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On Thursaday night, I attended the Decanter Man of the Year dinner held in honour of this year’s recipient, Paul Symington.
Right from the outset, when Paul was rung with the news of the award in December, he maintained that this is a family award. Paul heads up the family business: they are the leading shipper [...]
Old wines? I love them. And some of the best old wines are fortified wines: Madeira, Vintage Port, Tawny Port and VORS Sherry.
This is a 60 year old single-vintage Tawny Port (the official name for vintage dated Tawnies is Colheita), released to commerate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It’s fabulous and expensive, but good value when [...]
A short film from a visit to Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha, in the heart of the beautiful Pinhao Valley. I am with Paul Symington and viticulturist Miles Edlmann.
Last night was the Portuguese wine awards dinner at the Ambassador’s residence. It’s an annual event, now in its eighth edition, and is organized by the Association of Portuguese Wine Importers (APWI).
The goal is to give a pat on the back to those who communicate about, or sell Portuguese wines in the UK. It’s quite [...]
Really like this.
It’s a Portuguese red wine from the Bairrada region, made by one of the top producers in this area, Casa de Saima. Now they’re known as traditionalists – defenders of the Baga grape, which is what the region’s top reds are made from. This, however, is quite a modern-styled wine, with some Merlot [...]
I bought this wine last year at a ridiculously cheap price in a sale from online Portuguese wine merchant Castas. It’s my last bottle, and I’m sad that I don’t have more. Once again, it shows just how good the Dao region, with its granitic soils, can be.
Álvaro Castro 2007 Dão, Portugal
A blend of Alfrocheiro, [...]
Yesterday’s New Douro tasting was one of the best yet. While the emphasis was on the 2009 vintage, producer’s also brought the odd older wine, which was appreciated. 2009 is a ripe, warm year, but despite the heat and lack of rain that characterized this vintage, the wines have a lovely purity and openness to [...]
Sensational wines. Sensational food. Just what you want on a cold Tuesday night in January.
Amaranth with sorrel; onion brioche with stilton cheese; thai explosion 2
Dirk Niepoort, one of the winegrowers I respect the most, was in town, and he kindly invited a small group to dine with him at Viajante in Bethnel [...]
The Dao region of Portugal continues to impress. Here’s another good one, from organic winery Casa de Mouraz.
Casa de Mouraz 2007 Dao, Portugal
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen and the rare Agua Santa. Fresh, sweet cherry and berry fruit nose with some spicy, savoury notes. The palate is vivid with good acidity [...]
Really enjoyed this wine, which I previously blogged on just over a year ago. It’s a fresh, lively red wine with a hint of savoury, spicy meatiness that makes me think it may have a little Brettanomyces character (read more about this here). But this brett, if it is present, is at a level that [...]
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About  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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