DAN'S WINE BLOG- 2019 WRAP UP

Friday, December 13, 2019

This is the last Blog for the year so we would like to wish you and yours a very Merry and safe Christmas. We hope that 2020 (the Year of the Rat) will be a fabulous year for you, both personally and in the wine business, full of joy with a minimum of disappointments. Although that might be a bit more challenging than usual with most of the “world leaders” behaving like spoilt children/brats.

2019 was a mixed year for us, flat out in parts and almost idle at other times, the old “feast or famine” scenario.

Amongst the positives for the year is that:

?We have now added Vietnam to the list of countries that we have shipped client’s wines to.

?Along the way, I visited the Loire Valley in April, and tried many of their excellent wines.

?Then in May, I attended the first World Bulk Wine Exhibition Asia (WBWEA) in Yantai, China, which was an eye-opening experience.

?And just recently I was one of the 25 international judges at the 11th WBWE in Amsterdam, where I got to taste some sensational wines that are all sold in bulk.

?Incidentally, this is my 500th Wine Blog!!

So far this year (with only a couple of weeks to go), I have tasted/reviewed 1,921 wines, out of which, as in past years, here are my TOP 20 wines tasted over the course of the year.

My favourite (No question!) was the MORRIS OF RUTHERGLEN 1969 DURIF. At 50-years-old it was still powering along with masses of brilliant, complex flavours and heaps of life still in it. Such a shame it was the last bottle!

From here on in they are in no particular order:

?Monsigny NV Champagne (France) – Aldi

?Patritti Wines 2008 Saperavi (Barossa) – The first vintage released.

?Bream Creek 2017 Chardonnay (Tasmania) – Always a cracker!

?Gapsted Wines NV Sparkling Saperavi (Alpine Valley) – Sensational!

?Rouge Homme 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) – Unbelievably good at 34-years-old and with years to go!

?Kalleske CCCLXV 2018 Durif (Barossa) – A no oak head spinner –Awesome!

?D’Arenberg 2018 ‘The Hunjee Heartstring’ Montepulciano (McLaren Vale) – Bloody brilliant Aussie Monte!

?Bodegas Garzon 2018 Albarino Reserva (Uruguay) – Very classy!

?Robert Stein 2016 Riesling (Mudgee) – Multi-trophy winning stunner!

?Chateau Montus 2001 Madiran (France) – Just peaking now.

?Pirramimma 2004 Tannat (McLaren Vale) – Silky-smooth.

?Yangarra 2016 ‘High Sands’ Grenache (McLaren Vale) – Truly awesome!

?Landaire 2017 Chardonnay (Padthaway) – Divine!

?Warrabilla 2018 Parolas Limited Release Durif (Rutherglen) – HUGE & divine!

?Chateau Latour 1973 1st Growth Bordeaux (in Magnum)

?Humis Vineyard 2017 Shiraz (Heathcote) – So cool!

?Cargo Road 2015 Zinfandel (Orange) – A ripper!

?Michelini 2016 Teroldego (Alpine Valley) – Exemplary!

?Seppelts 1939 Parra Port (Barossa) – An amazing 80-year-old!

We wish you all the best for the festive season and for 2020 (One-fifth of the way through this century – I can remember the countdown + the Y2K bug stress!! Can you?)  The Blog will recommence mid-January, providing I don’t OD on Christmas festivities.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Hope you enjoy some sensational wines over the festive season, from wherever they come from (but preferably Australia)! Cheers!

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