Formal Hall

2002 De Bortoli Deen Vat Series 'All Rounder' Semillon, SE Australia
Leon Stolarski £7.99. A-

Dried fruits, apricot, nectarine, intense honey; lanolin, waxy, paint, turpentine; lots of high notes, so lifted, white florals abound, elderflower. Really remarkable nose. Palate is textured, full bodied, more than a touch off dry, maybe 10g/l, still plenty of acid. Bizarre, yet beautiful; at at the price, insanely good value.

2006 Peter Lehmann 'The Futures' Shiraz. Barossa
A-

Very correct, dark fruits abound, some mint and green herb, eucalyptus; dark berries, blackberry, like ribena. Some black pepper, fat acidity, really lush and juicy. Textbook Aussie Shiraz. Some bottle age has softened this wine, now really drinking quite nicely.

2007 Vina Mayu Reserva Estate Bottled Carmenere. Elqui Valley, Chile.
Oddbins. B

Made from very late harvested grapes, almost dried. Tar, bitumen, burnt roadworks, spicy peppery; textbook carmenere; hints of green pepper, capsicum. Palate is initially very juicy and sweet, like a weak port, then fades very quickly leaving a weird bitter and chemical-like after taste. Doesn't have enough acidity, feels alcoholic, a touch flabby. Weird and disjointed.

2007 Domaine d'Archimbaud Vendanges d'Automne. Saint-Saturnin de Lucian, Terrasses du Larzac, France.
Leon Stolarski £14.95 (50cl) A-

A Vin de Table made from 100% Bourboulenc, late harvested. Honey, acacia, very floral, candied fruits, tinned peaches, nectarines. Really fresh, nice acid there; not cloying at all, runs through quickly, leaving a tingly after taste. Vibrant, quite lively stuff, finishes well. Very drinkable, a joyous wine.