Ployez Jacquemart Selection Rose: Lovely – just right, and its pinkness was Christmas-appropriate.  And it won over a non champagne crowd with its delicate strawberry and lemon notes.
Ployez Jacquemart Brut 2000: Served too warm – tasty nonetheless for being Christmas day.  Another bottle will get consumed very shortly.
Auburn Lowburn Riesling 2010: Improving out if sight with a year’s age (personal interest disclaimer on this label).
Joseph Sparkling Red 2010 disg: My favourite disgorgement of this wine so far. Sweeter and fruit-fresher than earlier versions, although the alcohol seems to stick out a little more these days. Like it a lot.
Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese 1993: A cellar release from 2010.  Best bottle so far out of a sixpack. Shows its pradikat through weight rather than sweetness, with juicy acidity balance perfectly by racy green pineapple and lemon fruit which is nly now showing signs of its 18 years of age.

Second bottle, and worthy of a note because it was sooooo different. Firstly I can see why people think it is often corked; it has that Mourvedre reduced animal hide character and stinkiness which does seem to resemble a corked wine. Anyway, the wine. On the nose, a bit floral, but dominated by the broader earthy and leathery characters, and some iron filings too. Balanced on the palate, though a bit acidic and somewhat hollow, lacking the weight. Not tannic per-se, but not terribly giving, if you know what I mean. Dry extract around the edge of the palate. Not sure if the mid-palate will ever appear. Not a bad Beaucastel, but unlikely to be a great one. Needs more time; you never know. 90 points. $Lots.

From the Médoc in Bordeaux. Margaux to be specific. That’s left bank; a Cabernet dominant blend. Dusty cigar box and graphite on the nose. Pencil dry. Red currant and graphite on the palate. Nice structure. Grippy tannins and dry length. I can image Michel would have described it as “a dry little critter”. Tough going now; needs some time. 87+ points. Drink 2016+

Spring cleaning. And this wasn’t cheap: a snip over $50 if I recall correctly (ooh, I am having a Chairman Kaga moment) … it was a phase I was going through, buying bits and bobs from different French wine regions. Only the single bottle. And for what it’s worth, this has some big scores on cellartracker.

A rustic nose, red leather and a touch of varnish, and an elusive floral character that I cannot identify. There are also iron filings, river stones and cherry fruits. Old school rustic. A softish palate, coarse red fruits and weird florals braced by firm tannins. There is nothing delicate and alluring about this wine; it is more of a slap on the back and how ya goin’ mate. 87 points. 14.5% abv. Drink 2011-2016+.

2010 Sancerre L’Authentique: Pale straw.  Smells of freshly mown, dry grass.  Picks up some nettle and then some honeydew.  Tastes the same, in the dry straw, lemon, nougat, and melon mould.  Tasty and refreshing, this improves as it warms.  Its all about the fruit, and it’s a nice change if NZ Savvy is your thing.  In fact its serious stuff for this grape.  A winner for the ABC set.  88/100.

2010 Les Aristides: This version seems to have seen just a touch of oak and maybe some lees stirring.  Gooseberries and cut green grass on the nose, leading to a refreshing, lemonade and lime palate, also touched by green herbal elements.  Fuller and rounder than the l’Authentique a satisfying length and breadth on the finish.  This is full of energy and zip – drink now.  Oysters and lime juice.  89 points.  and this bottle will indeed be consumed with oysters…and lime juice.

Imported by Eurocentric Wines.

Never been a great fan of Rhone wines from these dudes, or Laurent’s Burgundies for that matter. For those that don’t know, I believe Laurent double oaks many of his Burgs, meaning they new oak twice in their maturation. Anyway, on to this wine. Some reduction on the nose. Gunsmoke and rich red currants, and only a touch jammmy, which is good considering the hot vintage. Nor is the palate overly ripe, plums, currants and leather, but also shows some course minerals and it is pretty short. And that’s it for a review; bored now. Was $24. 83 points. 13.0% abv, but tastes and feels like 15%. Drink now.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Cru Bourgeois Superieur, fwiw.

1st night, and 375ml: Initially, a very muted nose. More graphite and leaf, custardy oak, red fruits. Tight and dry on the palate. Intermission was called, and I opened a Taylors Jaraman Shiraz 2009 to pass the time – a review will follow in good time. Anyway, the Medoc wine: with time, more classically Cabernet on the nose, very alluring if you’re into that sort of thing: red currants, liquorice, graphite, a touch of leaf and oak, nicely balanced. I am beginning to like it. But oh dear, the palate is very disappointing in comparison: sour, short, dry. A bit better with food, but not much chop.

2nd night: fruit has come up on the palate somewhat, but it could never be described as plush or generous. Still structured, and no real signs of it having fallen over. Not a great appellation, so I am not sure if any fruit will ever appear, so I would drink sooner rather than later, but perhaps leave a couple more years. 86 points. Drink 2013-2018?. 13.0% abv. $47.

My second bottle of 2005 Bordeaux. A deep red in colour. A rich and expansive nose. It can be smelt yards away: graphite, smoke, earth and plums. The palate is rich too, but it’s not all fruit: black plums and red cherries interlaced with the strong flavours of tobacco, smoke and minerals. A dry finish, but not grippy. Seems quite modern in style, and is certainly packing a punch. Soft tannins, with raspberry twist. Drink now, or cellar for a few years; whatever floats your boat really – up front and primary, or with some secondary characters. Was $35 en-primeur. 89 points. 13.0% abv. Drink 2011-2016+. And an end note, I would add that (1) the bottle is throwing a crust already, and (2) my wife reckons it is sweet.