1987 Entre Deux Mers Gamage Sec, AC Entre-Deux-Mers,
Union Saint Vincent à St. Vincent de Pertignas,
12% (£40.99/12)
Very pale straw. Excellent nose. Really nice and clean. Great stuff.
92/100
1988 Le Clair des Hauts Lieux, Cabernet Sauvignon &
Merlot, AC Bergerac Rosé, Cave de Saint Vivien et Bonneville, The Flying
Winemakers, 11.5% (£43.10/12)
Very deep pink. Fruity nose. Bit iffy on the palate. 78/100
1988 L’Espalier Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, AC Bordeaux,
Cave D’Espiet, The Flying Winemakers,
12% (£53.95/12)
Good. 83/100
1988 Lou Caché Montravel Blanc Boisé, Cave de Saint
Vivien et Bonneville, The Flying Winemakers
(£57.85/12)
Fairly rich straw colour. Bit thin on the nose, but a good palate, with a
bit more to it than the unoaked Montravel. 88/100
1988 Montravel Sec La Chapelle Semillon, Cave de Saint
Vivien et Bonneville, The Flying Winemakers
(£43.80/12)
Round, open and attractive, but the oaked version is definitely an
improvement. 86/100
1988 Chenin Blanc La Fontaine, The Flying Winemakers
(£43.10/12)
Very pale appearance, with just a hint of straw. Scented nose. Rather
nice. 87/100
1988 Mauzac Sec Blanc, The Flying Winemakers
(£43.10/12)
Very pale colour. Very Good. 85/100
1988 Cuvée Chardonnay, The Flying Winemakers
(£64.75/12)
Very pale straw with a greenish hue. Good palate, nice and buttery. 84/100
1988 Mauzac Plus, The Flying Winemakers
(£43.10/12)
Very pale appearance. The Mauzac Sec Blanc is better. 83/100
1986 Minervois Rouge en fut, Epervier Selection
(£45.40)
Heavy oak on the nose. Reflected in heavy tannins on the palate. Goodish.
80/100
1988 St Georges D’Orques Rouge, Epervier Selection
(£39.45)
Very young, thin colour. Ok. On the palate this is lively, almost to the
point of bounciness and there’s a touch of pétillance on the tongue. This
is a decent quaffing wine. 86/100
1986 Château du Calce Cuvée Prestige Rouge, AC Côtes
du Roussillon
(£44.99/12)
A blend of grenache noir and syrah. Good colour. Nice nose, oddly with
blackcurrant fruit. Very Good. 85/100
1985 Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette de Blanc, Silver
Cloud Brut (£85/12)
Nice colour. Good characterful palate with plenty to it. 86/100
1979 Prestige d’Amery, Blanquette de Limoux
(£105/12)
Pale appearance. The immediate impression on the palate is that it is
really very fizzy indeed. Not over-dry and once you get past the fizziness,
this is nicely drinkable, but it doesn’t seem to have the complexity I’d
expect from a ten year old wine. 85/100
1988 Landwein der Saar Riesling halbtrocken, Moselland
eG, Deutscher Tafelwein, 10% (no AP Number on the front label at least)
(£40/12)
Nice colour. Good nose – not quite as basic a riesling nose as I’d
expected. Good+. 86/100
1987 Wincheringer Burg Warsberg QbA, Moselland eG,
9%, AP Nr. 2 576 280 473 88 (£43.10/12)
No grape variety is specified on the label, but the decent, appley nose
suggests a significant proportion of riesling. Off-dry, and really very
palatable. 87/100
1986 Schloß Thorner Qualitätswein, Zentralkellerei
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer eG, 700ml, 9%, AP Nr. 2 576 280 551 88
Decent colour. Thin, but very fresh nose. Good. 84/100
1985 Wehlener Munzlay Riesling Kabinett Trocken,
(Mosel Coop), 700ml (£47.05/12)
OK colour. OK nose. Bit iffy after. Not especially good. Would be better
as a straight Kabinett, I’m sure. 78/100
1985 Lieserer Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Trocken
(Coop), 700ml (£48.65/12)
Very pale appearance. Very strong apple scents on the nose. This is decent
stuff, but can be avoided. 82/100
1986 Erbacher Steinmorgan Riesling QbA
(Coop), 700ml (£51.90/12)
Decent appearance. Thin nose. Attractive palate with a nice finish and
good length. 84/100
1985 Worrstadter Rheingrafenberg Sylvaner Kabinett
(Coop) (£44.85/12)
Decent appearance. Rather odd on the nose. Rather good on the palate:
quite interesting. 86/100
1988 Grauer Burgunder Kabinett, Bereich Südliche
Weinstrasse, Rheinpfalz, Gebiets Winzergenossenschaft EG Deutsches Weintor,
10.5% (£51.35/12)
Good nose. There seems to be more character in the 1988 than the 1985
tasted last year. Nice. 88/100
1987 Dörrenbacher Guttenberg Sylvaner Trocken QbA,
Gebiets Winzergenossenschaft EG Deutsches Weintor
(£40/12)
Very pale appearance. Little on the nose. Iffy palate. This is
avoidable. 77/100
1987 Ilbesheimer Herrlich Weissburgunder Trocken QbA,
Gebiets Winzergenossenschaft EG Deutsches Weintor
(£51.35/12)
Good colour. Nice nose. Not bad at all. 85/100
1986 Dürkheimer Fronhof Riesling Kabinett
(£63.25/12)
Good golden appearance. Interesting nose with a hint of mystery. But
unexciting on the palate. 82/100
1986 Johannisberger Mittelhölle Riesling Kabinett (G.H.
v. Mumm)
(£70.25/12)
Pale green apple colour. Nice fresh, open nose. Very nice. 89/100
1986 Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Kabinett, (Domdechant
Wernersches Weingut) (£88.50/12)
Very pale appearance. Good nose. Decent palate. 83/100
1986 Nierstein Qualitätswein, Deinhard & Co
(£39.80/6)
50% sylvaner; 50% riesling. Very fresh nose, possibly bit lacking? Good
palate. Interesting. 83/100
1986 Deidesheim Qualitätswein, Deinhard & Co
(£39.80/6)
100% riesling. Pale green appearance. Nice fruity nose. Interesting.
88/100
1986 Bernkastel Qualitätswein, Deinhard & Co
(£43.15/6)
100% riesling. Very pale colour. Uninteresting nose. Unimpresive. 78/100
1986 Piesport Qualitätswein, Deinhard & Co
(£43.15/6)
100% riesling. Very pale straw with a green tinge. Nice and fresh nose,
similar on the palate. But very uninteresting. 81/100
1986 Johannisberg Qualitätswein, Deinhard & Co
(£48.40/6)
100% riesling. Pale appearance. Decent nose. Very dry on the palate.
Good length. 84/100
1986 Hochheim Qualitätswein, Deinhard & Co,
11.5%, AP Nr. 6 907 003 003 87 (£48.40/6)
100% riesling. Pale to medium straw with a greenish tinge. Nice nose with
good complexity. Very good palate. Very nice finish. 89/100
1986 Weinheimer Sybill Silvaner Halbtrocken,
Zentralkellerei Gau-Bickelheim (£41/10/12)
Palish green apple flesh colour. Nice full, rich nose. Good/Very Good.
87/100
1987 Armsheimer Müller Thurgau/Silvaner,
Zentralkellerei Gau-Bickelheim (£43.15)
Decent colour. Nice nose. Decent palate with good finish and length, but a
bit uninteresting.
1987 Graf Bubna Litic, Grüner Veltliner Kabinett,
Winzer Krems
(£94.55/12)
Very pale colour indeed. Rather reticent on the nose. Nice palate. 85/100
1987 Lenz Moser Selection Pinot Blanc, Lenz Moser
(£65.95)
Very pale yellow. Nice buttery nose. Pleasant and fresh on the palate.
85/100
1986 St Lorenzi Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein – WG
Durnstein,
700ml (£63.80/12)
Very pale appearance. Nice open, fruity nose. Nice, fresh taste. 86/100
1988 Metternich Princess Grüner Veltliner
Qualitätswein
(£69.60/12)
Good, fairly yellow colour. Thin nose, but it does have some interest.
Smooth and mouthfilling with good balance. 88/100
1987 Amadeus Grüner Veltliner, Stift Klosterneuburg
(£81.10/12)
Grassy nose. A touch zingy on the palate. This is the worst of this set of
Grüner Veltliners. 80/100
1987 Amadeus Blaufränkisch Stift Klosterneuburg
(£81.10/12)
Decent colour – quite Burgundy-like. Uninteresting nose and palate. 79/100
1985 Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, Domaine
Marcel Deiss, 12% (£119.88/12)
Pale green colour. Interesting minerally nose that I can’t quite place.
Not over-impressive on the palate. 83/100
1986 Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives, Grand Cru
Altenberg de Bergheim, Domaine Marcel Deiss
(£199.50/12)
Pale goldish appearance. Lovely nose. Really nice palate with super
balance. Nice finish. Very Good Indeed. 91/100
1987 Muscat Bergheim, Domaine Marcel Deiss
(£90/12)
Pale watery appearance. Very appealing muscatty nose. But rather
indifferent on the palate. 82/100
1986 Pinot Blanc, Cave des Vignerons de
Kientzheim-Kaysersberg (£53.95/12)
Pale colour with a green tinge. Attractive, scented nose. A bit short on
the palate, but pleasant and nice drinking. 86/100
1986 Gewurztraminer, Cave des Vignerons de
Kientzheim-Kaysersberg (£68.99/12)
Nice golden colour. Good, full gewurz nose. Rather good on the palate.
87/100
1988 Vin de Pays d’Urfé Rouge, Les Vignerons du Forez
(£39.48/12)
100% gamay. Young appearance. Bit thin on the nose. Inoffensive, but good
drinking. 83/100
1988 VDQS Côtes du Forez Rouge, Les Vignerons du Forez
(£43.15/12)
Good, young colour. Nice palate with some body. Good. 84/100
1988 VDQS Côtes du Forez Rosé Sec, Les Vignerons du
Forez
(£43.15/12)
Bright pink colour. Very non-descript on the palate. 79/100
1986 Domaine La Grave, AC Bordeaux Rouge
(£69.75/12)
Showing some development on the colour and the nose. This seems to me to
have good, short-term potential. 83/100
1984 Domaine La Grave, AC Bordeaux Rouge
(£66.49/12)
Good maturing colour. The nose is opening nicely, with some good oak
showing. Good palate with some depth, and quite mouthfilling with firm
tannins on the finish. This should last better than the 1986. Good stuff.
86/100
1986 Domaine La Grave, AC Graves
(£107/12)
Nice colour. Smooth, fruity nose. Good. Very well balanced. 89/100
1987 Saumur Blanc, Caves de Saint Cyr en Bourg
(£37.60/12)
Pale, greenish colour. Good, characterful nose. Nice, good, easy
drinking. 86/100
1987 Saumur Rouge, Caves de Saint Cyr en Bourg
(£44.85/12)
Quite a pale appearance. Nice, but not exciting. 82/100
NV Crémant de Loire Rosé, Caves de Saint Cyr en Bourg
(£73.20/12)
Pale salmon colour. Decent mousse. Fair palate. 82/100
1988 Sauvignon Touraine Sec Récolte Blanc, SICA La
Vallée des Reines (£58.35/12)
Pale appearance. Rather good, characterful nose. Good depth on the
palate. Rather pleasant and nice after, with good length. 88/100
1986 AC Touraine, Marquis d’Effiat, SICA La Vallée des
Reines, 11.5%
(£29.70/6)
Rather pleasant with a lovely finish. Very Good. 88/100
1988 Cuvée
du President Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Les Vignerons de Chusclan
(£43.78/12)
A strange, palish gold colour. Very thin on the palate. 80/100
1988 Cuvée Classique, Côtes du Rhône Blanc,
Les Vignerons de Chusclan
(£42.15/12)
Thin colour. Strong, pissy nose. Thin palate. OK. 79/100
1988 Rosé, Les Vignerons de Chusclan
(£45.95/12)
Dark pink. This has good character for a rosé. 85/100
1988 Côtes de Gascogne Blanc, Domaine des Cassagnoles
(£39.45/12)
Pale colour. Nice nose, with good fruit. Young and very fresh on the
palate. This would be nice in the garden on a summer’s afternoon. 87/100
1987 Côtes de Gascogne Rouge, Domaine des Cassagnoles
(£40/12)
A balanced deep red. Decent nose. Strong, assertive and full on the palate
with some spicy flavours. Very Good Indeed. 89/100
1987 Roc de Lussac, AC Lussac-Saint Émilion, Les
Producteurs Réunis de Puisseguin, alcohol content not shown (£56.20/12)
An even colour. Fairly spicy on the nose. Very pleasant. 85/100
1986 Cuvée de Luccius, AC Lussac-Saint Émilion, Les
Producteurs Réunis de Puisseguin, alcohol content not shown (£55.90/12)
Attractive colour. Spicy oak on the nose. Very smooth on the palate and
ultra-palatable. Very Good Indeed. 90/100
1986 Château la Font du Loup Rouge, AC Bordeaux
Supérieur Côtes de Castillon, 12.5% (£52.99/12)
Good colour. On the palate, there’s much room for improvement, or rather
development. Good. 85/100
1986 Madiran, Château d’Aydie, Vignobles Laplace,
(£34.60/6)
Dark colour. Rich and nice on the nose, with a trace of oak. Good tannic
structure, but also nice and open on the palate. Very Good Indeed. 89/100
1985 Madiran Frédéric Laplace, Vignobles Laplace
(£31.35/6)
Dark, attractive colour. Really good palate and lovely drinking now.
Better than the Château d’Aydie for drinking now. 88/100
1987 Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Blanc, Vignobles Laplace
(£52.99/12)
Very pale gold. Nice nose. Bit harsh on the palate. 81/100
1985 Château Gaudrelle, AC Vouvray
(£105.50/12)
Pale colour. Nice nose. Nice palate – something a little different. Very
Good Indeed. 90/100
1987 Château du Hureau, AC Saumur Champigny
(£79.99/12)
A good even colour. Nice nose. This is a good, nice everyday wine with a
bit of something to it. 86/100
1982 Clos des Cocus, AC Côteaux du Layon, Les Godons
(£64.75/12)
Good colour. Interesting nose with some honeyed notes. Nice palate, really
only feeling semi-sweet. 87/100
1988 Mâcon Mancey Rouge, Cave des Vignerons de Mancey
(£59.45/12)
Good colour. Decent nose. Let down on the palate: a bit sharp and not
entirely pleasant. 73/100
1987 Château de la Saule Blanc, AC Montagny
(£98.99/12)
Pale appearance. Decent nose. Good character on the palate. Good/Very
Good. 85/100
1986 Auxey Duresses, Bourgogne de Vigne en Verre
(£110.50/12)
Very pale colour. Good nose. Rather good. 87/100
1987 Bourgogne Blanc Polane, Cave des Vignerons de
Mancey
(£77.85/12)
Average colour. Decent nose. Decent, unexciting stuff. 80/100
1986 Corbières Rouge, Cave d’Embres et Castelmaure,
SCV Castelmaure
(£38.15/12)
Good, enjoyable corbières with nice character. Good everyday drinking.
85/100
1986 Vieux Château Guibeau, AC Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion (£77.85/12)
Pleasing appearance. Full nose. Unusual, and there’s something not quite
pleasant about it. 76/100
1987 Vieux Château Guibeau, AC Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion (£63.80/12)
Attractive colour. This is very young indeed and needs a good few years
yet. 83/100
1987 Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Château du Trignon
(£59.40/12)
A very appealing golden colour. Good character and depth on the palate.
Nice after. Very Good+. 88/100
1983 Sablet Côtes du Rhône Villages, Château du
Trignon
(£63/12)
Very attractive appearance. Beautiful nose. Very Good Indeed. 90/100
1986 Côtes du Rhône, Château du Trignon
(£57.30/12)
Quite a youngish appearance. This is a powerful, assertive wine that’s
fairly impressive. 89/100
1986 Draytons Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, Australia
(£86.25/12)
Pale colour. Very nice, complex nose with some good oak. Nice character on
the palate and should keep a few years. 88/100
1987 Draytons Chardonnay-Semillon,
Hunter Valley, Australia
(£84.50/12)
60% chardonnay; 40% semillon. Nice fresh greeny gold colour. Very
assertive nose. Excellent. 93/100
1986 Draytons Shiraz
(£84.50/12)
Attractive appearance. Nicely rounded on the nose, with nice peppery
notes. Full, yet balanced. Very Good Indeed. 90/100
1987 Rosemount Semillon Chardonnay
(£71.65/12)
Nice goldish tinge to the colour. Gently spicy nose – interesting, and nice
and clean. Good balance and a nice blend. 87/100
1987 Rosemount Wood Matured Semillon
(£71.90/12)
Palish gold. Good nose. Bit of an odd aftertaste, but it’s nice on the way
down. 85/100
1986 Rosemount Shiraz
(£78.40/12)
Good colour. A touch thin on the nose. Lots of tannin. This is a good
all-round Shiraz. 86/100
1985 Bin 444 Cabernet Sauvignon, Wyndham Estate
(£67.57/12)
Very young. Very oaky. Not bad. 84/100
1986 Bin 555 Hunter Shiraz, Wyndham Estate
(£67.57/12)
Very attractive nose. Very Good. 86/100
1987 Oak Cask Chardonnay, Wyndham Estate
(£75.55/12)
Decent colour. Straightforward oaked chardonnay nose. Very smooth and
buttery on the palate, especially on the finish. Rather nice. 89/100
1987 White Zinfandel, Robert Mondavi
(£71.85/12)
A very pale salmon pink. Little nose. Suprisingly palatable. 83/100
1984 Riverside Farm Zinfandel
(£64.75/12)
Palish ruby. Nice fruity nose. Bit odd on the palate. 80/100
1988 Chardonnay, Brokenback Vineyard, Rothbury Estate
(£90.80/12)
Quite a deep, attractive colour. Decent nose. Good palate. 85/100
1987 Oaked Cabernet, Canepa Estate, Chile
(£44.30/12)
Thin on the nose, with only really the oak showing. Thin palate, again with
oak being the main characteristic. 72/100
1988 Sauvignon Blanc, Canepa Estate, Chile
(£41.75/12)
Very pale appearance. Decent sauvignon nose. Some freshness – quite good.
82/100
1988 Unoaked Chardonnay, Canepa Estate, Chile
(£43.15/12)
Very pale colour. Decent fresh nose. Good. There’s little to choose
between this and the Los Vascos 1988 chardonnay. 81/100
1986 Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Vascos, Chile
(£44.85/12)
Some blackcurrant fruit on the nose – quite intense really. Nicely rounded
on the palate, but rather unexciting. 83/100
1988 Sauvignon Blanc, Los Vascos, Chile
(£44.30/12)
Very pale colour. Little nose. Not bad on the palate – fairly easy
drinking. 83/100
1988 Chardonnay, Los Vascos, Chile
(£44.30/12)
Very pale colour. Nice, fresh, buttery nose. Ok on the palate, but a bit
harsh. 81/100
1985 Médoc, Ulysse Cazabonne
(£79.99/12)
Attractive cherry red colour. Bit thin on the nose. Unexciting, verging on
the iffy. 76/100
1987 White Graves, Ulysse Cazabonne
(£94.99/12)
Pale colour. Bit of sulphur evident on the nose. Iffy. 71/100
1986 Sauternes, Ulysse Cazabonne
(£150.25/12)
Not especially golden colour. Nice and raisiny on the nose. On the palate,
it’s not as good as it could/should be and is a bit sharp and unbalanced.
72/100
1986 Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Rouge
(£56.75)
Good colour. Thinnish nose. Surprisingly heavy tannins on the palate.
Ok. 79/100
1986 Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Rosé
(£56.75)
A pale orange. Decent stuff, I suppose, if a little sharp at the back of
the mouth, but I don't see why you'd want to bother. 80/100
1986 Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Blanc
(£56.75)
Pale appearance. Thinnish nose. Only just ok. 76/100
1986 Château de Calissanne Cuvée Prestige Rouge, AC
Côteaux d’Aix en Provence (£39.45/6)
Quite a deep ruby. Unexciting nose and there’s not much of any real
interest on the palate either. 78/100
1986 Château de Calissanne Cuvée Prestige Blanc, AC
Côteaux d’Aix en Provence (£39.45/6)
A mid gold colour. Nice fresh nose with a hint of apples. Bit chunky and
harsh on the palate. Good length. 82/100
1987 Château de Calissanne Cuvée Tradition, AC Côteaux
d’Aix en Provence, 12% (£48.10/12)
Nice, even colour, that’s not too young. Soft, fruity nose – nice and
fresh. Nice drinking. 85/100
1988 Domaine du Grand Chêne, Beaujolais Villages,
André Jaffre,
12.5% (£48.60/6)
A thin-looking cherry purple. Good nose. Decent stuff. 82/100
1988 Domaine de la Grosse Pierre, AC Chiroubles,
Georges Passot,
13% (£81.10/12)
Young cherry red. Thin nose. Thin palate, but easily quaffable. 82/100
1988 Juliénas “Les Envaux”, Domaine AndréPelletier,
alcohol content not shown (£73.50/12)
A young purple colour. Gorgeous nose – lightly scented and highly
attractive. Very Good. 86/100
1988 Gaillac Blanc Sec Perlé, Cave Coopérative
Labastide-de-Lévis (£43.15/12)
Ok appearance. Very fresh and fruity on the nose. Very nice on the
palate. It would make a good kir and go well with fish too. 85/100
1988 Gaillac Blanc Sec ‘Les Astes’, Cave Coopérative
Labastide-de-Lévis (£39.45/12)
Very pale appearance. Beautiful nose. Bone dry on the palate. Very nice,
if a bit thin. 86/100
NV Vin de Pays des Côtes du Tarn Rouge, Cave
Coopérative Labastide-de-Lévis (£39.45/12)
A nice young rounded colour. Great fruit on the nose. Very smooth, easy
drinking. Not bad at all. 86/100
1987 Domaine Comte Peraldi Rouge, Corsica
(£82.50/12)
Young, even appearance, with some body. Little nose. Quite spicy on the
palate, with plenty of tannins, and a bit syrah-like. Good, but there’s
better. 81/100
1988 Domaine Comte Peraldi Rosé
(£78.35/12)
Very pale colour. Harsh and nasty. 68/100
1987 Domaine Comte Peraldi Blanc
(£82.50/12)
Nice, interesting nose. A bit different on the palate. Slightly rustic on
the finish. Very Good. 85/100
1988 Marcillac Rouge, , La Cave des Vignerons du
Vallon Valady
(£40.95/12)
A much younger appearance than the 1987. Attractive and good, though
perhaps not as good as the 1987. 83/100
1987 Marcillac Rouge, , La Cave des Vignerons du
Vallon Valady
(£40.95/12)
Not showing much evolution a year on. Good, attractive, all-rounder.
86/100
1987 Marcillac Rosé, La Cave des Vignerons du Vallon
Valady
(£40.95/12)
A nice pale salmon pink. The nose has a very curious, not entirely
attractive maritime air to it. A bin thin and slatey on the palate. 77/100
1987 Old Luxters Reserve, Chiltern Valley Wines,
Hambledon, Oxfordshire (£76.80/12)
Decent colour. Nice, fruity nose. Very acceptable. 84/100
1986 Dry, Chiltern Valley Wines, Hambledon, Oxfordshire(£64.75/12 x 70cl)
Pale greenish colour. Very full nose. Attractive palate with a slight
spritz. Good. 84/100
1986 Medium Dry, Chiltern Valley Wines, Hambledon,
Oxfordshire(£64.75/12 x 70cl)
Complex full nose. Decent palate. 81/100
1986 Reichensteiner, Carr-Taylor Vineyards
(£75/12 x 70cl)
Almost clear. Pleasant, interesting nose. This is off sweet with a
significant amount of residual sugar. Decent palate though with a slightly
odd, peppery finish. 79/100
NV Sparkling Wine, Carr-Taylor Vineyards
(£210/12)
Medium dry. OK. Far too expensive though to buy. 79/100
NV Rosé, Carr-Taylor Vineyards
(£72.50/12 x 70cl)
Orangey pink colour. Not in the slightest bit impressive – very iffy and
scarcely drinkable. 63/100
1982 Pedro Botrytis, De Bortoli
(£237.50/ 12 x 375ml)
Looks very syrupy. Smells rich and syrupy. Tastes syrupy. Not an
especially good example. 75/100
NV Country Cuvée Red, Bulgarian Vintners Company
(£29.40/12)
Good colour. Decent nose. Rather nondescript. 73/100
1983 Pavlikeni Cabernet Sauvignon, Bulgarian Vintners
Company
(£33.45/12)
Surprisingly good. A decent, clean cabernet sauvignon. 84/100
1985 Lozitza Cabernet Sauvignon, Bulgarian Vintners
Company
(£47.90/12)
Decent colour. Bit harsh on the palate. 70/100
NV Tawny Port, Adega Cooperativa de Alijo
(£75.60/12)
Good even, remarkably mature looking tawny. Decent port, but nothing
special. 81/100
1986 Adega de Alijo White
(£36.75/12)
Pale straw. Nice nose. Very acceptable. 84/100
1986 Adega de Alijo Red
(£36.75/12)
Nice colour. Full and interesting on the nose. Decent palate. Very fair
all rounder, but like the port, nothing special. 82/100
1987 Burton Anderson’s Red Chianti, Azienda Agricola
Poliziano
(£43.15/12)
Even colour, starting to show some age. Slightly sharp. Good character.
85/100
1987 Rosso di Montalcino,
Castiglion del Bosco
(£49.20/12)
Good maturing colour. Good fruit, with a firm tannic structure. Rather
good. 86/100
1985 Ramitello Estate, Masseria di Majo Norante
(£43.15/12)
Good colour. Fairly powerful nose. Decent stuff. 82/100
1988 Ramitello Bianco, Masseria di Majo Norante
(£62.70/12)
Nice pale colour with a greenish tinge. Decent nose. A bit harsh on the
palate, but fairly interesting. 82/100
1988 Moli Bianco, Masseria di Majo Norante
(£48.10/12)
Nice colour. Attractive nose. Good stuff. 81/100
1984 Barolo, Roberto Voerzio
(£117.30/12)
Very good colour, looking nice and ready to drink. Lovely nose. Good
palate, with elegance and plenty of interest, though there’s also a touch of
astringency. 89/100
1988 Dolcetto, Roberto Voerzio
(£67.55/12)
Youngish appearance and nose. Good drinking. 88/100
NV Moscato d’Asti, Saracco
(£67.55/12)
Quite a greenish hue. Very slight muscatty nose. Lightly sparkling.
Really rather attractive: I like it! 91/100
1988 Falerio, Villa Pigna
(£43.15/12)
Very pale appearance. Bit odd on the palate. 80/100
1985 Vellutato, Villa Pigna
(£43.15/12)
Good colour. Pleasant nose. Nice, with good depth and length. 88/100
1983 Rosso Piceno Superiore, Villa Pigna
(£43.15/12)
Very good mature colour. Superb nose. Good palate; quite smooth, with a
nice character. Ready to drink. Very interesting. Very Good Indeed.
91/100
1988 Südtiroler Chardonnay, Herbert Tiefenbrunner
(£54.60/12)
A pale greeny gold. Gold nose. But thin and harsh on the palate. 77/100
1988 Goldmuskateller, Herbert Tiefenbrunner
(£63.25/12)
Pale straw. Very fragrant nose. Rather unexciting on the palate. 80/100
1988 Valpolicella Classico, Azienda Agricola Allegrini
(£47.55/12)
Very nice, fresh herbaceous nose. Nice palate; very attractive. 90/100
1980 Amarone Classico Fieramonte, Azienda Agricola
Allegrini
(£151.25/12)
Very red colour. Fairly straightforward nose – you’d not guess this was
Amarone, and the same goes for how it tastes. Nice Valpolicella, but
lacking amarone characteristics. 86/100
1985 Valpolicella Classico La Grola
(£69/100)
Good colour. Nice nose, but seems a bit lacking somehow and is outshone by
the ordinary Allegrini Valpolicella. Again, on the palate, the ordinary
1988 Allegrini Valpolicella is far superior. 85/100
NV Tomas Abad Muy Fresco Fino Sherry
(£29.95/6)
Nice golden colour. Lovely, attractive sherry nose. Bone dry. Good
flavour and length. Very impressive. 90/100
NV Tomas Abad Amontillado
(£57/12)
Attractive caramel colour. Just a touch of caramel on the nose. Very
palatable. Markedly sweet, but very clean also. 91/100
NV Tomas Abad Almacenista Oloroso
(£124.30/12)
Good even colour. Nice nose. Lovely palate. Impressive. 90/100
1986 Dominio Lasierpe Tinto, Navarra, Bodegas Cenalsa
(£34.05/12)
Nice young, but ready colour. Good nose. Nice drinking, though perhaps a
bit lacking in character. 84/100
1985 Basiano Tinto, Navarra, Bodegas Cenalsa
(£45.60/12)
Good, very deep colour. Full, fruity nose. Uninteresting palate. 80/100
1987 Remonte Branco, Navarra, Bodegas Cenalsa
(£47.05/12)
Very nice golden colour. Rather oxidised and sherrified on the nose. Dry,
almost searingly so on the palate. 79/100
1982 Monte Ducay Gran Reserva Tinto, Bodega
Cooperativa San Valero (£29.15/6)
Very good aged colour. Nice nose. Interesting wine. 91/100
1983 Marques de Tosos tinto, Bodega Cooperativa San
Valero
(£45.95/12)
Good, even colour that’s just lost is first flush of youth. Mysterious
spicy nose. Good on the palate with an interesting character; with oak
evident after. 90/100
1988 Valdemar Rosado, Bodegas Martinez Bujanda
(£50.30/12)
Pale appearance; remarkably pink. Little nose. Nice and clean on the
palate. 82/100
1984 Conde de Valdemar Reserva
(£64.75/12)
Good colour. This is serious stuff, with the wine just overcoming the
trees. 85/100
1985 Conde de Valdemar Tinto Crianza
(£48.60/12)
Nice colour. Heavy oak on the nose. Very mouthfilling and at the moment
tending to be rather like drinking an oak tree. 85/100