A bit after the fact, but I discovered some notes on my phone from a really lovely day’s drinking with some wine trade crew at Greg Sherwood’s place back in late July. The notes are a little terse, as they were taken on an iPhone, but I felt that these wines needed to be recorded. I’ve already written up the rosés that we started with.

Savage The Girl Next Door Syrah 2017 South Africa
[Top left in picture.] This is a Syrah from a tiny vineyard planted on the estate Duncan lives on in Nordhoek. It’s hand-tended, and only 760 bottles of this were made. It’a quite a stunning wine and I rated it even higher more recently. Lovely focus. Generous and supple with some peppery hints. Sleek and focused. So fine. 95/100

The Juice Asylum Il Terzo Grado 2017 Tuscany, Italy
Second vintage of this lovely, smashable wine, which is imported by Woodwinters. It’s a co-ferment of organically grown Sangiovese and Merlot, with the grapes coming from Montepulciano. Juicy supple and fresh with grainy cherry and plum fruit. Some sweet juicy fruit with a lovely green hint. 92/100

Jean-Luc Jamet Syrah Valine 2014 Northern Rhône, France
Pretty smart wine. Peppery and expressive with plums and spice and black cherry. Lively and juicy with real focus and finesse. 93/100

Rinaldi Langhe Nebbiolo 2015 Piedmont, Italy
Focused sweet cherry and plum fruit. Lovely bright fruit with some supple cherries and herbs. Very fine and detailed 93

Garnacha not Guerra Vino Rosso 2016 Italy
This is made by Mick O’Connell in Sardinia. Fine, supple and fresh with sweet cherries and plums. So fresh and elegant with vivid red fruits. Elegant and bright. 93/100

La Garagista Lupo in Bocca Rosé 2016 Vermont
Another lovely wine from Deirdre Heekin in Vermont made with latest-generation hybrid varieties. Apples, pears and a bit of spice. Supple and fresh with a bright juicy quality. Textured and natural. 89/100

Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 2001 Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux
A serious white Bordeaux with a bit of age on it. Complex and toasty with lovely citrus and grapefruit nuts and fennel. 92/100

Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva 2004 Rioja, Spain
Glad I have a few more of these tucked away. A complex, nutty white wine with a lemony core. Powerful, youthful and tangy with lovely marmalade and spice detail. Just beginning its journey. 94/100

Rafael Palacios As Sortes 2016 Val do Bibei, Ribera Sacre, Spain
Serious stuff, which should age well. Generous pear and peach fruit with nice tangerine and lemon notes. Lovely complexity and depth. 93/100

Kutch Chardonnay 2016 Sonoma Coast, California
This is proper stuff. Taut and fresh with bright citrus fruit and a mineral edge. Bright and fine with lovely brisk lemony notes and a mineral core. 94/100

Jean-Claude Ramonet Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles 2014 Burgundy, France
Fresh lemony and bright with great precision. 93/100

Ceritas Marema Chardonnay 2016 Sonoma Coast, California
Tight fresh and citrusy with lovely bright lemon and pear fruit. Crystalline and precise with bright crisp citrus fruit. Very fine and linear. 93/100

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