm. Rounded but there's real strength, too. Surprisingly approachable though a long way to go. Pretty luscious and long. Later: sweet and rich with dark fruit. Vanilla, spice and nutmeg. Dense, juicy and rounded. Smooth though deep

WS skrev bl.a.: "...Beautiful currant, berry and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with tar and berry character, fine tannins and a long finish. I was expecting a little more from this, but it's still outstanding...."

Robert Parker skrev: "A masculine-styled, dense purple-colored 2009, this cuvee offers up scents of charcoal, asphalt, black currants, incense, and crushed rocks. This deep, medium to full-bodied, well-made Margaux is broader, richer, and more substantial than usual, with more alcohol as well as substance. The tannins are ripe and well-integrated.....".

Wine Spectator skrev: "Fresh and clean, with a moderate range of damson plum, blackberry and licorice notes backed by easygoing toast on the iron-tinged finish....".

Jancis Robinson skrev: "Dark crimson. Nicely lifted, not too dramatic nose. Sweet start and almost incredibly little structure! Fruit juice – though fortunately in 2009 the fruit was fantastic. No marks for effort but a pretty good result".

Wine Spectator skrev bl.a. "....................displays rich, powerful aromas of ripe red fruit and olive, with plenty of muscle and sinew. The focused finish offers pepper notes, with savory herbal shadings and hints of graphite.........."

JR skrev bl.a.: "...Deep crimson with hardly any evolution. Sweet and rich on the nose. Lots of pleasure and spice with a very slightly odd camphor note...."

RP skrev bl.a.: "...This lower pedigree wine represents undeniable quality/value rapport in 2005. This vintage is so deep in quality among the better run, less heralded estates, that these wines should appeal to readers looking for terrific values from Bordeaux...."

WS skrev bl.a.: "...Bright blackberry and plum aromas follow through to a full body, with soft tannins and a dark chocolate and berry aftertaste. Delicious now, but much better with a few years of bottle age..."

WS skrev bl.a.: "...Very floral aromas on the nose, with hints of strawberry and raspberry. Full body, with silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Wonderful fruit here. Balanced and very pretty....."

Jancis Robinson skrev bl.a.: "...30% Mourvedre and four other varieties. Lovely lift. Move over Bandol. Very zesty and complete. Something of a cocktail sausage about this! A lovely wine for summer sipping............".

Robert Parker skrev bl.a.:....."........The 2007 Gigondas Louisiane (80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault from 70- to 80-year-old vines) merited 98 points at one tasting, but I’ll be conservative here. This amazing wine possesses a dense purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of a liqueur of rocks intermixed with cassis, kirsch, licorice, incense, and spring flowers. Made from incredibly low yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare (which no doubt explains the remarkable focus, concentration, richness, and 50-second finish), this historic Gigondas is a tour de force in winemaking. It should drink well for 20+ years.

I was blown away by how the 2007 Gigondas cuvees, which I had rated very highly from barrel last year, had put on weight and texture, and had become essentially as compelling as Gigondas can be. Clearly Saint-Damien’s young proprietor, Joel Saurel, has moved this estate alongside the appellation’s two superstars, Domaine Santa Duc and Chateau Saint-Cosme. The three cuvees of 2007 Gigondas are absolutely profound. I am not sure I haven’t underrated them as I had them on two separate occasions and the numerical scores listed are actually from the lower rated tasting. Come what may, these are unreal wines. For statisticians, these wines are aged 6-8 weeks in cement tanks before they are moved to old wood foudres for 12 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The renowned Philippe Cambie is the consultant. All three of these Gigondas cuvees are amazing wines. Kudos to Joel Saurel!...."

This château made a classic grand vin and the second wine is outstanding. Very rich and plummy on the nose. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and plenty of fruit on the finish. Serious concentration here. Second wine of Gruaud-Larose. Best after 2007. 21,665 cases made. –JS

Wine Spectator sagde bl.a. "....Ripe and silky, with medium-weight plum, violet and black currant paste notes backed by a bittersweet cocoa-tinged finish........"