I'm going along with a friend this coming Saturday.

Producer list is a follows:

Decanter NW producers

Have spoken with Mel for advice on this previously: If not talking to the producers she can taste around 40 in an hour !
If any of you can recommend anyone in particular in the list, suggestions are appreciated. Some fairly obvious ones to visit (Jacksons, St Clair, Penfolds, Catena etc.)
I'll be trying an all round trip but might be tight for time with a 4-5 hr window (after taking lunch break into account) I'll likely make a point of visiting all NZ & Oz stands and as the USA, Chile & Argy are limited I'll fit them in too
Figured best to do a morning of whites and afternoon of reds (and even break that down into lighter ones and then heavier ones)

Will do what I can do make amaturish tasting notes

Have fun Shezza!

Norton- Like their Malbecs
The Lane- An Oz Pinot Gris worth a look, available in certain Waitrose, full bodied, not cheap.
Tabali / Leyda- Look for ’07 examples.
Valdivieso- Have always liked their Cab’s
Spy Valley- I am working through a case of their Riesling at the mo, lovely stuff.
Kleine Zalze- Look for the ’08 SB, I read it’s a beauty.

Thx GK, As said I will make a point of trying to visit all stands but will make sure these don't get missed if I'm not looking good for time

Sorry - a bit late now. Only returned late yesterday

Beringer Californian - Great cedary cab reserve wines. I really like the cedary cigar box and ripe fruit style, which I find to be very correct and sweeter length, slightly one dimensional versus left bank - but wonderful aging ability as well. Never had a bad one

Vasse Felix OZ- well made but rather expensive cabs and shiraz

Isabel Estate NZ - They produce beautiful SB's

Turkey Flat Vineyards OZ - Wild Turkeys use to roam this land - reputed to be good at the top end for Shiraz. Small family business, so buy from them

Penfolds affordable Bins 389 and 407 have gone AWAL recently.

Was there any Bouchard Finlayson pinot Noir from SA ?

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Duncan

Was a great day. Didn't get there til 12pm so was already an hour behind and only managed NZ and USA before we decided it was time for lunch. Therefore the afternoon was a mad rush of Arge, Chile, Oz and one or 2 SA (got massively neglected)
Also my whites and then reds plan fell apart a bit altho the reds in the first half were mainly PN so weren't over powering.

A good voyage of discovery for me and finding out what currently flicks my switch.
Massive overkill on SB actually made me realise that as a quaffer it's not one of my preferred whites (Please don't hit me Goosegogs !!). With Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesing all getting priority
Have to say tho, of theSB I did try Jackson estate still probably topped most if not all. Bit let down by the Grey Ghost as was expecting a bit more oak flavour coming through.

Anyway. whenever I get time at home I'll try and see if there are some notes worth submitting

I want to know if you were offered any of The Beringer Cab Reserve from Napa ? They are very correct, and have wonderful cedar and sandlewood spice and an easy but long demi sec exit.

Hmmnn - May be none of them Napa cabs WERE READY.

Can't say over much for Pinot Gris, the one's over here are very same-ey.

Yeah, high time we knocked SB off it's nancyboy perch

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Duncan

The USA representation was very poor - just 4 tables.
Beringer's stand was the second we visited but I can't remember the order of wines we tasted there - will have to revert to tasting book. That said, I don't recall being blown away personally by anything and that was after Fetzer whose wines that day made everything taste good !
Think a good session at the NZ stands and the call of a large Dim Sum lunch might have had an impact too.
Will have a look tonight if I can

Shezza - These are The Beringer Cab bottles on the left.
http://www.jeffersonhunt.co.uk/artman/p ... _121.shtml

I have 2 of the 1998 Cab private Reserve in the funny shaped bottle, and 1 of Appelation Collection cab 2001 in the normal bottle. Both PR cabs bought at Oddbins for £19.99 quite a while ago. Majestic also did a Beringer Napa evening some years ago. The other cheaper one was a present. Now merchants want 45 quid a bottle for PR 2004.

Yeah.......Everything that I found out way back - has been marked up massively - Look at American cellar prices which can be less in US dollars than some merchants ask in Sterling - Duh !

Perhaps Decanter did not wheel out the good and ready stuff. You would know if you had the Reserve Cab and it was ready.

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Duncan

Hey Duncan, had a look at the tasting book last night and remembered what happened.
Beringer were due to have 2 Cabs on offer for tasting:
Knights Valley Cab Sav 2005
Private Reserve Cab 2004

however, it turned out that thy hadn't brought the Private Reserve along so only the knights Valley was on offer which as I recall was nice (not got notes on me).
Bit of a disappointing USA display really. Maybe Cali will be better represented in the November Fine Wine Tasting

Shezza,
That is so bl**dy typical. I'm sorry that you could not experience their Grand Vin, which has quite a bit of left bank Saint Julien style and flavour about it, coupled with typical Napa riper/sweeter length

Those client marketing and hospitality staff drunk the best PR Cab bottles that were meant for you Was there a senior guy from Beringer there ?

Anyway I'm glad you bought it up - American wine bloggers are telling me to drink up the 1998 it is not holding so well as 1st thought

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Duncan

tbf most of the producers usually they do have their first wines on offer for tasting at these events (OK so not going to expect a Penfolds Grange or the likes) But a £50 bottle isn't a bank breaker to bring along.

Looking online there seems to be extremely short supply of the 2004 Private Reserve (I've not yet found anywhere in UK or US with it in stock) so could be a reason for there not being any on offer last Saturday

shame about the 1998 running out of legs... I believe initial tastings seemed to think that it could hold up for 15-20 yrs ?
Still at least you get to enjoy it now

Shezza, I found quite a few merchants in the USA with tiny stocks, Beringer have stock going way back. The 1998 only got 89points from Mr Parker, "a good effort in a difficult vintage", he says - Others vintages will go 25 years and scored 96. It would have been an investment wine, but remember whilst 98's are fetching $80 dollars now, some of the 1990's are up for $150. Hence the deal at Oddbins for 19 quid way back. I like good Saint Julien, so when I discovered this at half the dosh, I was a happy chappy. Thats quite enough of me.
Shezza,
Do you have time to tell us about the other wines - Any new world Chardonnays that have some of the attributes of Chassagne or Puligny ? but taste as if they have been put on steriods ? The japanese HI FI version of the Cote d'Or

Enquiring minds want to know ........

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Duncan

Looking back, most attention went to NZ. Not that many Chardonnays were on offer but do recall there being one or two very nice examples. Will see what there was when I look at the book
Also remember the Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay being very nice too.
Due to time constraints I didn't really get to sample any of the Oz whites unfortunately. That said, there seemed to be more of a focus on reds anyway. Was surprised by there was very little in the way of Clair or Eden Valley Riesling tho.
Argentina's best offering for Chardonnay was the Catena Alta which I've tried and enjoyed in the past, this is usually around £20 a bottle tho. I still have a couple of bottles of their middle of the range Catena Chardonnay 2006 at home I'm looking forward tucking into some time soon

Enjoy - they may be ready now *

Shezza,
Thank you for this recommendation - I looked up 2006 Catena Alta Chardonnay 91 points, the description of the wine is exactly what I would look for in a supercharged, and beautifully made chardonnay - "The finish is sweet but firm" - "Truffle, vanilla and mace and nutty oak, peach and stone fruit, a Broad chardonnay with a light and elegant touch"

Sounds - Very Cote d'OR in the best years. The description was that of a super ripe Puligny Montrachet with a potential 60% saving.

Thanks must find some at the best price. Time to investigate. Sounds like this wine has legs and could evolve into something quite wonderfull - I feel a *cellaring candidate coming on for a few of the flagship cuvee...... Unless you advise otherwise.

I should get out more

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Duncan

You're welcome.
It really is very nice stuff.
Used to be on sale in Majestic as part of their fine wine range but ot sure if they have it any more.
Have come across it online today going for about 18.99 on some sites.
Apparently their Zapata Chardonnay is meant to be even better but think it is very limited if available at all

On your mentioning of cellaring, know we spoke in the "where do you store yourr wine" thread. I was reading recently that preferred temp for storage is 11-13C. The digi thermometer i have under the stairs where I keep my wine currently reads a constant temp of 16C
I know this isn't going to ruin things in short to medium term but guess it means any long term storage there is out of the question.... ?