GUBU III Good/Unloveable/Brilliant'Undrinkable

Drinking quite a lot of Burgundy recently, probably in the wake of my trip and must say the quality is far less patchy than it was five years ago.
Still in love with NZ Sauv B but like to drink it as fresh as possible, most of the 2003s are in now but you still have the odd bottle of 2001 knocking about and they are mostly a bit spent.

Murane Syrah 2001 Vin de Pays d’Oc
One of Aldi’s more expensive importations – 9 euro something. First sniff sent my chum Bangles with whom I shared the bottle into an uncontrollable sneezing fit. This continued as we drank the wine. Next day I woke up with a banging sinus headache the like of which I’ve not had for ten years.
That said, I thought this wine was horrid – syrup-sweet and unsubtle. Best avoided.

Santa Rita Medalla Real 2000 cabernet sauvignon, Chile
Less of a fruit bomb than other Chilean cabs. Likeable wine of some class.

Beaune du Chateeau, Bouchard Pere et Fils, 2000
Classic, mainstream Burgundy, all the famyard smell and cherry flavour you’d like. With precise fruit/acid balance you always get from people whoi know what they’re doing. Good gear.

Savigny-les-Beaune 1997, Champy.
I’ve always found Savigny reliable and this one is no exception. Quite hefty, in the old style and ageing gracefully.

Lupe Cholet, Cote de Beaune Villages 1998
This wine produced a split decision. Two diners thought it the nicest of the three on the night, I thought it lacked the class of the Bouchard and the weight of the Champy. A wee bit characterless, somehow, but decent enough

Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Martinborough, New Zealand
One of the pack that’s chasing Cloudy Bay very hard. Lovely rich but not cloying well-balanced stuff, the product of people who are thinking hard about what they do and getting it right. This wine would be absolutely perfect for the “getting a wee bit tired of Chardonnay ” brigade.

Chateau de Seuil Graves Sec 1998
Friends and fellow tasters have raved about this wine but after 2 bottles I can’t really see what all the fuss is about. Well made but dull and a bit characterless IMO.