So, continuing with my theme of wines of the year, I have gone through my notes and pulled out the highlights. This post is concentrating on older wines, pre-2000. I’m…
Icon wines at The Sampler, including Latour 82, La Chapelle 78 and Ygay 59
Each year The Sampler put some high-end ‘icon’ wines on their enomatic machines. It’s a real highlight tasting through them, and this year was no exception. The highlights included the…
Jean-Paul and Benoît Droin Chablis 2015
I was given this blind to taste. Immediately I opted for very serious Chardonnay, and Chablis in quick succession. I wrote my note and scored it. Then I was stunned…
Domaine Leflaive’s switch to DIAM
Celebrated Burgundy producer Domaine Leflaive have switched away from natural cork to DIAM for all their wines, beginning with the soon-to-be released 2014 vintage. I was alterted to this news…
Sylvain Pataille, master of Marsannay
Over the last 15 years Sylvain Pataille has built up his domaine from scratch. He first made wine in 1999, while he was still employed in an enology laboratory in…
Dinner with Dan at Noble Rot: Raveneau, Lynch Bages and Dervieux Thaize
Had a lovely dinner with Dan Keeling at Noble Rot last night. The food was as good as ever, and the wines were just thrilling. I’ve rarely drunk as well,…
Dinner with Dirk: Chave 1988, De Vogüé Bonnes Mares 1969 and Taylors Vargellas 1976
Dirk Niepoort is one of my favourite people on the planet. Last night we dined at Noble Rot, and shared some very special bottles. Chave Hermitage 1988 Northern Rhöne, France…
Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Sous Eguisons 2014
Caroline Lestimé, winemaker at Jean-Noël Gagnard, decided to plant Chardonnay vines on this plot of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, back in 2007. It’s in Rochepot, opposite Saint Aubin, and it…
Two Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos: Billaud Simon and Louis Michel
Over the last couple of years I have grown to love Chablis. Its appeal is a little less obvious than many other expressions of Chardonnay, but the best wines are…