Wine ratings

Tokaj, Hungary, 11% vol., 3 387

Grape variety: Furmint; Hárslevelű; Muscat Lunel

The wine is deep gold in colour. Intense sweet nose with aromas of orange marmalade, canned peach and honey. Deliciously sweet on the palate, balanced by high juicy acidity and high fruit concentration, with moderate alcohol and a medium body on the long, honeyed finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (10+ years). Tasted from 250 ml bottle. 150 g/l of residual sugar.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC, Tuscany, Italy, 15% vol., 8 690

Grape variety: 65% Malvasia Bianca; 35% Trebbiano Toscano

The wine is deep gold in colour. Precise sweet nose of pronounced intensity with aromas of honey, caramel, canned peach, roasted nuts and hay. Opens elegantly in the glass with some aeration. Its sweetness is very well balanced by high fruit concentration and lovely high acidity on the palate, with well-integrated yet high alcohol and a full body on the long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (10+ years). Tasted from 375 ml bottle. 77 g/l of residual sugar.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Rioja DOC, Rioja, Spain, 14% vol., 3 119

Grape variety: Viura

The wine is pale gold in colour. Appealing, still developing nose of pronounced intensity. It is rather on the tertiary side in terms of aromas, displaying honey, hay, roasted hazelnuts, toast, butter, canned peach and yellow plum at the end. Although fleshy with slightly warming high alcohol and a full body, it is still elegant thanks to its high fruit concentration, medium lively acidity and lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (4-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Meursault AOC, Burgundy, France, 13% vol., 7 690

Grape variety: Chardonnay

The wine is pale gold in colour. Ripe, savoury, buttery nose of moderate intensity with aromas of apricot, yellow plum, butter, a hint of toast and some sweet notes. Mouthcoating on the palate, rich and well-structured, with slightly warming moderate alcohol, medium fresh acidity, a medium body and moderate fruit concentration on the lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (4-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, 11.5% vol., 3 483

Grape variety: Semillon

The wine is pale gold in colour. Appealing, harmonious nose of moderate intensity with aromas of peach, yellow apple and minerality (a hint of struck match and some smoke); still developing. Very citrusy on the palate, with high juicy acidity, moderate very well-integrated alcohol, a light body and high fruit concentration on the lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (2-3 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Côtes de Provence AOC, Provence, France, 12.5% vol., 2 916

Grape variety: Grenache; Cinsault; Syrah; Tibouren

The wine is pale salmon in colour. Harmonious and delicate nose of moderate intensity, still very fresh and fruity, with aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, cranberry and a hint of chalky minerality and creaminess. There is high juicy acidity on the palate, well-integrated moderate alcohol, a light body and moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish. It is creamier on the palate than the nose, very elegant and is ageing beautifully. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (1-2 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Chablis AOC, Burgundy, France, 13% vol., 3 290

Grape variety: Chardonnay

The wine is medium lemon in colour. Delicate, mineral nose of moderate intensity with aromas of green apple, gooseberry, lime and flinty minerality. Well-balanced wine on the palate with high juicy acidity, moderate alcohol, a light body and moderate fruit concentration on the lingering mineral finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (3-4 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 29/03/2021

Napa Valley, California, the USA, 14.5% vol., 5 302

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 89%; Merlot 3%; Petit Verdot 4% and other varieties 4%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Elegant, harmonious, quite intense nose with great Cabernet Sauvignon typicity and aromas of blackcurrant, dried blueberry, pine, toast, milk chocolate and a touch of tobacco; developing. Immediately striking on the palate with pronounced fruit concentration, followed by ample yet velvety tannins, medium juicy acidity, high yet well-balanced alcohol and a full body culminating in a lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (10+ years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Stellenbosch, South Africa, 14.5% vol., 6 288

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 70%; Cabernet Franc 18%; Merlot 12%

The wine is deep ruby in colour with an orange rim starting to appear. Excellent, typical Bordeaux blend with a quite intense nose of blackcurrant, blackberry, sweet cherry, liquorice, cinnamon, toast, some spice and a hint of black currant leaf. Despite high yet well-integrated alcohol on the palate, the wine is very well balanced with high fruit concentration, medium juicy acidity, a full body and medium ripe tannins culminating in a long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (9-10 years).  

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Wachau, Lower Austria, Austria, 13% vol., 4 107

Grape variety: Riesling

The wine is pale gold in colour. Harmonious developing nose of moderate intensity with distinct typicity of Riesling and aromas of citrus peel, yellow apple, beeswax, white flowers and a hint of honey. On the palate, highly balanced concentrated fruit with stony minerality, high fresh acidity and a full body; well-integrated moderate alcohol and a touch of saltiness on the lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (10+ years).  

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Toscana IGP, Tuscany, Italy, 14% vol., 17 012

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 85%; Merlot 10%; Petit Verdot 5%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Elegant, harmonious, complex nose of moderate intensity with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, cinnamon, a hint of spices and toast, yet still on the fruity side with lots of potential for further development. There is medium juicy acidity on the palate, high warming yet balanced alcohol, abundant ripe but still youthful tannins, a full body and pronounced fruit concentration on the long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (8-9 years).  

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Central Coast, California, the USA, 13.9% vol., 2 526

Grape variety: Pinot Noir

The wine is light ruby in colour with an orange rim starting to appear. Elegant, complex nose of pronounced intensity with aromas of sweet cherry combined with dried blueberry, ripe raspberry, dried herbs, toast and a hint of smoke and leather, yet still on the fruity side. Pronounced fruit concentration and a full body on the palate, with high slightly warming yet balanced alcohol, medium fresh acidity and light velvety tannins on the quite long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (7-8 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, 14% vol., 2 549

Grape variety: Malbec

The wine is deep ruby in colour. Elegant floral nose of quite pronounced intensity with aromas of violet, black plum, sweet cherry, cinnamon and a hint of white pepper. A full-bodied wine on the palate with high yet well-integrated alcohol, medium fresh acidity, moderate velvety tannins balanced by pronounced fruit concentration on the lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (7-8 years).  

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy, 14% vol., 7 490

Grape variety: Sangiovese

The wine is light garnet in colour with orange reflexes. Developing savoury nose of moderate intensity with aromas of dried red cherry and blueberry, black tea, dried herbs and hints of tobacco and leather. Well-balanced wine on the palate with high juicy acidity, moderate ripe tannins, well-integrated alcohol, a medium body and moderate fruit concentration on the lingering finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (6-8 years).  

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Kamptal DAC, Lower Austria, Austria, 13% vol., 4 419

Grape variety: Riesling

The wine is pale gold in colour. Appealing nose of moderate intensity with clear Riesling character, boasting aromas of beeswax, white flowers, stony minerality and a hint of fresh sea water. There is high juicy acidity on the palate, slightly warming moderate alcohol, salty minerality, a medium body and moderate fruit concentration on the lingering refreshing finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (7-8 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Lussac Saint-Emilion AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 2 730

Grape variety: Merlot 85%; Cabernet Franc 15%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Elegant, sweet nose of moderate intensity with aromas of blueberry, black plum, sweet cherry, dried herbs, cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of leather. Tannic on the palate with medium fresh acidity, high yet well-integrated alcohol, a medium body and moderate fruit concentration on the medium somewhat drying finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (4-5 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Chablis AOC, Burgundy, France, 12.5% vol., 1 971

Grape variety: Chardonnay

The wine is pale gold in colour. Delicate developing nose of moderate intensity with aromas of green apple, citrus peel, a touch of stone fruits and white flowers, and a hint of creaminess. First impression on the palate is a touch of bitterness reminiscent of crushed apple seeds, followed by high juicy acidity and somewhat warming moderate alcohol, a light body and moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish. Drink now, passing its peak. Tasted from 375 ml bottle.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Saumur AOC, Loire Valley, France, 12% vol., 1 673

Grape variety: Cabernet Franc

The wine is light ruby in colour. Intense nose with aromas of sour cherry, distinct herbaceous and savoury notes, pencil shavings, leather and a touch of barnyard (possibly brett). On the palate, high mouth-watering acidity, well-integrated moderate alcohol, medium but rather drying tannins, a medium body and moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 12/03/2021

Sauternes AOC, Bordeaux, France, 14% vol., 6 957

Grape variety: Sémillon 93%; Muscadelle 2%; Sauvignon Blanc 5%

The wine is deep gold in colour. Intense sweet nose of orange marmalade, citrus peel, honey, ripe peach, toast and vanilla. Delicious candy on the palate, with high fruit concentration, high yet well-integrated alcohol and high juicy acidity with great balance on the long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (15+ years). 130-140 g/l of residual sugar.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 05/03/2021

Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia, 13.8% vol., 3 120

Grape variety: Shiraz

The wine is deep ruby in colour. Intense, complex, sweet nose with aromas of black cherry, blueberry, strawberry jam, vanilla, toast and distinct note of black pepper and eucalyptus. Very concentrated, balanced wine on the palate with high yet well-integrated alcohol, soft medium acidity, a full body and moderate ripe tannins on the long finish. Ready for drinking with potential for ageing (8-10 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 05/03/2021