I’m spending a few days in Reims, in order to do some Champagne visits. It’s a lovely city to spend time in, and there are plenty of good options for…
Matassa, revisiting the debut vintage
I found a bottle of Matassa’s first release kicking around. I bought a six-pack from Sam Harrop when it was first released (£15 a bottle then) and tucked it away….
Some nice high-end rosés
Had these nice high-end rosés yesterday afternoon, with friends. Triennes Rosé 2017 Provence, France Pure delicate and aromatic – very bright with tangerine and lemon and red currant. So fresh….
Four affordable, lighter reds for summer smashing
Back to the UK and I’m working through some samples on a balmy summer evening. I’m really into lighter red wines at the moment and these four fit the bill…
Visiting Yvon Métras, Beaujolais star
Getting a visit with Yvon Métras was quite a big deal. He doesn’t normally see UK press, and regularly turns down requests for visits. One of the gang of five…
A vertical of Château Pichon Baron, 2001-2014
Second-growth Château Pichon Baron is one of the great vineyard terroirs in Bordeaux. Located in Pauillac, just opposite Latour, it boasts three of the five Médoc first growths as near…
Domaine Labet Les Parcelles Rares Trousseau 2016 Côtes du Jura
Had this at lunch yesterday courtesy of Ashleigh Barrowman of Scotch Wine Bar. It’s a quite beautiful wine, but initially on the nose it is a little scary, with some…
Hervé Souhaut Syrah 2016: seductive, smashable
I’ve been an admirer of the wines of Hervé Souhaut for a while. I remember taking his Syrah as one of my three wines when I was taking part in…
IPNC: the non-Oregon Pinot Noirs
One of the great things about the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) is the chance to taste a wide range of Pinot Noirs from around the world. I’ve already written…