Weekly tasting report (Apr 19-25, 2020): Australia, France, Italy, USA

This is the first in a new series of posts dedicated to the very latest tastings from the JamesSuckling.com team.

What you read in these weekly reports are what we taste just days before – sometimes just a day before!

These reports will hit the site every week – so bookmark our homepage and look out for these insights into our tasting regimen, and to get the very first reviews and scores on the latest wines, many of which have not even been released yet for wider tastings.

Last week James tasted a small selection of Bordeaux 2019 sent to him direct from France as he was in lockdown here in Hong Kong (watch the video here). He was impressed with the freshness of fruit and richness coming through in these young wines even though the growing season was very hot in Bordeaux. He looks forward to tasting another 200 samples in the next few weeks. He does Zoom interviews and tastings with a number of producers.

James has also tasted a number of exciting Washington wines and has been impressed with merlots and syrahs.

Meanwhile Executive Editor Nick Stock is working on regional reports on the newest wines from Australia and New Zealand. His selections below were full and polished, showing great character.

See the wines, scores and tasting notes below (subscription required) and please let us what you have been tasting in the past week. Add to this discussion in the comments!

Tasting Notes

Château Croix de Labrie St.-Emilion 2019
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Vintage 2019
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Henschke Shiraz Eden Valley Hill of Roses 2015
Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
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Château Tour Saint Christophe St.-Emilion 2019
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Vintage 2019
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Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Tenuta 2017
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2017
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Hewitson Mourvedre Barossa Valley Old Garden Vineyard 2016
Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2016
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Kiona Vineyards Red Mountain Estate Fortuna
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage No Vintage
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Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Alexander Valley Belle Terre Vineyard 2018
Country United States
Region California
Vintage 2018
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Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Cinq Cépages 2016
Country United States
Region California
Vintage 2016
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J. Bookwalter Columbia Valley Conflict Conner Lee Vineyard 2017
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2017
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Januik Syrah Red Mountain Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 2017
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2017
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Nocturne Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Single Vineyard 2016
Country Australia
Region Western Australia
Vintage 2016
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Sparkman Cabernet Sauvignon Yakima Valley Rainmaker 2016
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2016
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Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon Wahluke Slope Rosebud Vineyard 2016
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2016
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Genesi Amarone della Valpolicella Corte Figaretto 2016
Country Italy
Region Veneto
Vintage 2016
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Genesi Barolo Boscareto Principiano 2011
Country Italy
Region Piedmont
Vintage 2011
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Genesi Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba Principiano 2015
Country Italy
Region Piedmont
Vintage 2015
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Northstar Merlot Walla Walla Valley Premier 2016
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2016
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Tenet Yakima Valley The Pundit 2017
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2017
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Two Tonne Tasmania Pinot Noir East Coast EST 2019
Country Australia
Region Tasmania
Vintage 2019
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Upsidedown Wine Yakima Valley Konnowac Vineyard White 2018
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2018
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Latta Roussanne Columbia Valley Lawrence Vineyard 2017
Country United States
Region Washington
Vintage 2017
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