Chris England

9.3

My first try of this wine was the 2015 vintage & I loved it but I’ve not found many 2014 from Italy that I’ve liked as many are weak, so @ £127 I was torn on hold or try & yes I’m so weak to 🤣 I prefer this to the Sassicaia 14 but still I’d pay for the 2015 at this price as it feels expensive for what it is or could be 😉 But hey I love their labels 😍

📍 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 2014

🏵 93 points w/ maybe a little improvement but not as complex as the 2015 which I gave 97-98 points @ £135 - I know which I’d buy as a long term treat 😉

🍇 100% Sangiovese

🍷 Clear rich ruby

👃 Soft oak & minty fresh cedar tones through dark cherry & sweet plum w/ blackberry, earth, rock minerals, red potpourri & spiced herby hints

👄 Med body of smooth red cherry, soft dark plum & light blackberry tones in dry minerals w/ raspberry, pomegranate & red berry oozing through

🎯 Med dry mineral infused red fruit wallop w/ a cherry, raspberry & pomegranate linger
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

A new 🇮🇹 beauty that sells at £62-£92 (crazy price differences) that’s so silky smooth it made me want to wax my bottom 🤪 I was expecting boom but got oooooo & arrrrrrr 😃

📍 Allegrini La Poja 2012

🏵 94 points w/ more potential 😉

💥 14.5% ABV

🍇 Corvina

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 Spiced blackberry & currant, blueberry & red cherry w/ soft smoked oak, raisin, leather, liquorice, chocolate goo & coffee

👄 Med+ body of smooth creamy dark berry’s & morello cherry in a harmonious fruit explosion that coats every crevice of your grape glugging choppers w/ a touch of mineral, raisin & coffee liquorice

🎯 Long morello cherry dominant linger w/ black fruits dancing alongside in a coffee liquorice raisin mineral quartet
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

Taking one for the community trying this top vintage Talbot @ £58 to see if it’s worth buying more & computer says Hell Yeah 😍👍 Drinking great already but in 10-40 years Boomshakalaka 💥 a tad too youthy at the mo so let it 😴 💤 the 05 & even 10 are drinking well already 😉

📍 Chateau Talbot 2015

🏵 92 points moving to 94+ in time

🍇 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot & 3% Petit Verdot

🍷 Ooaque blackened ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Sweet damson plum & rich blackcurrant w/ smoke, liquorice, cocoa, blueberry, raspberry, light gravel, broken pencil, spice & minerals

👄 Med+ body of rich ripe deep blackcurrant w/ a red liquorice, mocha & mineral undertone

🎯 Long touch dry mineral infused blackcurrant, blueberry & red liquorice mocha kiss
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

A new Rioja for me I grabbed in Spain from @gabymeetswine @vilaviniteca @ €105 & whilst nice I think it’s overpriced as you get just as good quality in many £40-£50 Rioja but that said it’s nice 😉 & quite unusually earthy & mineral laden 😁 leave 5 years 👍

📍 Olivier Riviere Losares 2013 Rioja

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 Mazuela, Graciano & Tempranillo

🍷 Deep dark ruby

👃 Soggy earth, gravel, minerals & pencil lead through muted dark cherry w/ a light smokey soaked oak tone, red currant, balsamic & herbs then the oak really pushed through on steroids after a couple of hours

👄 Med body of red & dark cherry in balsamic w/ cocoa & minerals galore w/ a touch of blackberry

🎯 Med+ dry tannic red & dark cherry/berry cocoa mineral earthy linger w/ an okay follow through
— 7 years ago

Chris England

8.9

This was the first Chateau that got me hooked on Pauillac & still is one of the best at this price of £40 😁 not a top vintage but drinking well 😉

📍 Chateau Lynch-Moussas 2008

🏵 89 points

🍇 70% Cabernet Sauvignon & 30% Merlot

🍷 Deep ruby

👃 Smoked oak & cedar through gravel & minerals into soft dark berry fruits w/ touches of plum, herbs, red berry, snapped pencil & liquorice

👄 Med body of smooth mineral infused earthy dark berry fruits w/ a touch of mocha & red liquorice

🎯 Med dark fruit finale w/ a light mineral dry touch
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

2nd wine of Haut Brion @ £120 in top year that I grabbed as a bin end last week for £77 💥 boom - like walking down the street & not stepping in the dog 💩 result 😁

📍 Le Clarence De Haut Brion 2009

🏵 93+ points & should still improve 😉

🍇 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon & the rest dollops of Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 Flint, mineral & gravel in soggy earth through blackberry soaked in smokey oak w/ plum, cracked pencil, dark cherry, herbs, cocoa, raspberry & wet leaves

👄 Med body of smooth rich black berry/currant, dark cherry, plum & raspberry in rock minerals w/ a mocha liquorice undertone

🎯 Med+ dark & red fruit silky mineral kiss w/ a mocha liquorice spank
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.0

2nd wine of Cos d'Estournel in an average year @ £38 but drinking lovely 😉 a great effort 👍

📍 Château Cos d'Estournel - Les Pagodes de Cos 2012

🏵 90 points

🍇 60% Cabernet Sauvignon & 40% Merlot

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 Smoked rich oak through blackcurrant & sweet dark plum w/ minerals & soggy earth

👄 Med creamy body of black berry fruits w/ dark plum, minerals, blueberry, cocoa & a touch of red liquorice

🎯 Med++ smooth dark fruits w/ a touch of blue & red berry in fine mineral, liquorice, cocoa & a light oaky linger — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

My first bottle I tried using the Coravin Model 2 Elite 👍 Remember to enter the competition I posted on Saturday on Instagram for your chance to win one also 🤞 Drinking well young @ £80 but should improve a little letting the dry tones soften 😁

🥧 Paired w/ Mrs Es homemade Chicken & Mushroom Pie w/ Dauphinoise Potato (scroll for pic ⏩)

📍 Kistler Sonoma Coast 2014

🏵 92 points w/ more potential maybe

🍇 Pinot Noir

🍷 Clear deep ruby w/ a purple hue

👃 Earthy spiced red cherry & dirty blackberry bramble bush through soft smokey herbs w/ light oak, red roses & hints of gasoline

👄 Med body of creamy smooth ripe earthy blackberry & red cherry cola w/ raspberry, strawberry, light dry minerals & a hint of cocoa

🎯 Long touch dry blackberry, cherry & red fruit earthy gooey linger — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

GPL is probably the best Pauillac you can get for the money & at £60 paid this top vintage is still improving lovely in a great spot already 😉

📍Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2009

🏵 95 points

🍇 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Opaque blackened deep ruby

👃 Minerals, gravel & broken pencil through soft smoked oak infused blackberry w/ damson plum, red liquorice, soggy earth, mocha, herbs, black tea, purple flower & blackcurrant - get that lot up your nose & snort like a little piggy wiggy 🐷 😍

👄 Med smooth silky body of black berry & currant in crushed rock mineral w/ a plummy mocha raspberry liquorice follow through

🎯 Long blackberry driven dark fruit creamy plump kiss bathed in choc mocha, liquorice & red cherry peekaboo — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.6

I love this Pomerol Chateau & the 09 @ £65 (now £100) is a cracking Pomerol drinking great now & will be amazing in 10+ years 👍 let’s get this Pom party on 🎉 Come here 👃 phwoooorrrr 😄

📍 Chateau Certan de May 2009

🏵 96 points (Parker gave it 87 🤣)

🍇 70% Merlot , 25% Cabernet Franc & 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷Dark ruby red with brown edge

👃 Smokey oak, minerals, pencil lead, dark plum, blackcurrant, blackberry, soggy earth, liquorice, mocha, tar, soot, gravel, cherry & black tea emerging a choc cherry raspberry gateaux - nasal sex 😘

👄 Med rich smooth creamy body of slight mineral dry ripe stewed black mashed fruits with mocha, liquorice & black tea

🎯 Long dark plummy blackcurrant mocha & black tea mineral toned dry finish

🐮 Paired with Mrs Es slow cooked Beef casserole & Mash mountain 🏔 — 7 years ago