This is a striking wine. It’s incredibly concentrated and intense, but also has a bit of class. It’s modern, but still has some soul. Currently, it still tastes very youthful,…
FFS update, as spring approaches
Had a nice walk with the dogs today on Hounslow Heath. It has taken a while to get used to walking a pair of dogs, as opposed to just the…
A super Loire red from Frederic Mabileau
I’m a bit of a sucker for Loire reds. They’re the antithesis of the ‘international’ style of red wine, and they’re quite difficult to ‘get’. But they’re lovely. It’s so…
Why tasting panels suck
It’s simple: the results. I don’t know why (but I can make guesses) that panels of tasters consistently produce embarassingly bad results. This has been in the news over the…
Champagne Salon 1999 is launched… with fish and chips!
Had a very enjoyable lunch today. It was the launch of Salon 1999 – the latest vintage from this remarkable Blanc de Blancs Champagne which comes from a single cru…
Another serious Napa wine
So, after my good experience with Cain’s Five, here’s another serious Napa wine – this time, a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. Again, this was drunk, not tasted. It also passed the…
The shard, and judging with sommeliers
This year, for the first time, I’ve been judging the sommelier wine awards for Imbibe magazine. It’s been an interesting experience, because unlike other competitions, the goal of this one…
A lovely Chilean Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer is a funny grape. Usually, I like it in small doses. It can be just a bit too distinctive. But I did once have lunch with someone who was…
Clare Valley Shiraz – two good ones
Australia’s Clare Valley is a region I’m drawn to. It’s capable of making great Riesling, great Shiraz and great Cabernet Sauvignon – an unusual mixture. Perhaps this is because the…