Yesterday was all about Champagne. And not just any Champagne. First, a lunch with Bollinger, focusing on RD (1997, 1996, 1995, 1988, 1976, 1959). Then a one-to-one with Richard Geoffroy, chef du cave of Dom Perignon, tasting the newly released 2002, with 1996 and 1996 Oenoteque. All these wines were fantastic. A great day.
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Spent the evening with Doug Wregg at Terroirs. It’s hard to imagine a better evening of food and wine: authentic, expressive and in good measure. It proved hard to draw myself away to catch the last train back home. We dined well. Matje Herring, a bit like ceviche, was delicious, as were the clams with coriander [...] Whatever happened to Beaujolais? It used to be so popular, but over the last few years it’s struggled a bit. It lost its fun. But there are many really good wines coming from the region, especially with the sensational 2009 vintage, which was the best here for as long as anyone can remember. Here are [...] For the last few weeks it has been a very un-English summer. Hot, sunny, settled. The normally green English landscape has turned a parched pale yellow. I can’t remember a summer like it. 2005 came close, and 2003 was also abnormally hot, but that year most of the heat came later. My vines are loving [...] Alsace. One of the diminishing number of serious wine regions I have yet to visit. But I’m a big fan, even if I tend to forget about the wines from time to time. So time to redress the balance a bit and give Alsace some of the attention it deserves, beginning with a Pinot Gris [...] So the world’s worst airline was late tonight. No stupid corny car horn hoot as the plane landed past midnight at Stansted for Ryanair tonight. Problem is, arriving this late takes away travel options. I’m now waiting for the 0135 bus to Heathrow, from where I’ll get another bus to home. The irony is had the [...] So I arrived in Italy courtesy of the world’s worst airline last night at 10 pm. I was staying at a nearby hotel, but it’s proximity really upset the taxi driver who had been waiting for 3 hours for a fare into Milano (45 km away) rather than a quick 2 minute ride. He was visibly, [...] I’m currently on the Stansted Express, on my way to the airport to fly to Piedmont. Unfortunately, I won’t be there for long – I arrive in Bergamo tonight at 10 pm, where I’m staying, and then tomorrow morning I’m driving to Piedmont to deliver a talk on reduction and non-fruit complexity in wines. Then [...] I’ve neglected the Southern Rhone a bit of late. Here’s a good one, from father and daughter team Bernard and Celine Chauvet of Domaine Grapillon d’Or (www.domainedugrapillondor.com) Domaine Grapillon D’Or ’1806′ Gigondas 2008 Rhone, France This is nice. A good example of Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels subregion in Hawkes Bay. It’s by the Crossroads Winery, part of the Ager Sectus group that includes Southbank Estate and the Crossings. Crossroads Winery Syrah 2008 Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand |
 This is the blog of wine journalist Jamie Goode, online since 2001. Feel free to nose around; your comments are welcomed.
 
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