Was in Noble Rot on Friday night with Mark and Dan. It ended up becoming quite a big evening and we had some nice wines. How did we manage in…
A couple of lovely Chardonnays: Kutch and Bachelet-Monnot
Had a couple of lovely Chardonnays side by side: one from Burgundy, the other from the cool Sonoma Coast. Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2011 Burgundy, France Lemony and…
Wines of the year (2) older vintages
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 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…