24/02/2015 (TNB)

• Bairrada Reserva 1991 (Faria) Timeless: one of those somewhat rustic, traditional wines that live for ever. Pleasant, if slightly unsophisticated drinking.
• Bianco 2008 (Le Coste di Gradoli) At times I like this wine and at others the bruised apple, slightly volatile "natural fruit" character is just too much. Interesting in its way, but not quite my thing.
• Gewurztraminer Grand cru Froehn 2007 (Eblin-Fuchs) Strikingly pure, typical lychee fruit but not excessively vulgar. Rather good, but at least now I feel it lacks the spice and terroir character to be truly top class. Top

18/02/2015 (TNB)

• Chateau Hanteillan 2000 Pleasant mature Burgeois Claret. Now hinting at a dry ness to come but paradoxically a day later it had picked up a little of that classic rose petal fruit. Certainly for drinking. on a good day
• Champagne Grand Cellier d'Or 2001 (Vilmart) Bought from the cellar and from a pretty mediocre Champagne vintage, a few years ago this was OK but a bit mean. Now it's really rather good, relatively light bodied with citric notes. A credit to the estate. Top , almost more.
• Champagne Clos Cazals 1998 (Cazals) These too came from the estate and I recall a less interesting bottle a while ago. This one however is full of real grand cru cote de blancs class. Stony, Mesnil-like fruit (although the Clos is in Oger). Really very good. even

18/02/2015 (TNB)

• Chateau Hanteillan 2000 Pleasant mature Burgeois Claret. Now hinting at a dry ness to come but paradoxically a day later it had picked up a little of that classic rose petal fruit. Certainly for drinking. on a good day
• Champagne Grand Cellier d'Or 2001 (Vilmart) Bought from the cellar and from a pretty mediocre Champagne vintage, a few years ago this was OK but a bit mean. Now it's really rather good, relatively light bodied with citric notes. A credit to the estate. Top , almost more.
• Champagne Clos Cazals 1998 (Cazals) These too came from the estate and I recall a less interesting bottle a while ago. This one however is full of real grand cru cote de blancs class. Stony, Mesnil-like fruit (although the Clos is in Oger). Really very good. even

10/02/2015 (TNB)

• Chardonnay 2005 (Kante) I've had this a few times in the last couple of years - it has always been good but now it has put on weight as well. Now at peak and very fine. Scraping even
• La Lagune 1970 Always one of the nicer wines from a good if a bit inconsistent vintage. Rounded berry fruit from the hogh merlot content. Classic claret. Top
• Le Vallou 2013 (Henri Milan) Vibrant, bright, high acid brambly fruit - the whole package mellowing a bit overnight. Very pure and natural I like this although some might say it's a bit difficult without food. I'd be interested to try some of this estate's more upmarket wines although I think they are sought after and correspondingly pricey. A good
• Arbois Les Corvees sous Curon 2011 (E & P Clairet) How will the future look on the bruised orchard fruit character on current "naturally made" whites? Will it all be seen as an abberation that people tired of or will most serious wine be made a bit more like this in future? This chardonnay has that character in moderation and the fruit quality is excellent. Jura seems to be a place to look for chardonnay now that Burgundy is becoming so expensive. Top