Chateau de Montfaucon, Vin de Madame la Comtesse de Montfaucon

Something not quite right here, although I think it's the stage the wine is at rather than any fault. Simultaneously sugary and bitter, headily exotic, weird clingy finish. We didn't finish the bottle.

Pre-AWE Festival dinner (Wanaka Wedge House, Queensberry, Central Otago, New Zealand) : Gorgeous. Opulent, modern amd seductive oak, white blossoms, honey, mineral. Rich but taut. Outstanding focus.

Delightful, aromatic nose - soft and soapy. Really interesting on the palate, starting quite floral, then becoming a touch sweet, with vanilla, then finishing very savoury, like Twiglets. Moreish, and would get a higher score if the vanilla was less prominent.

Appearance: medium lemon, medium+ tearing, no gas evidence, no rim variation, no sediment. Nose: clean, medium+ intensity, developing, meyer lemon, crisp yellow apple, white peach, just ripe apricot, unripe cantaloup, white flowers, anise, savory herbs, chalk, wet stone, bread dough, honey. Palate: dry, medium- acid, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), medium+ body, medium+ intensity, some phenolic bitterness, medium+ finish, meyer lemon, lemon peel, crisp yellow apple, white peach, unripe apricot, white flowers, anise, savory herbs, chalk, salty minerality, bread dough, burnt caramel, …

Guests from Wellington arrive (Wanaka Wedge House, Queensberry, Central Otago, New Zealand) : Absolutely stunning - white blossom, whit peach, creamy oak, low acid (in a Rhone-style), gorgeous balance, superb texture and structure. This is modern,but utterly true to its terroir. Fabulous - and must get more!