Last Friday night I stayed at Château Pichon in Pauillac, in preparation for the long run the next day. I was intending to drink very little, but in the end some nice bottles were opened. Ideal preparation for the run! I’ve also added some notes for a few post-run bottles. The Noval Vintage 2003, which is spectacular at the moment, was tasted on both occasions.

Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2008 Mosel, Germany
Limey, precise and lemony with pure linear fruit and a mineral core. Subtle melon and honey adding richness. Very pure and still quite primary. 91/100

Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2007 Mosel, Germany
Sweet grapefruit and tangerine notes with some melony richness. Ripe apples, too. Fresh and very drinkable, this is a lovely Riesling. 93/100

Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2004 Mosel, Germany
Lively and mineral with subtle hints of cabbage. Very fresh and not too sweet with focused, pure, linear fruit. Not too developed. 92/100

Château Pichon Baron 2007 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Dense, rich blackcurrant fruit with some spiciness and subtle green notes. Lovely structure with some grip and lovely fruit. A real surprise from a badly regarded vintage. 93/100

Château Pichon Baron 2008 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Lovely blackcurrant, blackberry and gravel notes. Smooth and still quite youthful with nice grip and precision. Quite tannic with fresh black fruits dominating. Still youthful, with a lot of potential. 94/100

Château Pichon Baron 2002 Pauillac, Bordeaux
‘This hasn’t finished saying what it has to say,’ says Christian Seely. ‘It’s something I rather like in this vintage.’ Grippy with lovely perfumed blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Sweet with some gravel and lovely black fruits. Smooth, ripe and pure with an attractive grainy structure. 93/100

Château Pichon Baron 2004 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Lovely spicy, savoury blackcurrant fruit with some cedary notes. Nice structure, coupled with good freshness. Fine spices. Ripe but with nice savouriness. 93/100

Château Suduiraut 2006 Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
This is sensational. Honeyed crystalline fruits with caramel richness and some toast. Complex smoky apricots with orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and white pepper spiciness. Complex and complete. 95/100

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2003 Douro, Portugal
Quite amazing, with dense blackberry and black cherry fruit with lovely precision. Floral and dense with freshness, structure and complexity. Beginning to show a little positive evolution, but still a baby. 96/100

Quinta do Noval Colheita 1971 Douro, Portugal
Sweet, spicy and rich with powerful cherry and plum fruit. Complex notes of spice and cedar with great concentration and density. Quite profound. 96/100