Felino 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina. V high alcohol hits you in the face, exceedingly so. Brash black fruits, v 'maufactured' taste. Sweet but in a plasticky, artificial way. Alcoholic streak refuses to die down even w air. Sort of gathers itself a bit in mid-palate and gave a decent finish, but overall a disappointing wine. Sort of mass-produced wine they'd serve at weddings and company dinners (6.7/10).

Marbuzet 2001

Cru Bourgeois, St Estephe. The unofficial 2nd wine of Ch Cos' D'Estournel before the introduction of Les Pagodes and the pedigree shows thru. A v youthful magenta in hue, surprising at this age. Attractive strong aromas of cool blackcurrants, savoury meat jerky and some dried leaves- understated elegance of an aged bordeaux which I love. Tannins are silky smooth and fully resolved. Mid-bodied. Signature Cos spice and pepper notes coming thru with mocha in the mid-palate. A bit hollow in the last 3/4, but the fruit came quickly back for the final quarter to finish off nicely with some roundedness. Finish could be longer. A the end of a beautiful drinking window. V balanced right now. Great value compared to a Cos 4 times its price (9.2/10).

Sierra Cantabria Reserva 2005

Tempranillo, Spain. A v solid, if somewhat modern specimen from Rioja. Sweet black fruits bursting from the rim of the glass, not shy at all. Rounded black fruits again on the palate. Good extraction. Oak is there but well-judged. Luxurious silky texture, viscous. Still young w tannic bite. Long persistent finish. Good tannic framework. Definitely modern (8.8/10).

Figeac 2006

St Emilion 1GCCB. This is an extremely nose-driven wine. Divine and explosive bouquet of sweet black fruits and violets. Alluring, intense and impressive. Disappointingly, the taste test does not live up to the promise. Body lacks sufficient weight, what some would term 'elegant'. Classy sour cherries and some cola. Sure I can taste the rounded, polished texture w no sharp edges but frankly nothing much else impresses. Baffled w the high scores - perhaps it's in a dumb phase now. Expensive and unsatisfying (7.9/10). 

Astica 2010

Merlot/ Malbec blend, Argentina.  A v acidic and sourish nose, q off-putting An astringent attack but smoothened out slightly w some time on the palate. Acids are still overwhelming but somewhat compensated w some tobacco and sour cherries/ red currants in mid-palate. Finish is loose and unfocused. Typical entry level pizza wine (6.8/10).

les Ormes de Pez 1995

St Estephe, Cru Bourgeois. Ageing wine can be a futile exercise if the wine is not sufficiently well-made in terms of good tannic structure/ acids to sustain the long haul. But if they do, they can reward the patient in terms of resolved, smoothed-out tannins and offer subtle yet complex secondary fruit/ spice surprises that only aging can achieve. This bottle is a case in point w all the associated pedigree of an 'ageable' wine, owing to the excellent vintage no doubt. High neck fill ,a good sign. Only slight browning on the rim, youthful. Silky texture yet has enough weight to assert its presence. Typical St Estephe earthiness and austerity but still no lack of fresh red fruits and pepper to arouse interest. Finish is serious and still tannic. Surprising longevity, well made to last (8.9/10)

Petit Village 1999

Pomerol AOC. Still dark and luscious on the eye, Cool, minty bouquet. V fresh. On entry, still juicy, substantial w good body and mouth feel. Sweet redcurrants all round. Fruit is lively but not just a fruit bomb - can still sense a good tannin framework in the background. Still has several years of life left in this. Excellent right banker (9.0/10).