Danny,
Ata Rangi IS lighter than some.
I would say it is not at all woody either - and plenty are.
However you may like it. Yet don;t keep it too long.
More like a village Burgundy than a GC.

Guys Felton Rd has a few different labels and the reserve wines ARE long living. I have never been that mad on Ata Rangi but it has its fans. My view on NZ pinots is that the better wines are best at 5 years of age, and in better years, can easily live up to 10. I find them too aggressive when young...

Guys, If he says to buy 03 right bank, I'm surprised. I did not buy a single bottle. I found them rather stewed, low in acid and frankly, dull at times. In relaiton to the RB, I midly agree with 01, 02 and 04. I have numerous labels from each - and suggest buying all three vitnages with care not as ...

Guys, I think Bouchard is over-rated. I have tried the entire range at wine tastings the last 2 years and wasn't exactly impressed. Did not buy a bottle. So the note about the Aloxe does not surprise me. Though I DO love 05 Burgundies. I am just ont a lover of Bouchard. I admit quality has improved ...

Guys, I bought over 30 to 40 cases of 05 Burgs, inlcuding 8 cases of whites. The Aust dollar was also strong at the time (dog now....) and I got them for good prices. I have drunk only the lesser whites and reds so far - straight Bourgognes et al. Not every wine is great - a few were rather dull and...

Jim the 86 Talbot must be a top wine if better than the 83 PLL. I too am surprised that a 73 vintage was still showing well after 35 years. It was a better vintage than initially rated and I remember guzzling them 20 years or so ago - young they were medium bodied and quite tasty but never thought t...

Richard, I've been drinking french wine for 30 odd years, and the wines that turned me on to Bordeaux were Ducru Beaucaillou, Gruaud larose, Leoville Barton and Beychevelle and LMHB. The fruiter palate fo St Julien seemed to suit my tastes and as far as LMHB goes, it has a quite unique flavour profi...

Guys, I'd say that Langoa has been on the upswing since the mid 90s, particularly 96. it seems to fly under the radar a bit. What is interesting is that St Julien wines are now so consistent. GL has been patchy over the last decade or two, as has Beychevelle, but all the other Grands Crus are now co...

Alch
I've found the lesser 95s are ready but even at lesser Cru Classe level, most are to my taste stil fairly tannic.
Must try a few soon to test them.

Guys,
I wonder who is actually making most of that money??
The Chateau sell to intermediaries (negociants and courtisans) and then there is price escalation through the chain.

In some vintages the intermediaries have made a killing, in some others, they hardly cover costs.

Guys, Over the years I've rated Ch de Pape as somewhere between variable and over-rated. Sure, I've had a few pretty good wines but most - by a long way - seems to be wines of little interest to me. I don't think much of grenache from anywhere. I've visited the area on multiple occasions and still c...

JIm,
If that's the case, I may send off my 00 Carruades to auction.
It is going for about $A180 to $200, but at the moment, isn't moving in a big hurry.
I've seen it for sale at retail level at about $220 and the bottles had dust on them.

Danny, I have drunk hundreds of 2005 Burgundies of both colours (been to several big tastings and have imbibed at home as well). I have also been drinking Burgundy for over 30 years and make a few comments: 1. The improvement in Burgundy over that period is substantial; I can't think of an area in t...

Jim, Regularly $US335??? That's about $A500. this wine is much cheaper here - I can get it for less than half that. Normally, wines in Aust are twice the $US price (noting the exchange rate variaiton) but why has this wine becvome so expensive?? I have some 2000 Carrudes, but couldn't be bothered ot...

Roberto, You are correct. Previous decades, they were an average quality only domaine. It came with generational change, and like Harmand Geoffroy, the 97s I've had are better than the 96s. In recent years, it has moved up the line in the Burgundy firmament and is now a top producer, with depth and ...

1988 Gruaud Larose St Julien I've had this 4-5 times over the last 6 months - it's developing a lot of leathery, earthy, tarry characters which are now swamping the dark fruits. Some walnut character but the leatheriness would appeal to some, not others. A love it or hate it wine that I find a bit ...

Guys, I reviewed the wine here a few months ago and I have to say I found it tooo vegetal for my taste, though there was nice underlying fruit. It did improve with air but was always green. It was better than the Reserve de Comtesse 2001 though. Jim, I think that SM tends to have a green tobacco cha...

David, a lot of wines are purposely made for the US and I have to say, Parker's palate. There are some (IMHO) rather ordinary wines that get 90 odd Parker points yet Mount mary for one gets low points - like low to mid 80s. I have no problem with makers developing wines for Parker. Some I really lik...

Chris,
would you say that generally about 2002, or just the Lagrange??

Houndsong, As I've noted several times, there are plenty of Aust shirazes that are NOT jammy anf flabby. I like Aust shiraz but these days, buy a very limited range and that tends to be wines that are not of the turbo charged, hi alcohol, hi extract variety. They suit Parker more than me. Now, they ...

Jim,
I've never really understood these wines.
They are something of a love or hate style, and too jammy and flabby for me.

Oh,
and did you ever make it with Holly or hannah.....?

Good to see the new site is up and runng with such enthusiasm!
I've reverted to my old non de plume.

I agree.
One of my fav 03s - and my case will sit tight for some time yet.