Northern Rhone whites are some of the unheralded stars of the wineworld. There’s a good story to this wine, too. Before around 1995, Jaboulet were one of the top producers…
The incomparable Yquem 1986
This was the star wine in a star line-up at Tuesday’s lunch. Just thrillingly good. Chateau d’Yquem 1986 Sauternes, Bordeaux, France Powerful, spicy and intense with lovely flavours of marmalade,…
Three lovely Rhones: two Chaves and a La Turque
Had a great lunch at The Glasshouse restaurant in Kew yesterday, hosted by Keith Prothero. In attendance: Malcolm Thwaites, Greg Sherwood and me. The Glasshouse is such a great restaurant….
Holiday in the Charente, France
For the last week I have been on holiday in France. A cousin’s wedding in Vouharte, in the Charente, gave us the perfect opportunity to get together as an extended…
So restaurant wine lists are too trendy?
So restaurant wine lists are too trendy? Sommeliers guilty of forcing their esoteric tastes on punters? Should restaurants give their customers what they’d like, rather than what they should like?…
Visiting Cognac producer Les Grands Pateurs
So, I’m on holiday with my extended family in the Charente, attending a family wedding tomorrow. It’s not wine country, really – although a few wines are made here, the…
The lovely Antikythera Pinot Noir 2011 Antica Terra
One of the most exciting wines of my Oregon trip was also one of the last. It was at Antica Terra with the fabulous Maggie Harrison, on a day in…
Erni’s remarkable dry Riesling
One of the star wines at this year’s IPNC was actually a dry Riesling. Erni Loosen popped by the table I was at with a remarkable dry Riesling, aged for…
Two cool wines from the Okanagan, Canada: Riesling and Syrah
Tried these rather lovely wines from the Okanagan Valley in Canada, and thought they deserved a write-up, even though they might be hard to find. You heard it here folks:…