Extremely similar to the MMD Tasting that I went to, a couple of weeks later I was invited to Hatch Mansfield’s Autumn Tasting. I was lucky enough to be able to taste their entire range of producers wines and yours truly worked himself tirelessly in order to bring you all of the tasting notes and partial ratings. I say partial because I was only given roughly 10 minutes with each wine, so instead of giving them a single score, I decided to give them a ranged score. Once again we have many different countries with many producers and I will split them into whites and reds per the last article. This will be article #1 out of 2 articles. There are a lot of wines to write up and I did not want to blitz you all at once.
White Wines
Louis Jadot Saint-Véran 2021 – Rating 89-91
Clean citrus and stone fruit aromas immediately hit the nose. A nice balance between fruit and racy acidity here. Fermentation and ageing take place in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve as much freshness as possible, this is definitely achieved. This is a really good, easy drinking wine and definitely worth having. Will drink nicely over the next 5 years without a doubt.
Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuisse 2021 – Rating 91-93
Stone fruits, citrus and nuances of exotic fruits such as mango and pineapple. A gorgeous full bodied wine with excellent weight and depth of flavour. A personal favourite of mine, there is great length in this wine and great acidity. Fruit forward with vanilla and almond hints and a beautiful back drop, leaving this wine plenty of time on the palate. Drinking nicely now and will evolve over the next 8-10 years.
Louis Jadot Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2018 – Rating 90-92
Lots of citrus, wet slate and floral notes of white flowers. Very rounded with powerful fruit on the palate. Freshness is clear with a nice clean cut due to the wet slate and acidity nicely combining. A lot of floral nuances with subtle stone fruits making an appearance on the palate. A nice finish that certainly lingers with good vibrancy. Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Louis Jadot (Famille Gagey) Pernand-Vergelesses Les Combottes 2015 – Rating 91-93
A lovely bouquet of stone fruits, wet slate and white flowers. Lots of tension this is still rather young at the grand age of 8 years old. Gorgeously rounded with great weight on the palate and very creamy. A full expression of fruit with a very long finish. This is drinking very well now but will definitely continue for another 8-10 years.
Louis Jadot (Famille Gagey) Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes 2018 – Rating 92-94
Lots of citrus, stone fruits and exotic nuances of lychee and mango. Very vibrant, fresh and lively. Good depth of fruit with freshness running through the body giving racy acidity and a long complex finish. A wine that is layered with both vanilla and fruit and looking to drink nicely over the next 5-8 years.
Louis Jadot (Heritiers Louis Jadot) Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2017 – Rating 94-96
Strong aromas of stone fruits, orange zest, white flowers with slight nuances of vanilla from the new oak. On the palate great power with orange zest and stone fruits taking centre stage. Lots of vibrancy from clean acidity, a good creamy palate again with touches of vanilla starting to give nice roundness. An extremely long finish which really did linger for many minutes. A top wine and definitely something to have in your cellar if you can afford it.
Joseph Mellot Domaine des Mariniers Pouilly-Fumé 2022 – Rating 88-90
Aromas of green bell pepper, grass with apples, limes and pears. A nice body with zingy acidity aided by the limes and apples no doubt. Powerful notes of grass and bell pepper with good freshness and just a really nice wine. Nice long finish and certainly something to drink over the next 4-5 years.
Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé Grand Cuvée des Evins, Cuvée Prestige 2019 – Rating 90-92
Minerality is clear from the get go here. Chalk, slate, pears, apples and lychee are clear aromas. This is very pure and elegant, nothing too much or too powerful. Just seamless and lovely to taste in all honesty. The minerality is the clear runner here and with lychee and pears adding some lovely white fruits this is a very well-rounded and complex body of wine. Really lovely and will drink nicely now and over the next 5-8 years.
Joseph Mellot Sancerre La Grande Châtelaine, Cuvée Prestige 2018 – Rating 89-91
Sauvignon from limestone soil spending 11 months in oak with regular batonnages this would appear to be a power house. However this was far from the truth, this was elegant, pure of fruit and extremely floral. Aromas of white flowers, almost acacia with citrus, orange peel and straw each taking a turn to out-do the other. Generally the white flowers and orange peel taking most of the plaudits. A nice wine, very pure and mineral and will go nicely with salads and light dishes.
Joseph Mellot Sancerre L’Original 2021 – Rating 90-92
Some more bell pepper, grass and straw here, noticeably clean however with chalk and wet slate cutting in nicely. On the palate a really good depth of flavour with citrus and white fleshed fruits such as apples and pears notably present. A nice creaminess starting to form on the palate but not as full-bodied as expected honestly. A nice long finish from a very well made wine. Drinking nicely but definitely needs some time to age, over the next 10 years I would say.
C.V.N.E. Monopole Clásico Blanco 2019 – Rating 89-91
100% Viura grapes here that are aged on fine lees in second, third and fourth use barrels. Ageing takes place for 8 months before bottling. A lovely floral wine with orange blossom, white flowers and straw coming through. Nice citrus on the palate with limes and orange zest apparent. Well rounded body with nice structure and balance with racy acidity offering up those limes and grapefruit towards the finish. Really lovely stuff.
C.V.N.E. La Val Orballo Albariño 2022 – Rating 90-92
Lovely aromas of citrus, limes, orange zest and grapefruit. Fruit forward on the palate which is to be expected but I really did enjoy the depth of flavour in this wine. There is a nice zingy aftertaste with this wine that just makes you want to go back. It’s very fresh, very vibrant with bright acidity and a very long fruity finish. Really lovely.
C.V.N.E. La Val Finca Arantei Albariño 2022 – Rating 92-94
This is a single vineyard Albariño from La Val and definitely worth having in your cellar. Beautiful aromas of limes, lemons, apples with white flowers and nectarines. This is light in body but strong in every other aspect. The fruit is clean and the body is very well structured with really vibrant acidity again adding great freshness. Tasting this was a highlight of the day for me as it was just so clean and pure, like sitting on the beach staring at the ocean and being at peace… top notch white wine.
Gaja IDDA Bianco 2022 – Rating 91-93
100% Carricante grape variety which is Sicily’s answer to Riesling is mostly found at high elevations. This is a very savoury wine with lovely citrus, white flowers, orange blossom and zest. Good minerality coming through on the body which is medium bodied and smooth. Very linear and taught with nice fruity nuances. This has a lovely finish and is really very good.
Herdade do Esporão Reserva White Organic 2022 – Rating 89-91
Gorgeous aromas of orange peel, citrus and peaches. There is a lightness to this body of wine which I find quite refreshing given the powerful oaky notes on the palate. This wine is very refreshing and vibrant, the fruit really cuts through the vanilla and makes for a really good zippy wine. Highly recommend for the price point!
Herdade do Esporão Private Selection White 2021 – Rating 90-92
This is a wine that was built for food. At 100% Semillon this is a powerhouse of a white wine. Lots of oak, lots of vanilla. Really fresh and vibrant with good citrus and stone fruit but the main point here is the power and oak nuances. Very structured and extremely rounded, like drinking a smoothie almost, so much texture. A really long finish and definitely worth purchasing, just make sure you eat with it!
Viña Errazuriz ‘Wild Ferment’ Chardonnay 2020 – Rating 90-92
Lots of citrus, orange blossom and vanilla here, the oak really nicely combining with the fruit. The palate is nice and creamy with excellent complexity and a layered mouthfeel. Very long in the mouth and a good hit of limes towards the finish with some zippy acidity. Really lovely and definitely worth it.
Viña Errazuriz Las Pizarras Chardonnay 2020 – Rating 96-98
Big, bold flavours here. Marmalade, honey, baked pears with lots of biscuit and baked bread. This exudes elegance, however, with clean cut acidity ripping through the power of this creamy, full bodied wine. It is excellent and deserves a spot at any top table of wine. The finish is long and stays in the mouth for ages. Absolutely golden and what flagship wine to produce.
Viña Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – Rating 89-91
Lots of intense fruit here, gooseberry, green bell pepper with limes and orange. Very zingy and refreshing with a good creaminess on the palate. Only 10% of the wine was aged in foudre but you can definitely tell. This is very smooth, really good freshness and a great wine for the price honestly. Drink now and over the next 3-4 years.
Viña Arboleda Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 89-91
Lots of stone fruit, peaches, nectarines and citrus fruit on the nose. On the palate those flavours really nicely transferring with good flavour and subtle spice almost. This is luscious and thick with creamy textures all the way through. Acidity offers plenty of freshness and adds a clean cut through the body. My only slight worry is the finish which dies rather quickly, apart from that this is again a great wine for the price point.
Red Wines
Louis Jadot (Heritiers Louis Jadot) Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Clos de la Croix de Pierre Rouge 2017 – Rating 90-92
Strawberries, cassis and slight hints of mushrooms and forest floor are starting to take hold. On the palate this wine is a smooth killer. Very luscious, very light and smooth with tannins hardly noticeable they are so integrated. In terms of actual fruit and depth of flavour there is good purity but this does not hold for very long. Whilst there is a medium length finish this is more down to the forest floor and soil notes coming through. A very nice wine and will drink nicely over the next 5 years.
Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules 2017 (in Magnum) – Rating 92-94
Lovely bouquet of strawberries, cherries, mushrooms and black raspberries. Good weight on the palate with a smooth and textured body. Lovely integrated tannins giving that weight in the palate and a lovely purity of fruit that runs throughout the wine. Acidity adding some much needed freshness which really balances out this wine and gives a lovely long finish. Drinking beautifully now and will continue to over the next 8-10 years (especially in Magnum!).
Louis Jadot (Heritiers Louis Jadot) Corton Pougets Grand Cru 2014 – Rating 90-92
Lots of soil, moss, mushrooms with slight hints of dried redcurrants and red berries. On the palate there is a surprising amount of freshness with acidity clearly playing a big role there over the years. Tannins are nicely integrated with the body of this wine being seamless and smooth. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this wine, it has good flavour and an easy-going nice weight on the body, but I just wanted more from it. Definitely something to find and grab a bottle of however.
Louis Jadot (Famille Gagey) Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes 2013 – Rating 91-93
Amazingly this fruit is still fresh… 10 years on and we still have aromas of strawberries, redcurrants and black cherries. On the palate there is a sudden change over to soil, forest floor notes and real earthy flavours. There is still good tannin which is embedding but also giving a nice textured mouthfeel, good acidity offering nice freshness. This will go for some time yet and will evolve over the next 10 years at least.
Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2014 – Rating 92-94
Lovely aromas of redcurrants, strawberries and cherries on the nose, nothing savoury here. On the palate those red fruits very much taking centre stage with both tannins and acidity very pronounced. Tannins offering good bite and texture and acidity still racy and fresh. Great concentration of fruit and with that a very long finish. A really good wine and worth drinking up over the next 5-8 years.
M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rouge 2020 – Rating 89-91
Nice red fruit profile here with some good peppery aromas and nice garrigues as well. Coming from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre I found that this wine nicely typified a standard Chateauneuf. A good medium – full bodied wine with ample freshness from the acidity and nice cherries, raspberries and garrigues notes giving way to a nice, long finish.
M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante-Aloutte 2019 – Rating 92-94
Peaches, white flowers and orange zest are the immediate aromas on show. Delving a little deeper we find straw and pear notes on the palate which has nice weight throughout. This is a very gourmand wine, lots of richness, creaminess will come with age but this is definitely getting there. With food this will be outstanding. Lots of years on it so can definitely evolve over the next decade.
M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne 2018 – Rating 92-94
Black fruit aromas with blackberry leaf and damson to name just a few. This is bursting with dark fruit goodness. This has power, full tannins, high acidity offering good freshness and just brimming with potential. The wine is elegance personified here with a lovely finesse of fruit and slight garrigues vibes coming through as well. A great long finish, really lovely.
M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Le Clos 2019 – Rating 95-97
This is cracking, fruit forward dark cherries, black raspberries and cassis. On the palate the weight is perfect with an almost explosive start of fruit driven notes with both garrigues and earth coming through towards the end. A lovely textured body with tannins powerful but starting to embed and good acidity. A very long fruit forward finish offering up those beautiful dark cherries raspberries again. A cracking wine and will offer great pleasure over the next 15 years.
C.V.N.E. Viña Real Reserva 2016 – Rating 90-92
Lovely red fruit aromas of strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries. On the palate a nice mid-weight body with firm tannins still present. Good power and ripeness throughout with good balance offered from nice acidity. This will age gracefully over the next 10 years and I think it may well be a superstar then.
C.V.N.E. Contino Garnacha 2019 – Rating 88-90
This is a bit of a fruit bomb and whilst it is lovely with strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants on the palate it lacks depth and concentration of flavour. It has all the hallmarks of a really good wine, there is ample freshness and balance from the acidity and a good push of power from some firm tannin, but again it lacks energy and does die off ever so slightly. Perhaps I am being a little harsh as it is a good wine. I just wanted more.
C.V.N.E. Contino Reserva 2018 – Rating 91-93
I enjoy Contino a lot, it is one of my preferred Rioja producers and it is also it’s own entity (even though it is owned by CVNE). With 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% of a smattering of others this wine gives off great red fruit profiles. Redcurrants, raspberries and redberries drift beautifully across the palate with embedded tannins and freshness balancing this gorgeous wine. Lovely nutty, vanilla notes from the oak ageing with a smooth and creamy body. Really lovely and will drink nicely over the next 10-15 years.
C.V.N.E. Contino Gran Reserva 2011 (in Magnum) – Rating 92-94
Again lovely red fruits, strawberries, cherries and cassis coming through. Lots of vanilla and tobacco prevailing here as well. Smooth as you like with excellent concentration of fruit and a very well rounded body. Lots of weightiness but supple and smooth, not heavy or overpowering. A cracking rioja and something that you will really enjoy drinking now and over the next 3-5 years.
C.V.N.E. Imperial Gran Reserva 2015 – Rating 93-95
I was very impressed with this wine. It definitely needs more time but it has all the marks of a great wine. Starting off with 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo the immediate hit of redberries, raspberries and redcurrants is lovely. Cedar and vanilla offering perfect savoury notes on the palate to balance out the fruit. There is a purity and concentration of fruit that is very powerful and lovely. This needs time to shed some baby fat, the tannins are ripe and full still but with time this gorgeous wine will be timeless. It would let it rest for another 3-5 years and then take it from there. It should last the next 15 years no problem.
Ca’Marcanda Magari 2019 – Rating 93-95
Each year Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot are used to make this wine, different percentages some years but always these three. The 2019 vintage offered up redcurrants, black cherries and cassis with spice and herbs. This was powerful yet elegant and had a luscious and thick body which was just divine. Complexity at its core with fruit forward nuances this is a fantastic wine and one I took great pleasure in tasting. Drink over the coming 10-15 years.
Ca’Marcanda Camarcanda 2018 – Rating 94-96
80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc making up this Super Tuscan. Gorgeous notes of redcurrants, blackberry leaf and earth with an excellent fluid body of wine. Good firm tannin but not overpowering and high acidity giving off a nice balance and freshness. There is a lot of concentration and power from the fruit forwardness of this wine. An absolute delight to taste and will last for many years. Drink now until 2040.
Gaja Dagromis Barolo 2018 – Rating 93-95
Gorgeous sweet cherries open up this bouquet of concentrated red fruit. There’s lovely redcurrants, raspberries and redberries here. Very savoury with some earthy and almost mushroom notes but not quite there yet. The body has lots of power with embedded tannins adding a lovely, layered texture and some good freshness from the acidity. This has a very long finish, it is long in the mouth and well-rounded. Great stuff.
Gaja Barbaresco 2020 – Rating 95-97
This is an absolute stunner of a wine, it has purity of red fruit, raspberries, cherries and cassis. Made in a very fresh and forward style this is drinking beautifully now. It has elegance, refinement and fantastic structure. Smoothness personified with big tannins that are really nicely embedded and gorgeous racy acidity running through to the finish. This is able to be drunk now and it is amazing, however this will definitely age and evolve over the next 15 years and will continue to be excellent.
Gaja Conteisa Barolo 2018 – Rating 96-98
Raspberries, dark cherries and cassis come flying out of the gates. Again this wine appears to be very approachable at a young age with Italian herbs, those dark cherries and leather nicely combining. This, however, has much more depth of flavour and concentration of fruit. Very pure and extremely powerful. There is balance with the tannins and a great structure and freshness again being provided by the lovely acidity that runs all the way through this wine. I am super impressed, this is an absolute gem and will easily stand the test of time.
Gaja Sperss Barolo 2018 – Rating 96-98
Gorgeous aromas of cherries, dried prunes and plums. On the palate a gorgeous medium to full bodied wine, luscious and silky smooth. Lots of ripeness and lots of concentration of fruit and power. This wine really is the powerhouse compared to Conteisa. Very full in length with exquisite complexity. There is freshness from very clean acidity which does cut right through the powerful fruit. This is an exemplary Barolo and if you ever get a chance to taste or even purchase a bottle I would definitely recommend it. Absolute banger.
Herdade do Esporão Alicante Bouschet 2015 – Rating 92-94
This has gorgeous aromas of prunes, plums and dark cherries with lots of pepper and tobacco. This is a big wine, lots of tannin which gives a puckering mouthfeel and lots of acidity offering freshness and vibrancy. The fruit is really concentrated and has a fantastic longevity on the palate. Full bodied and ripe this is a great wine and extremely enjoyable. This needs some more time to hit its lofty heights so I would leave to cellar for another 3-5 years and then drink over the following decade.
Herdade do Esporão Torre do Esporão 2017 – Rating 94-96
This is a very expressive wine, ripe and powerful. Blackberry leaf, prunes and plum nuances. Powerful in body and fruit profile, there is a lot of tannin present that will flesh out in time but it is smooth on the palate. It has very good structure, the balance between the freshness of the acidity does nicely outweigh the heavy tannin. There is genuine age ability here for at least 15 – 20 years. Make no mistake this is a great wine but I do wonder if it is worth the money. If you have the ability to purchase this then purely for interest I would suggest it, however if you are little tighter with your money then make sure you do plenty of research into this wine before purchasing. Just to make sure it has characteristics that you appreciate.
Viña Errazuriz Estate Reserva Malbec Anniversary Magnum 2019 – Rating 90-92
Lovely aromas of redcurrants, strawberries and cherries. Silky smooth on the palate with great texture and a robust body. Tannins are nicely embedded and offering some good, warm nuances. Nice freshness but lots of fruit taking centre stage. This is definitely ready to drink and will give great pleasure over the next 8 years.
Viña Errazuriz ‘Wild Ferment’ Pinot Noir 2021 – Rating 90-92
Lots of savoury aromas here of baked red fruits, yeast and strawberries. On the palate lovely cherry nuances with strong, firm tannins. Good freshness and well-rounded. A very good wine. This definitely could do with some time in bottle as it has quite a bit of baby fat to shed. Give it at least 5 more years and then start to drink as it will be sublime.
Viña Errazuriz Villa Don Maximiano 2019 – Rating 92-94
Lots of blackcurrants, black cherries and blackberry leaf here. On the palate it is quite tight and is certainly not ready yet. However, there is a clear identity of dark fruit with plenty of tannin. Acidity is slightly overpowering but that is mainly down to this still being a baby and needs plenty of time. I would suggest cellaring for the next 5 years minimum and then drinking over the next 15 – 20 years.
Viña Errazuriz La Pizarras Pinot Noir 2019 – Rating 93-95
Lovely red fruit here with notes of strawberries, raspberries and even aromas of roses. Depth of flavour is magnificent here with lots going on. The body has a great mid-palate weight and is extremely smooth and luscious. The fruit very much building and layering in the mouth with an excellent texture and good roundness. Very impressive and long in the mouth, this is a great wine and will only get better over the next 10-15 years.
Viña Errazuriz Kai Carmenère 2019 – Rating 93-95
Lovely aromas of dark cherries, black raspberries and blackcurrants. 95% Carmenere and 5% Syrah here but the Syrah really bringing out that dark fruit profile it is so well-known for. Nice damson, leather and vegetation here as well. On the palate it is powerful with firm tannins creating an explosive entrance. Lots of freshness from the acidity and good vibrancy of fruit. A very long finish, this is a really good wine and will drink well over the next 10-15 years.
Viña Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2018 – Rating 94-96
Blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 7% Carmenere & 3% Petit Verdot. This is oozing black fruit, blackcurrants, blackberry leaf with some really good vegetal hints. On the palate there is a really creamy texture with strong, firm tannins. Make no mistake that this is drinking beautifully now but needs some more time. The body is well structured, there is freshness and those herbaceous notes definitely resembling hints of eucalyptus as well. A really fantastic bottle with great complexity. This will drink fabulously over the next 15 years.
Viña Arboleda Pinot Noir 2020 – Rating 90-92
Lots of fresh red fruit with cranberries, strawberries and raspberries the main factors here. Very vibrant on the palate with lovely herbaceous notes and floral nuances. There are firm tannins here but the body nicely flows through the mouth and the fruit drives through. Nice vibrancy and good acidity leaving plenty of fruit on the palate with a lovely long finish. Really enjoyed this wine.
Viña Arboleda Carmenère 2021 – Rating 90-92
Lots of fresh red fruit here and herbaceous aromas. Lovely peppery and spicy nuances with redcurrants and thyme. This is really a fruit bomb in my opinion, lovely explosive notes of red berries, raspberries and cherries. Fine tannins on the palate making a lovely smooth body of wine, high acidity adding great freshness and good vibrancy. A lovely wine and definitely worth keeping some in your cellar. Drink now and over the next 5-7 years.
Viña Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 – Rating 91-93
Lovely aromas of redcurrants, raspberries and cherries. Lots of concentration of flavour on the palate with great depth and a lovely textured mouthfeel. Firm tannins which will nicely embed over the next couple years and give great balance as there is plenty of freshness and herbaceous notes coming from the acidity. Seamless in terms of structure and a very well made wine. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
Viña Arboleda Syrah 2020 – Rating 90-92
Lots dark fruits, blackberries, dark cherries and plums on the nose. Extremely juicy on the palate with a lovely smooth body. Really enjoyable and very rounded and well structured. Firm tannins and good vibrancy of fruit. This is really great and definitely worth seeking out. Drink now over the next 5-8 years.
Seña 2020 – Rating 96-98
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere & 7% Petit Verdot, mostly fermented in stainless steel and a little in concrete eggs. This is a very seductive and beautiful wine. Very fresh and very juicy. Lots of good dark fruit, blackcurrants, blueberries and cherries. There is great texture here with lots of fine tannins grabbing your attention. An excellent wine with great longevity, purity of fruit and will age and evolve for decades in my humble opinion. Definitely something to get your hands on. I would start drinking from 2025 and then through to 2040.
Viñedo Chadwick 2014 – Rating 96-98
100% Cabernet Sauvignon these vines are planted in one of the best areas in the Maipo Valley for quality fruit. It is fair to say that this wine is exceptional. Explosive nuances of blackberries, dark cherries and redcurrants. Excellent mouthfeel with a full body, silky smooth but still firm tannins giving great structure. Lots of texture from the fruit and tannin, lots of freshness and balance from the acidity. Really lovely, lots of depth and concentration of fruit. A lovely long finish that stays in the mouth for ages. A top class wine and one I personally loved.
Many thanks for reading, I know there are a lot of reviews!
We will be back next week with a 60th Tasting article reviewing white & Sweet Bordeaux wines.
Harry Vernau