This time we have Champagne, Barbera from Piedmont, a Pomerol, a Port Epigone from South Africa and a fortified wine from Australia.
The Deutz 2013 William Deutz Brut is a perfect example of an elegant champagne with medium density. It has lots of blossoms such as jasmine, but only a little brioche and some caramel on the long finish. This champagne has a medium body, perfect balance, a slight residual sweetness, some tart phenolic notes and is very elegant, juicy, mineral and complex. 19/20 points.
The Vietti 2018 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Scarrone has cherry, Amarena, black cherry, dark toasted wood, full body, nice structure and is fresh and long. The 15% alcohol is not noticeable. 18.3/20 points.
The Vieux Château Certan 2014 Pomerol AC is perhaps the best 2014. It has perfect ripeness and should be drunk now or over the next 3 years. The wine has Amarena, dark toast, cherry, strawberry, just a little cassis, but everything is perfectly blended. The Cabernet Franc component makes it spicy similar to a Cabernet Franc from the Loire. The wine has a medium to full body, a slight fruit sweetness and is very fruity, balanced and complex. 18.5/20 points.
Great port wine epigones are also being produced outside Portugal. The Diemersfontein 2004 Cape Diem Cape Vintage Pinotage Reserve has bounty, amarena, cherry, chocolate, full body and a long finish. 18.3/20 points.
The barrel-aged fortified wines from Australia have sensational quality and are actually too good value. The Dutschke The Tokay from the Barossa Valley has rum pot, raisins, dates, butter, full body, power and is very expressive, dense, long and complex. 18.8/20 points. It's a real steal!