Winery: Mugnier

Vintage: 2005

Grand Cru: Musigny

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Average Price: $1400

Tasting Notes: Considered by many to be the wine of the vintage (knowing how great the 2005 vintage was that’s saying a lot) the 2005 Mugnier Musigny is the greatest wine I have tasted this year by far, and is a candidate for greatest of all time. I have a feeling that if I taste this wine in 20 years it may take the “best ever” slot. My notes are as follows: The nose releases pure and beautiful aromas of black raspberry and black cherry with a lovely rose pedal and crushed mineral aspect. Hints of fine vanilla and cinnamon complete a unified and seducing bouquet. The palate is stunning to say the least. There is so much power in this wine yet a wonderful elegance as well. Succulent and ripe yet firmly structured with a ridiculously long and complex finish I’m in heaven…pure heaven…

Rating: 5 of 5 (Special occasion wine, sit down wine)

Cellaring: I would drink this at the earliest 2024, this wine will taste fantastic for 30+ years if cellared properly.

Winery: Domaine DuJac

Vintage: 2003

Grand Cru: Clos de la Roche

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Average Price: $800 (Magnum)

Tasting Notes: I won’t lie, we opened this decades too early on purpose. There is only one way to get a half decent idea about how long a wine will age, and that is to taste it. Here are the notes from this stunning wine. A nose only hinting at what will someday become a host of vivid aromas. A beautiful black cherry and rhubarb note with a powerful truffle and dark turned potting soil component make this nose jump right out of the glass. On the palate this wine is dense with absolutely pristine tannins. Despite the rock solid structure, there is an elegance to this wine. To me, that combination is the mark of a truly special burgundy. After a nice long finish I’m floored by this wine. The potential is nearly endless, but if I had to put a number as far as cellaring is concerned, I would say 20 years before I try this guy again.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 (Classic wine, sit down wine)

While perusing around my favorite wine shop in Yountville (V-wine Cellar) I was asked by the general manager of the shop to taste a flight of wines brought by a sales rep. This came not as surprise to me. The wonderful people at V-Wine Cellar have come to appreciate my two cents when it comes to potential wines they might carry. This benefits them because they get an outside opinion from a practised palate and it benefits me because I get the opportunity to learn something new about wines I would have not tasted otherwise. This particular flight was a Patz&Hall Pinot Noir tasting. I thought I would share my tasting notes with you, hope you enjoy!

Winery: Vincent Girardin

Vintage: 2005

Appellation: Pommard

Varietal: Pinor Noir

Oak: 16 months 33% new French

Average Price: $32.00

After several years selling wine in England and Wales, Alex Bazeley decided to learn more about wine from the ground up, touring every major wine producing country in the Southern hemisphere. Visiting fairtrade projects in South Africa, learning about Biodynamics in Australia, and learning Spanish in Argentinian wine mecca, Mendoza. All this and both 2008 harvests, working in New Zealand in the first half of the year and helping out with the crush in Napa later in the year.
Alex recently arrived back in London after 18 months on the road, read more about his epic journey at winetraveller.net

The bush fires still raging through the south of Australia are the worst in the country’s history, and some of the fiercest have been in the state of Victoria where winemakers are in the middle of their busiest season.

The Yarra valley is one of Australia’s finest wine regions, especially well known for it’s sparkling wines and Pinot Noir. I was there at the start of last summer before things had dried out too much, a good time to meet up with winemakers before things got too busy, and my heart goes out to those guys during these troubled times. Australia has been in a state of drought for several years now, so there is a constant risk of fires running out of control during the Summer months. So with the summer drawing to a close down under, and the grapes becoming ready for harvest, the surrounding bush is as dry as it gets year round.

“Our single vineyards sustained some minor damage, but that did not stop us from picking some great fruit at Murrummong. Although we will have smaller crops, we are working quickly to bring in some terrific fruit. Sadly, some of our more northerly growers suffered severe damage and will not be picking. Their families are ok and our heartfelt support goes out to them.”
Steve Flamsteed, Winemaker.

While only a handful of vineyards themselves have been scorched by the fires, the smoke blown over the ripe fruit clings to the grapes, making them, in some instances, so tainted with smoke that they were unsuitable for turning into wine.

The heatwave this summer will make it a difficult year for winemakers right across Southern Australia, so expect the 2009 vintage to produce some big bold wines which reflect the early ripening of the grapes. Until then though, I encourage you to go out and support the winemakers of Yarra by seeking out their wines in your local ‘bottle-o’ (that’s wine store to you) and I have a couple of recommendations to encourage you further…

‘Innocent Bystander’ Pinot Noir 2007
(made at the Giant Steps Winery)

This is a lighter style, with a freshness making it very appealing, light berry fruit, raspberries and cranberries, finishing with a mineral earthiness. It also offers great value (around US$20) A nice unfussy Pinot that would be well suited to a picnic.

Yarrabank Cuvee 2003
(made at Yering Station)

A real classic fresh Champenoise style with dry toast and a zing of lemon citrus, perhaps a little rounder on the finish than most champagnes, but if I tasted it again blind, I doubt I’d be able to tell it wasn’t from Champagne.
and I just nearly fell off my chair when I saw what it goes for – around US$20 – a bargain!