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Grape Observer

Grape Observer

A fine wine review focussing on wines from Australia and France (c)

  • Château Clerc Milon 2012

    This is a refined, St Julien like expression of Château Clerc Milon from Pauillac and the 2012 vintage.  In all respects, this is classic left bank Bordeaux and an edge free experience.  Every corner has been polished.  It has textbook aromas of blackcurrant and cedar.  The palate is medium bodied, has firm fine tannins and […]

    Sean Mitchell

    April 27, 2022
    Wine Reviews
    Bordeaux, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pauillac
  • Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Becker Margaux 2005

    The stronger 2005s from Bordeaux should be starting to drink well and the lesser wines revealing whether they had sufficient stuffing to last the distance. The Marquis d’Alesme Becker grand cru classé sits somewhere in between. It could be a little tired, offer glimpses of excellence or provide excellent drinking with the promise of more. […]

    Sean Mitchell

    April 20, 2022
    Wine Reviews
    Bordeaux, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Margaux, Merlot
  • Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2010

    From Moss Wood’s Ribbon Vale vineyard, the 2010 vintage is a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 7% cabernet franc. A deep ruby in colour, the wine has taken on some tertiary characters of earth and has savoury red and dark fruits. It is bottled under screwcap; the argument that screw capped reds […]

    Sean Mitchell

    April 14, 2022
    Wine Reviews
    Australia, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Merlot
  • Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2002

    This wine review is of the 2002 vintage of Château Grand Puy Lacoste from Pauillac in Bordeaux. The wine initially presents as mature and fully evolved with tertiary soy, leather and earthy characters. A touch of blackcurrant is there, but only for the particularly diligent searcher. With time in the glass, however, a metamorphosis take […]

    Sean Mitchell

    March 15, 2022
    Wine Reviews
    Bordeaux, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pauillac
  • Yarra Yering new releases from the 2020 and 2019 vintages

    All the wines were tasted in December 2021.

    Sean Mitchell

    January 19, 2022
    Subscriber Only Articles, Wine Reviews
    Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Semillon, Shiraz, Touriga Nacional, Viognier, Yarra Valley
  • Mount Mary and Yeringberg new releases from the 2019 vintage

    All wines were tasted in October 2021.

    Sean Mitchell

    November 13, 2021
    Subscriber Only Articles, Wine Articles, Wine Reviews
    Australia, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Marsanne, Merlot, Muscadelle, Pinot Noir, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Shiraz, Victoria, White Bordeaux Blends, White Rhône Blends, Yarra Valley
  • Château Latour 1964 Wine Review

    This wine review is of Château Latour’s 1964 vintage. It is very special to taste wines of this calibre. Cellared since its purchase in the day, 57 years have passed since its vintage and the wine is still vibrant and joyous. Fully mature, the wine opens to aromas of leather, earth and old cedar. Amazingly […]

    Sean Mitchell

    July 23, 2021
    Wine Reviews
    Bordeaux, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pauillac
  • Chateau La Lagune Haut-Médoc 2010

    This is an excellent La Lagune from the outstanding 2010 Bordeaux vintage.  It has unmistakeable left bank aromas of cedar and blackcurrant.  The palate is between medium and full bodied, the tannins are a little softer than expected for this vintage and the length on the finish is long.  This is one of those wines […]

    Sean Mitchell

    November 4, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Haut Médoc, Merlot
  • Punters Corner Coonawarra Triple Crown 2002

    This wine is from Punters Corner in Coonawarra and is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and shiraz from the 2002 vintage.  It was purchased in South Australia at release, when travel outside of Victoria was a thing. The wine opens to tertiary aromas of cedar, smoke and earth.  The palate is full bodied and […]

    Sean Mitchell

    October 18, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Merlot, Shiraz, South Australia
  • Domaines Paul Mas Vignes de Nicole Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2019

    This wine, a cabernet sauvignon merlot blend from Paul Mas and the Languedoc in the south of France, over delivers for its price. It has correct varietal aromas of blackcurrant, smoke and leaf. The palate is full bodied with savoury fruit and medium tannins that are ripe. Ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: https://www.paulmas.com/en/home/; […]

    Sean Mitchell

    October 11, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pays d’Oc IGP, South of France
  • Bordeaux 2015 tasting in Napa

    This tasting took place in Napa in February 2020 just before the global pandemic took hold. This post though is not about Napa wine but the annual Institute of Masters of Wine tasting of the 2015 Bordeaux vintage in bottle, a tasting which travels to London, Napa and Sydney. The setting was the centrally located […]

    Sean Mitchell

    September 23, 2020
    Wine Articles
    Barsac, Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, France, Haut Médoc, Margaux, Merlot, Napa Valley, Pauillac, Pessac-Leognan, Pomerol, Saint Julien, Saint-Émilion, Saint-Estèphe, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
  • Château Capbern Saint-Estèphe 2015

    We see so few Bordeaux wines in Australia that are from the left bank appellations of Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Margaux and Saint-Julien and are not a cru classé. This is a mistake, as with the improvements and price increases in Bordeaux, there is wonderful value in these villages at below cru classé level. This wine, from […]

    Sean Mitchell

    September 12, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Saint-Estèphe
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