Pocket Vintages - wine vintage charts and wine information

Chateau Haut-Badon 2003

This is a Saint Emillion Grand Cru with 12.5% alcohol.  It is drinking very well now - still rich cassis whiff when you open the bottle and a good chunky mouthful with a creamy aftertaste.

Still a little tannic, this wine would work well with any light meat dish but is actually good enough to drink on its own.  Very little sediment in the bottle so no need to decant although I would open it up a couple of hours before pouring.

Will probably improve another couple of years then turn.

8/10

Scotchmans Hill Swan Bay Shiraz 2006

14% alcohol, rich cherry and plum with a soft oak finish, this is a deliciously smooth Shiraz from Scotchmans Hill, about 50k south of Melbourne, Australia.

For a Shiraz, it lacks the classic spiciness, but for me, it still works, either as a big red to be drunk on its own or as a fine addition to any meaty dinner.

Drinking well now and not built to last, so drink up within the next 3 years.

9/10

Chateau Cheval Brun 2000 St Emillion Grand Cru

I'm a bit  off clarets at the moment, having opened quite a few recently that had gone over.  This one was a point, drinking beautifully and better on day two.  A silver medal winner at the Blaye-Bourg challenge in 2003, this is still smelling and tasting of ripe black fruit with a warmth that is unusual for a St Emillion this old.

Probably got another couple of years left in it, but I won't hang around to drink the other 5 bottles I have.

7.5/10

Pasanau Ceps Nous Priorat 2006

Approx price: £12.49

I love Priorat's and this is a very good example.  It has a surprisingly complex nose and when tasted gives away liquorice, blackcurren, petrol and leather.

It is a blend of Garnacha, Merlot, Syrah and Mazuelo and would grace any dinner table.

Will keep for another 10 years and improve along the way.

9 out of 10

Domaine L'Estagnere 2006

Approx price: £8.49

This is a Vin de Pays from near Carcassonne in South West France.  It's not half bad, especially for a VDP but for the price you can get better elsewhere.

7 out of 10

Domaine Pinson Chablis 2007

Approx price: £13.99

A very smooth and rounded mouthful with a crispy tart apple follow through.  This is a very good Chablis.

8 out of 10

Denbies Surrey Gold 2006

Approx price: £8.49

Long standing English vineyard producing a number of whites and sparkles.  This wine is made up predominantly of Muller Thurgau and whilst is pleasant on the nose has a peculiar aftertaste that would ensure you didn't want a second glass unless it was very chilled and you were desperate.

6 out of 10

Chusclan 2004 Cotes du Rhone Villages

Another prize winner, at the 2005 Rhone wine awards and another big red - this time packing 14% alcohol.  This means that if you polish off a bottle of it you'll be using up about 12 of your 21 weekly alcohol units.

I can't tell you how much it costs because it was a gift from some friends coming round for dinner, but I drank it over the weekend and was very satisfied with it.

Open it up a few hours before you want to drink it, because it is tannic and chunky and will require some oxidisation.  But it is still smooth and fruity and perfect with roast lamb in my opinion.  I actually tried it with shepherd's pie and it went down a treat.

7/10

Chateau de Gaudou 2003

This big and boisterous Cahors was a silver medal winner at the South West France wine challenge in 2004.  It packs 13.5% alcohol and is everything you expect from a Cahors, except a big less tanniny (probably why it won something).

Normally I avoid Cahors because they tend to be fairly rough, but if you're after a working red wine then this is as good as any.  I think I bought it locally in France so probably only paid a few euros for it.  If you see it and it costs under £6 a bottle then buy it, otherwise I wouldn't bother.

6/10

Chateau Villemagne 2001 Corbieres

I picked up a case of this direct from the vineyard near Lagrasse in South West France.  Made by the owners Paulette and Roger Carbonneau, this wine is drinking very well now but will age a further 3-5 years no problem.

It is big, rich and smooth, still with that distinctive south west France 'ouvrier' basic and honest taste, but with a finesse that you don't often in AOC Corbieres wines.

It is a mix of Carignan, Grenache, Cinsaut and Syrah and would grace pretty much any meat dish, although would go perfectly with the local Cassoulet.

Only 3,600 bottles of this vintage were produced.  I just drank bottle number 00184.