Wine ratings

Champagne AOC, Champagne, France, 12.0% vol., 24 000

Grape variety: Pinot Noir 60%; Chardonnay 40%

The wine is medium gold in colour. Persistent perlage of small bubbles. Intense, concentrated and ripe nose; aromas of peach, quince, pear, cream, butter and a hint of Dutch cheese. There is extremely balanced acidity and well-integrated alcohol on the full-bodied palate, with plenty of fruit concentration on the long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (10+ years). Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Crimea PGI, Republic of Crimea, Russia, 13.5% vol., 1 450

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A harmonious, complex nose of moderate intensity; aromas of ripe blackberries and blueberries, toast, vanilla and white pepper. There is moderate acidity on the medium-bodied palate, young but ripe tannins and well-integrated alcohol on the quite concentrated medium finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years). Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Crimea PGI, Republic of Crimea, Russia, 13.5% vol., 1 450

Grape variety: Pinot Noir

The wine is pale ruby in colour. An elegant and fruity nose of moderate intensity; aromas of red and black berries, notes of black pepper and a touch of walnut. There is bright acidity on the light-bodied palate, warming not very well integrated alcohol and light tannins with a touch of dryness on the medium finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.                                          

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Crimea PGI, Republic of Crimea, Russia, 12.5% vol., 2 850

Grape variety: Chardonnay

The wine is pale lemon in colour. Short perlage of medium bubbles. Fresh, appealing, fruity nose of good intensity; aromas of green apple, lime, grapefruit, minerality and a touch of cream. There is high fresh acidity on the palate, well-integrated moderate alcohol, a medium body, flavours of citrus and green fruit on a medium finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 13.0% vol., 640

Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc

The wine is medium lemon in colour. Intense sweet nose; aromas of ripe peach, melon, blossom and yellow pear. There is moderate soft acidity, moderate warming alcohol and a medium body. It is somewhat dilute, with a touch of bitterness on a short finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 13.0% vol., 640

Grape variety: Chardonnay

The wine is medium lemon in colour. Appealing fruity nose of moderate intensity; aromas of stone fruit, mango and Williams pear. There is moderate acidity, warming alcohol, a sense of tannins and bitterness, a medium body and a lack of fruit concentration on a short finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Crimea PGI, Republic of Crimea, Russia, 13.5% vol., 1 450

Grape variety: Merlot

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A ripe, fruity nose of moderate intensity; aromas of black cherry, blueberry, black plum, toast, walnut and some balsamic notes. There is moderate acidity on the palate, a medium plus body, warming obtrusive alcohol and medium somewhat dry tannins on the medium finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (1-3 years). Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 14.5% vol., 640

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is deep bright ruby in colour. An unharmonious and spirity nose of light intensity; aromas of berries and a hint of greenness. There is moderate acidity on the medium-bodied palate with moderate dry tannins and warming disintegrated alcohol on the medium finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.5% vol., 515

Grape variety: Chardonnay; Sauvignon Blanc; Riesling; Sémillon

The wine is medium lemon in colour. Straightforward fruity nose of moderate intensity; aromas of pear, yellow apple and a touch of hay. There is moderate soft acidity, obvious warming alcohol, a medium body and a lack of fruit concentration on a short finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.0% vol., 750

Grape variety: Sémillon

The wine is bright medium gold in colour. Ripe, sweet nose of moderate intensity; aromas of tinned fruit, pickles, dill and hay. There is soft acidity, moderate alcohol, a lack of fruit concentration and structure as well as a short finish. Ready for drinking. 50 g/l of residual sugar. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Crimea PGI, Republic of Crimea, Russia, 13.0% vol., 1 175

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is deep garnet in colour. A nose of moderate intensity with dominant aromas of smoke, dried fruit (raisin, prune), a hint of balsamic and medicinal notes. There is lively acidity on the light-bodied palate, light tannins, moderate alcohol, while a bit watery on the short finish. Past its peak. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 14.0% vol., 640

Grape variety: Merlot

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Unripe nose of moderate intensity with notes of green grass and grape stems. There is moderate acidity on the medium-bodied palate, with dry astringent tannins, moderate alcohol and a touch of bitterness on the short finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 13.5% vol., 515

Grape variety: Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc; Syrah; Krasnostop

The wine is medium ruby in colour. It has an unripe and slightly reductive nose of moderate intensity. There is lively acidity on the medium-bodied palate, medium drying tannins and moderate warming alcohol on the somewhat short finish. Ready for drinking. Tasted blind.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 19/10/2020

Krasnodar region, Russia, 14% vol., 550

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is deep ruby in colour. It has an appealing, varietally pure and slightly oaky nose of seriously pronounced intensity, with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, black pepper, green pepper, cloves, chocolate and vanilla. It is concentrated, rich and quite complex on the full-bodied palate, though there’s a hint of unripe tannins and some jammy notes on the medium-plus finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020

Krasnodar region, Russia, 13.5% vol., 895

Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc

This wine is pale lemon-yellow in colour. It has a varietally pure nose of pronounced intensity, giving a positive first impression, with aromas of gooseberry, fresh-cut grass, lime, passion fruit and green apple. It is balanced and fresh with crispy acidity on the light-bodied palate, with a medium-plus finish, though is not especially complex, with the palate not quite matching the huge promise of the nose. Ready for drinking.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020

Krasnodar region, Russia, 14.2% vol., 1 100

Grape variety: Merlot

This wine is medium garnet in colour. It has an attractively maturing and layered nose of quite pronounced intensity, giving a positive first impression, with aromas of leather, liquorice, smoke, cocoa, coffee, oak, chocolate, cloves, black pepper, dried fruit, plums and blueberry. It is still fresh, and is balanced on the rich, concentrated and extremely full-bodied palate with the vibrant acidity, high alcohol and ripe tannins in harmony on the medium-plus finish.  Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020

Sevastopol, Russia, 13.5% vol., 1 135

Grape variety: Syrah; Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is medium ruby in colour. It has a fruity, spicy, floral nose of seriously pronounced intensity that gives a very positive first impression, with aromas of cherry, blackberry, nutmeg, vanilla, chocolate and violet. It is nicely balanced on the concentrated, full-bodied palate, with ripe, velvety tannins, and integrated alcohol, with a medium-plus finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020

Sevastopol, Russia, 13% vol., 1 095

Grape variety: Saperavi

This wine is deep ruby in colour. It has a fruity, spicy nose of pronounced intensity, giving a very positive first impression, with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, plum, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, liquorice and tobacco leaves. It is fresh, and balanced on the full-bodied palate, with nicely restrained alcohol, ripe tannins and good concentration, culminating with a medium plus finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 14% vol., 669

Grape variety: Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is medium ruby in colour. It has an appealingly fruity, pleasantly oaky nose of pronounced intensity, giving a positive first impression, with aromas of plum, blackcurrant, cherry, eucalyptus, chocolate, smoke and oak. It also gives a very positive first impression on the concentrated and full-bodied palate, which is nicely balanced with ripe tannins and high (but integrated) alcohol, and a medium-plus finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020

Krasnodar region, Russia, 11.0 - 13.0% vol., 1 650

Grape variety: Pinot Noir

This sparkling wine is pale apricot in colour, with fine bubbles. It has a complex, fruity and yeasty nose of medium-plus intensity with nice autolysis, giving a positive first impression, with aromas of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, sour cherry, redcurrant, orange zest, cream and wet stone. It is balanced, elegant and intense on the light-bodied palate, with crisp acidity and persistent bubbles, culminating in a medium finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 21/09/2020