Apr 2026: 2020 Château La Confession, 2019 Roc des Boutires Aux Bouthières & 2024 Krutzler Blaufrankisch

Schloss Gobelsburg Brut Reserve NV, by the glass at Meirerei Im Stadtpark, Vienna, 01 Apr 2026. Luminous golden hue, boasting a lovely creamy chalkiness on the nose though somewhat lean and assertive on the palate, made up for by unexpected length that fleshed out with a clear crystalline quality.

2024 Sutter Weinvertel Klassik Gruner Veltliner, by the glass at Sparky’s Bar & Grill, Vienna, 03 Apr 2026. Golden luminosity, exuding fresh floral hues with zesty acidity and subtle minerality. Medium presence with fine clarity, slightly minty at its modest finish.

2022 Umathum Frauenkirchner Saint Laurent, by the glass at Sparky’s Bar & Grill, Vienna, 03 Apr 2026. Deep garnet. Rather funky on the nose, dominated by a reductive earthiness amid wild berries and varnish. Better on the medium-full palate with well-integrated acidity and tannins to match the dense fruit, exuding mild tension.

2024 Krutzler Blaufrankisch, by the glass at Sparky’s Bar & Grill, Vienna, 03 Apr 2026. Deep garnet. This wine opens with an inviting warm ripeness from the excellent density of darkish fruit, not jammy at all. Structured with very refined tannins and well-integrated acidity, boasting fine linearity and lovely length. Just a tad dryish.

1999 Domaine Robert Ampeau et Fils Auxey-Duresses 1er Ecusseaux at Asia Grand, 06 Apr 2026. Dark plums and cherries dominate with a distinct savouriness. Quite plump and richly imbued with fruit that is still very fresh with lively acidity, laced with a trace of sweetness. Finished well amid minty overtones. At its best.

2019 Domaine de Roc des Boutires Pouilly-Fuissé Aux Bouthières over lunch with Vic and LF, 13 Apr 2026. Aired in bottle for four hours prior. Pale yellow. Keen bouquet of yellow citrus and brioche. Wonderfully tactile, bursting with delightful acidity and full presence of rounded fruit without being in any way assertive, displaying well-defined layering with clean precision amid a minerally tinge. You really need to look beyond the label to appreciate this.

2017 Château de Chamirey Mercurey 1er La Mission. Popped and poured at Otto Ristorante, 16 Apr 2026. Good colour. Pears, brioche and honeysuckle dominate on the nose whilst its rich oily density boasts a layered chalkiness underscored by distinct salinity. Entering early maturity, exuding superb mouthfeel from the elegant intensity and slick acidity, fanning out with a sweetish undertow amid overtones of nutmeg. Good length. One of the best tasting experiences that I’ve had with this monopole.

2020 Château La Confession over lunch with Vic and LF, 20 Apr 2026. Double-decanted for five hours prior. Very deep purple. Nose of vanillin and plush red fruits with a hint of capsicum, going on to develop a deep rosy fragrance. Medium-full. Very well integrated, quite generously imbued with cool ripe darkish fruit and just the right level of acidity within a refined tannin structure, imparting lovely freshness with exquisite supple intensity. Punches well above its Grand Cru (Saint-Émilion) classification.

2016 Pierre-Yvés Colin-Morey Bourgogne Blanc, courtesy of LF over lunch with Vic, 27 Apr 2026. Golden luminosity. Quite a deep gleaming bouquet of tropical fruits, pineapples, peaches and brioche. Equally enticing on the smooth rounded palate, displaying lithe agility with rounded fleeting presence, becoming more intense as it gained further traction. Excellent.