Chateau Kirwan 2003 and 2011

Both vintage's nose liquorice, coffee, floral, plum, damp earth and cassis scents pop from the still profoundly coloured wine. With rich, fat, round textures and a sweet, ripe, liquorice, chocolate and jammy plum-tinged finish, these 2 fleshy, opulent Margaux wines is already starting to drink well purple and weighty. While Kirwan 2003 is still muscular yet relatively tamed and cxan crack immediately, 2011 under the baton of Eric Boissenot, the Médoc's master oenologist, is very drinkable and appealing. In great contrast to 2010, 2000 and 2012 that we tried in a roll, both 2003 and 2011 with some bottle age are elegant; lilac gives a mouthful of purple flowers, mineral, red currant, and cherry notes mingle together and carry through the focused finish. Long, bodied, tensioned. both 2011 and 2003 is blended with approximately 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Farr mentioned that the Boissenots had consulted here since 2007 (replacing Michel Rolland), and the 2011 wine is now less new-oak, less late-picked and less jammy in style and 2003 is on the traditionally woody side. Kirwan is now a wine of classic Margaux elegance. There is good purity and structure, well-rounded tannins, and attractive red fruit. Still, it will need some time to open.

Kirwan 2010 is controversial if you read most of the tastings from better-known Bordeaux wine tasters.

Robert Parket et al. and VertdeVin think this wine is not for now: always a blockbuster with the more masculine side of the appellation providing density, power, a big body, loads of fruit, extract and richness. However, RP et al. wrote that this is not the case for now. Awarding it 95 points, VertdeVIn gives a contrasting tasting, saying the nose is elegant and aromatic and offers gourmandize, a certain richness, and concentration (but full of control). Vertdevin wrote this wine should be decanted so that the red and black fruit develop from primary through secondary to tertiary stages. It will have a good length if you oxygenate it enough. We find ourselves more in agreement with VertdeVin, at least with this: decanting dramatically helps.

The other camp(GG and WE) thinks it is time to crack a bottle of Kirwan 2010. Gilbert and Gailliard thought this wine was ready. They gave 95 points and commended its alluring, refined nose of fresh red fruit with subtle oak; its fleshy, fruit-driven attack, warmer mid-palate framing evident tannins. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 94 points, commending this total fruity wine's balance structure(acidity and ripeness) and its new black-currant character. It will develop relatively quickly but could hold at its peak for many years.

Two roads(views) diverged, though are not obliged to take anyone, but then took the other, each maybe just as fair.

JMQ94 is all right. WS92 is good enough.

Faustino 1 Gran Reserve 2011

Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo are the three classic Rioja grape varieties. Graciano provides a festive colour and high acidity; Mazuelo flavour, abundant tannin, and Tempranillo are the perfect coupage for long-

- ageing wines. True to Rioja, true to its origins. Cherry red develops into an intense ruby colour. Intense and complex. Well-integrated sweet and warm hints with ripe fruit, notes of vanilla and sensations of cinnamon, blond tobacco and cocoa.

Elegant in the mouth, structured and with good acidity. The finish is sweet and surprising for a Rioja Gran Reserva. There is an aftertaste of the blend of very ripe fruit, vanilla and roasted notes.

Excellent bottle age and vintage(2011 is a reasonably good vintage in Rioja, re Decanter)

1. fantastic scores at 94/93 points level(Guia Penin, JS, WE, Decanter)

2. 2011 is a wine to keep(J Robinson)

3. perfect provenance(frosted Burgundy-style bottle with a label bearing a Rembrandt style portrait of a Spaniard and the bottle itself wrapped with a thin, twisted-gold-wire mesh)

4. being the top Gran Reserva from Faustino, with the Roman numeral I( the middle range is V and the entry-level VII).

Vivino tasters generally comment positively. Canadian tasters seem to say that the fruit is not dropping. Against all the odds, most tasters will agree that the wine gives tastes with some complexities, complexing, elegance, style, classicism and length and is still fresh in the way of Rioja.

Scores are impressive.

Domaine de Chevalier 2013

After all these years, what continues to impress us is the fruit freshness that added to the classic style of liquorice, menthol and fresh minerals, and the class and balance on the palate. With a chalky finish, there is adequate concentration, power and finesse—the elegant tannins for this excellent and long wine.

Scores and comments are impressive, such as:

WE95. This beautiful wine is fresh with acidity and structured with a mineral texture. Layers of creamy citrus and white fruit flavours accompany well-integrated wood ageing touches. It's a wine to drink for its freshness soon, although it will also benefit from several years of ageing. It will be best from 2018. Edited.

VindeVerte95. The nose is fruity, floral and spicy. The palate is fruity, fleshy, and complex, with good volume and a beautiful structure. The attack reveals a beautiful smoothness. The mouth reveals a beautiful and precise aroma of ripe black fruits, highlighted by some spicy and woody notes. The tannins are well integrated. Good length. The finish is fruity and tannic—a very "gourmand" wine. Edited.