Introduction
This is a record of the wines where my ratings of the wine varied drastically between two different occasions (faulty or badly kept bottles are tthat I have tasted under controlled conditions over the past two years or so. I have ignored duplicates, excepthe usual reason), or I feel it worth commenting on its development.
The wines are indexed by country, and in some cases by region and sub-region (eg Bordeaux and Burgundy ). As far as possible, wines are indexed alphabetically by producer, but in some cases only a brand name, shipper or merchant’s name is available. Where I have tasted more than one vintage of a wine, the oldest is listed first.
By the name and vintage, I have noted where and when the wine was tasted. Initials correspond to www.ukwineclub.org.uk club lists, except for private and trade tastings and commercial wine fairs (listed below). Where known, I have logged the supplier, and current market value of the wine. Older wines have often come from private cellars, or been bought at auction. Direct means supplied by the winemaker or estate. Ex-cellars means bought in country of origin, normally direct from the maker. Suppliers marked (W) are wholesalers.
Wines are rated on a seven point scale, where 1 is faulty, 2 poor, 3 commercial, 4 artisanal, 5 well made, 6 serious and 7 fabulous. Wines are marked down for being too young or too old for my palate.
Top and Good Value Wines
There are now 2,553 notes on wines in the database – 727 from France, 735 from the rest of Europe and 1091 from the New World (areas outside Europe). I’ve listed the highlights in the table – 293 Top Wines that I have given marks of 6 or above, and 178 Good Value Wines – those available for £12 or less (after the last duty hike) that scored 5 or higher. There are four wines in both categories: one is an oddity from Chile – Concha y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2003 – where the crop unusually got Botrytis. Two others are from Australia: Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2002 and Ironstone Zinfandel 2003. The Clos de los Siete 2005 from Argentina scores in both as well.
The highest scoring regions are Alsace with 33% of all bottles tried in the Top or Good Value categories, Australia (especially South Australia 29%), Argentina 26% and South Africa 21%. The regions best known for fine wines (notably Bordeaux, Burgundy and California) suffer through producing relatively few good value wines.
| GOOD VALUE WINES | |
| France | Argentina |
| Alsace | Andeluna Cellars Winemaker's Reserve Malbec 2007 (Mendoza) |
| Charles Bauer Muscat GC Eichberg 2005 | Jean Bousquet Malbec Reserva 2005 (Mendoza) |
| Dom Bott-Geyl Pinot Gris 2000 | CarinaE Gran Reserva Malbec 2006 (Mendoza) |
| Andre Dussourt Riesling Reserve Prestige 2003 | Clos de los Siete 2004 (Mendoza) |
| Materne Haegelin Riesling GC Bollenberg 1997 | Clos de los Siete 2005 (Mendoza) |
| Rene Mure Gewurztraminer 2005 | Clos de los Siete 2006 (Mendoza) |
| Zeyssolff Gewurztraminer Reserve Particuliere 2007 | Clos de los Siete 2007 (Mendoza) |
| Zeyssolff Klevener de Heiligenstein L'Opaline 2006 | Colome Estate Malbec 2007 (Salta) |
| Zeyssolff Pinot Gris Hospices de Strasbourg 2004 | Colome Torrontes 2007 (Salta) |
| Zeyssolff Pinot Gris Hospices de Strasbourg 2007 | Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Mendoza) |
| Zeyssolff Pinot Gris Reserve Personnel 2005 | Dominio del Plata Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes 2006 (Salta) |
| Philippe Zinck Gewurztraminer GC Eichberg 2004 | Dominio del Plata Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec 2005 (Mendoza) |
| Bordeaux | Etchart Cafayate Reserve Torrontes 2008 (Salta) |
| Ch Doisy-Daene Sec 2007 | Etchart Privado Cafayate Reserve Malbec 2007 (Salta) |
| Ch les Alberts 2005 (Lussac-St Emilion) | Bod Fin del Mundo Gran Reserva 2006 (Neuquen) |
| Ch Roches-Guitard 2000 (Montagne-St Emilion) | Bod Fin del Mundo La Ponderosa 2006 (Neuquen) |
| Loire | Bod Fin del Mundo Reserva Pinot Noir 2008 (Neuquen) |
| Clos de Ferre 2005 (Muscadet) | Bod O Fournier B Crux 2005 (Mendoza) |
| Les Ruettes Blanc 2006 (Sancerre) | Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2007 (Mendoza) |
| Rhone | Masi Tupungato Paso Doble 2006 (Mendoza) |
| Dom de la Soumade 2003 (Rasteau) | Bod NQN Malma Reserve Malbec 2007 (Neuquen) |
| Dom de la Soumade 2005 (Rasteau Villages) | Poesia Clos des Andes 2005 (Mendoza) |
| Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006 | Sur de Los Andes Infinito 2006 (Mendoza) |
| South West France | La Riojana Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (La Rioja) |
| Ch Joly Cuvée Jean 2005 (Jurancon Doux) | Schroeder Alpataco Chardonnay 2007 (Neuquen) |
| Germany | Schroeder Saurus Patagonia Malbec 2007 (Neuquen) |
| Bishofslichen Weinguter Avelsbacher Altenberg Riesling Spatlese 2002 (Mosel) | Finca Sophonia Synthesis Malbec 2007 (Mendoza) |
| Domdechant Werner Hochheimer Domdechaney Riesling Spatlese 2004 (Rheingau) | Michel Torino Don David Tannat 2007 (Salta) |
| Guterswaltung Trabener Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2006 (Mosel) | Valle Perdita Patagonia Pinot Noir 2008 (Neuquen) |
| Weingut Nick Koewerich F ü r Tr ä umer und Helden Riesling Spatlese 2006 (Mosel) | Vistalba Vinalba Malbec/Shiraz 2006 (Mendoza) |
| Weingut Nick Koewerich F ü r Tr ä umer und Helden Riesling Spatlese 2007 (Mosel) | Vistalba Vinalba Merlot Reserva 2008 (Mendoza) |
| Schloss Schonborn Riesling Kabinett 2003 (Rheingau) | Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Mendoza) |
| Sommerhauser Reifenstein Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2005 (Baden) | Chile |
| Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spaetlese (Feinherb) E Cluesserath 2005 (Mosel) | Anakena Ona Vionier Riesling Chardonnay 2006 (Rapel) |
| Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spaetlese Grans-Fassian 2005 (Mosel) | Ch los Boldos Cabernet Sauvignon Vielles Vignes 2004 (Rapel) |
| Italy | Ch los Boldos Merlot Vielles Vignes 2003 (Rapel) |
| Antinori La Braccesca Achello Syrah 2006 (Cortona, Tuscany) | Concha y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2003 |
| Antinori Casasole Orvietto Amabile 2007 (Umbria) | Cono Sur Vision Gewurztraminer 2008 (Casablanca) |
| Antinori Donato Vino Liquoroso NV (Tuscany) | Cono Sur 20 Barrels Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Casablanca) |
| Apollonia Valle Cupa 2001 (Salento, Puglia) | Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay 2006 (Aconcagua) |
| Cantina di Negrar Soave Classico 2006 (Veneto) | Errazuriz Max Reserva Syrah 2003 (Aconcagua) |
| Ceppaiano Alle Viole 2005 (Tuscany) | Errazuriz Max Reserva Shiraz 2004 (Aconcagua) |
| Riccardo Falchini Vernaccia di San Gimigiano 2007 (Tuscany) | Errazuriz Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Casablanca) |
| Feudi San Gregorio Flangina 2006 (Campania) | Montes Alpha Apalta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Colchagua) |
| Franco Todini Grechetto di Todi 2005 (Umbria) | Montes Alpha Apalta Vineyard Syrah 2005 (Colchagua) |
| J Hofstatter Gewurztrminer 2007 (Alto Adige) | Montes Alpha Merlot 2004 (Colchagua) |
| Masi Campofiorin 2004 (Veneto) | Vina Morande Chardonnay Gran Reserva 2005 (Maipo) |
| Passione Venaccia di San Gimigiano 2008 (Tuscany) | Santa Carolina Barrica Selection Chardonnay 2006 (Casablanca) |
| Piana del Sole Negroamaro 2003 (Puglia) | Terranoble Reserve Syrah 2007 |
| Piana del Sole Primativo 2003 (Puglia) | Viajero Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Colchagua) |
| Plozner Pinot Bianco 2005 (Friuli) | Australia |
| Recchia Ripasso della Valpolicella 2005 (Veneto) | New South Wales |
| Tenuta di Riseccoli Petit Verdot 2006 (Tuscany) | Millfield Semillon 1999 (Hunter Valley) |
| Portugal | South |
| Table Wine | Tim Adams The Fergus Grenache 2004 (Clare Valley) |
| Almeida Garrett Touriga Nacional 2005 (Beira) | Tim Adams The Fergus Grenache 2005 (Clare Valley) |
| Vinhos Borges Duoro Reserva 2003 | Tim Adams Semillon 2007 (Clare Valley) |
| Quinta das Carvalhais 2004 (Dao) | Jim Barry The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra/Clare) 2004 |
| Esporao Reserva Tinto 2006 (Alentejo) | Jim Barry The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra/Clare) 2006 |
| Lavradores de Feitoia Quinta da Costa 2005 (Duoro) | Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2002 (Clare Valley) |
| Tagus Creek Grande Vinha 2006 (Ribantejano) | Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2003 (Clare Valley) |
| Tesco's Finest Touriga Nacional 2004 (Estramadura) | Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2005 (Clare Valley) |
| Port | Battle of Bosworth Shiraz/Viognier 2005 (McLaren Vale) |
| Warre's Warrior Special Reserve NV | Botham Merrill Willis Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 (Coonawarra & McLaren Vale) |
| Spain | Botham Merrill Willis Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Coonawarra & McLaren Vale) |
| Campo Aldea Graciano Reserva 2003 (Rioja) | Boycat Merlot 2006 (McLaren Vale) |
| Capcanes Mas Collet 2003 (Montsant) | Crowded Hour Chardonnay 2008 (McLaren Vale) |
| Era Costana 2006 (Rioja) | D'Arenberg Hermit Crab 2006 (McLaren Vale) |
| Erminta Veracruz Verdello 2005 (Roeda) | D'Arenberg Money Spider 2006 (McLaren Vale) |
| Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla NV | De Bortoli Petit Verdot 2005 (McLaren Vale) |
| Hidalgo Pastrana Manzanilla Pasada NV | Dutschke Willow Bend 2005 (Barossa) |
| Castillo de Nava 2005 (Rueda) | Fox Gordon Eight Uncles Shiraz 2006 (Adelaide Hills) |
| Bodegas Navarro Moscatel NV (Montilla-Moriles) | Fox Gordon Hannah's Swing Shiraz 2006 (Adelaide Hills) |
| Osbourne Plural 2003 (Castilla) | Heartland Shiraz 2006 |
| Pazo Serantellos Albarino 2005 (Rias Baixas) | Kangarilla Road Primativo 2006 (McLaren Vale) |
| Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 (Catalayud) | The Lane Pinot Gris 2006 (Adelaide Hills) |
| Juan Rojo Matarredondo 2004 (Toro) | O'Leary Walker Shiraz 2005 (Clare Valley/McLaren Vale) |
| Val do Sosego Albarino 2005 (Rias Baixas) | Peter Lehmann Reserve Semillon 1999 (Barossa) |
| Austria | Peter Lehmann Reserve Semillon 2004 (Barossa) |
| Kirnbauer Classic Blaufrankisch 2006 | Pewsey Vale Riesling 1997 (Eden Valley) |
| Winzer Krems Goldberg Gruner Veltliner 2007 (Kremstal) | Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2001 (McLaren Vale) |
| England | Torbeck Marananga Dam GSM 2005 (Barossa) |
| Chapel Down Bacchus 2007 (Kent) | Wynn's Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (Coonawarra) |
| Greece | Wynn's Shiraz 2001 (Coonawarra) |
| Hatzidakis Assytiko 2006 (Santorini) | Tasmania |
| Mediterra Mitravelas 2005 (Nemea) | Ninth Island Pinot Noir 2005 |
| Israel | Victoria |
| Golan Heights Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 | Buller Fine Old Muscat NV |
| Turkey | Green Point Heatcote Shiraz 2006 |
| Kavaklidere Ancyra Kalecik-Karasi 2007 (Ankara) | Rutherglen Estates Shiraz Viognier 2005 (Rutherglen) |
| California | Western Australia |
| Cycles Gladiators Merlot 2004 (Central Coast) | Clairault Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Margaret River) |
| Kautz Ironstone Ridge Cabernet Franc 2002 (Sierra Foothills) 2002 | Ironstone Zinfandel 2003 |
| Mexico | Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (Margaret River) |
| L A Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 1996 (Baja California) | New Zealand |
| L A Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 2004 (Baja California) | Coney Pizzicato Pinot Noir (Martinborough) |
| L A Cetto Nebbiolo Private Reserve 2002 (Baja California) | Seifried Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Nelson) |
| Pacific North West | South Africa |
| Ch Sainte Michelle Chardonnay 2004 (Washington) | Beyerskloof Reserve Pinotage 2006 (Western Cape) |
| Ch Sainte Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Washington) | Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Viognier/Grenache Blanc 2007 (Swartland) |
| Meerlust Red 2004 (Stellenbosch) | |
| Rustenberg John X Merriman 2005 (Simonsberg-Stellenbosch) | |
| Southern Right Pinotage 2007 (Walker Bay) | |
| Springfield Estate Special Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Robertson) | |
| Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2006 (Constantia) | |
| China | |
| Huadong Founder's Reserve CS 2002 (Shandong) | |
Private Tastings:
CI – organised by Christos Iannou
M&S – Marks & Spencers tasting for CLWS
MENSA – organised by Ian McLaren
WL – Wine Lovers Group Dinners
Trade Tastings:
Arg – Argentine Trade Tasting
Aus – Austrian Trade Tasting
Chi – Chilean Trade Tasting
DIWT – The Definitive Italian Tasting
IWC – International Wine Challenge
Jas – Jascots Autumn Tasting
LIWF – London International Wine Fair
OW – Oregon and Washington 2009
WBG – Wine Barn German Tasting
WOP – Wines of Portugal Trade Show
Commercial Wine Fairs:
LWF – London Wine Fair
(Sainsbury etc)
Odd – Oddbins Wine Fair
Tes – Tesco Wine Club Fair