MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.3

Lovely #chardonnay from #margaretriver it is the #benchmark for the region and Jancis Robinson tasted it blind and preferred it over Chardonnays from all around the world Top. Margaret River Chardonnay is recognizeable for its concentrated ripe fruit, high acidity and balance between the two. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Aromas of Tobacco and Cedar, a little manure and unfortunately a tiny amount of wet cardboard/cork taint. The 2004 was 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc so I presume this 2003 - a very warm year - was similar. Medium weight - more savoury than fruit driven at this age. Jancis Robinson had a tasting of 2003 Bordeaux a while ago and with a few exceptions said Drink Up. L’Evangile has 34 acres and is a neighbour of Cheval Blanc. Footnote: I notice the blend from Vinous was 79/21 Merlot/Cabernet Franc for 2003. — 5 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.3

Fantastic — 5 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

The 2009 Clos Abella from Marco Abella won Wine in China Magazine's 2014 blind tasting of more than 1,000 wines, which was chosen by a panel that included 7 Masters of Wine and Jancis Robinson.

50% Carignan, 39% Garnacha, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon from Porrera in Priorat. Potently dark aromatics of creosote, espresso, charcoal, blackberry, licorice and schist. Everything translates through to the palate adding some secondary dark chocolate, raspberry, and baking spice, along with a floral overtone. — 6 years ago

Richard Portes

9.2

18. Preparing for Jancis Robinson 'sherry night' next Sunday, when we'll taste 38, including a Navazos. This is brilliant. Lovely amber, very deep and complex nose. Not much alcohol on nose, and they say only 15%. Deep on palate, v long. Very dry but lots of fruit. — 7 years ago

Willem Boshoff

9.5

Last of my 08, 09 and 10 vertical. The entire series was heck of a pleasant surprise. Who would have thought Barossa can make Pinot (fruit from Mornington). Excellent nose, perfect balance, lingering flavours of fruit and forest. Definite buy if you can still find some. — 8 years ago

Laura Anderson

9.3

So good for pool side drinking. Lots of fruit but not too sweet — 8 years ago

Laura Anderson

9.7

Favorite wine of the Napa trip! Brought the bottle with us. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Mid to Deep Crimson in colour. Aromas of menthol, tobacco and ash notes together with black tea and after an hour in the decanter- violets. Not often one has a Cabernet Franc of this quality made in Australia. Made at The Islander on Kangaroo Island which is owned by Jacques Lurton and family, owner of Chateau Cheval Blanc so they know a bit about Cab Franc!! Jancis Robinson describes Cheval Blanc as “the world’s grandest Cabernet Franc dominated wine” Visited The Islander there 4 years ago and had a tour with the Colorado winemaker. A semi-maritime climate - very dry so that a limited need for pesticides. In summary a very polished wine and the best Cab Franc I’ve had outside the Right Bank or Loire Valley. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

From Magnum. Had been decanted for about an hour and s half. Quite stinky which largely blew off to reveal leafy herbaceous characters with mint. Just medium bodied but such good balance and harmony. At that stage of just “damn good claret “ with nothing in particular standing out. A few years ago it was stunning and more powerful. Jancis Robinson still scores on the old 20 points score and gave this wine 19 points, a score generally reserved for 1st Growth Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy. Great wine but time to drink it. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

Dark purple. Expressive nose of dark berries, black olive, violets, and black pepper. Juicy dark fruit and earth on the palate are supported by very soft, fine grained tannins and only 12.9% alcohol. Made from 50% whole clusters fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged 16 months in 50% new French oak. $43. — 6 years ago

with Lisa and Kelly

Jeff Kiefer

9.3

Nice Syrah. Big fruit well balanced. I liked better than 13 — 6 years ago

Joe Loughran

9.4

Contender for WOTN for me at 2012 Barolo tasting with Jancis Robinson. This was straight killing it, very well balanced with crazy potential. Hope I get the chance to meet this one again when it grows up a bit. — 8 years ago

with Jesse

Bob McDonald

9.6

Jancis Robinson MW once said that mature Hunter Valley Semillon was Australia's gift to the World of Wine. This wine demonstrates that statement. Notes of wet straw Bees wax Lanolin Grassy nuances. Acid diminishing from the searing levels in its youth. "Less is More". Pale Gold in colour. Marvellous wine at 16 years still with a future. — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

Very highly rated by Jancis Robinson so I am biased! Ripe Honey melon on the nose. Cucumber? Relative yellow already. Good acidity. Obviously great stuff - ambitious. On the palate complex. Rich. Hard to describe. Creamy rich texture. A big wine. Long and persistent. Wood Notes. Kumquat skins, honey faint bitterness. To big for me but an excellent wine. Expensive! — 8 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Thought it would be good timing to finally try Rajat’s 2013 Bloom’s Field.

The nose straight out of the decanter gave a strong presence of potpourri laced candle wax. That has subsided now. The fruits are ripe, ruby; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, some dry cranberries, raspberries with blackberries pulling up the rear. Nice evenly, soft, layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon, light nutmeg and gentle vanilla. Mixed dark berry cola, understated, black licorice, whiff of lightly grilled meats, black, fruit tea, limestone alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dark turned earth, dry herb blend, light, fresh tobacco notes, worn leather with a nice bouquet of; red, dark, purple and blue florals.

The body is, round, ruby and just full. Tannins still have adolescent teeth. The structure, tension could use some more time in bottle...length and balance have just hit their stride. Gorgeous mouthfeel. The fruits are ripe, ruby, a little gluey; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, some dry cranberries, raspberries with blackberries pulling up the rear. Nice evenly, soft, layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon, light nutmeg and gentle vanilla. Mixed dark berry cola, dark spices, understated, black licorice, lightly grilled meats, black, fruit tea, limestone alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dry pebbles, moist, dark turned earth, dry herb blend, light, fresh tobacco notes, worn leather with a nice bouquet of; red, dark, purple and blue florals with gentle lavender on the back end. The acidity is a gentle rain shower. The beautiful finish is straight up; elegant, well balanced, seamless and persists nicely for minutes.

Paired with Kentucky Bourbon Marinated Chicken Skewers and Wild Rice.

Photos of; Bloom’s Field Vineyard, The Sommeliers Altas of Taste that Rajat & Jordan Macrat wrote. Good read if you are so inclined & of course, Master Sommelier/Owner/Winemaker-Rajat Parr.

Additional notes; Rajat has always loved Pinot and its many expressions from all over the world. After becoming one of the better & more well known Master Somms, it was his dream to make world class Pinot Noir. He is succeeding as his last few vintages have gotten very high notoriety. It was his 2015 Bloom’s Field that Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson featured in Somm 3 in his recreation of the Judgment of Paris with some of the best palates in NYC and again separately with The Godfather of Master Somms-Fred Dame, Author-Jancis Robinson & Steven Spurrier. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

My final bottle of 6 I bought on release and the best. Deep crimson in colour - quite dark for 19 years of age. Notes of violets and all the classic Cabernet descriptors of Bay leaf and cassis. On the palate a beautiful mature Cabernet blend at the peak of its powers. Really enjoyed this. Jancis Robinson MW compared this to Margaux. A tradition of female Wine making with Di Cullen as Winemaker from 1971 until 1989 when daughter Vanya took over and continues to this day. Consistently one of Margaret River’s better Cabernets. — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.5

Exceptional balance. Rich, but so fresh. Pears, orange, flowers, lemon curd, cream, brioche, nut. Long, powerful palate, underlined by a driving acidity.

Some thoughts: In my eyes, RMs tend to fall into "extreme" categories e.g. Laherte - austere, Egly - rich (lees), Agrapart - rich (oak), Selosse - oxidative; but this wine doesn't fit here. NM-like, but not (I think of Chartogne-Taillet when I say this). Compare to Krug's Grand Cuvee, the Grands Vintages is definitely richer and broader (fair comparison, given how both wines are constructed).

From Chain Bridge Cellars:
As the name suggests, Eric Rodez’s Grand Vintages is a rich, powerful and very much “grand” wine in the tradition of Krug (where Eric learned his craft). This year's release is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from seven great vintages going back to vintage 2000. Eric ages all of these base wines in used oak and blocks malolactic fermentation to maximize freshness and vibrancy. Then the carefully crafted blend spends 8 full years on the lees before being disgorged this October. The dosage is ultra-low - 2 or 3 g/l - so this could be labeled "Extra Brut," but there's so much richness and depth here that "Brut" seems more appropriate to Eric.

Past releases have earned plenty of critical praise, including 17.5/20 points from Jancis Robinson, 93 from Vinous, and 92 from Wine Advocate. This year’s release is explosive on the nose and palate, pumping out big notes of lemon curd, caramel, toasted nuts, baking bread, crushed chalk, and more. The flavors just balloon out to fill your entire palate and finish with layer upon layer of mouthwatering pie crust, lemon curd, hazelnut, crushed stone and salty caramel flavor. Try holding some for even more richness! — 7 years ago

Mary Alice Smith

9.3

Thanks to Jay and Kate😊 — 8 years ago

Brandon T

9.1

Really nice 5 minutes in, 2 hours later, excellent. Don't think it's quite as good as the 06, but still very good. — 8 years ago