2007 Black Hills Estate Nota Bene

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She says: The name, “Nota Bene,” is Latin for ‘note well’ or ‘take notice’, and I am not sure it quite lives up to its name.

He says: Don’t buy this wine.

2008 Henry Fessy Saint-Amour

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He says: As the most expensive in our trio of wines from the region, it proved to be a poor value.

She says: At the $25 price point I can think of a long list of wines I’d prefer to drink.

2007 Ex Nihilo Vineyards Riesling

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She says: I am a lover of Riesling and this didn’t quite cut it for me.

He says: Overall, uninspiring, and there’s better bottles to spend your money on.

2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Old Vine

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She says: Definitely my least favourite of the two Zinfandels

He says: I recommend you drink it as a chaser for Jägermeister – it’ll help it to taste more like a glass of wine.

2009 Haywire Pinot Gris Switchback

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He says: As the great Public Enemy famously said, “Don’t believe the hype”.

She says: For me the most expensive wine [of the tasting] turned out to be the most disappointing.

2007 Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Terra di Vulcano

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She says: I could imagine drinking this in the southern Italian heat when bigger red’s would be too heavy.

He says: An easy-sipper if ever there was one. Drinkable, but unmemorable, and not very rustic.

2007 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir

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He says: It was a bad year for Oregon, hit by heavy rains at harvest, and yes, 2007 Oregonian Pinot Noir is an expensive lesson we won’t soon forget.

She says: With high expectations this rather simple palate failed to deliver.

Wine truths

“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine.”
by St. Thomas Aquinas

Wine Ratings

★☆☆☆☆ - Poor quality. Avoid. Save your money. Between 80-84 points.

★★☆☆☆ - Average quality or poor value. Between 84-88 points. Some expensive wines are downgraded for bad value.

★★★☆☆ - Good. Between 88-92 points. Or a good value on the lower end of the point scale.

★★★☆☆ - Excellent quality. Between 92-96 points. Or a cheap yet good quality wine which is excellent value.

★★★☆☆ - Outstanding, best examples in the world. Between 96 and 100 points. A perfect wine.