Continuing with the northern Rhone series, and the third in a run of St Josephs, this time from superstar negociant Tardieu-Laurent. Originally involving Dominique Laurent, this firm is now run…
Penfolds to price fix Grange?
Interesting article in the Drinks Business today by Patrick Schmitt. He has interviewed David Dearie, who is the new CEO of Treasury Wine Estates, which includes Penfolds, who make Australia’s…
A couple of decent Bordeaux wines
Bordeaux, when it is good, is usually very good indeed. Here are two wines that are drinking very well now. Indeed, this seems to be the skill with Bordeaux: catching…
A name for English sparkling wine – the Britagne debate
There has recently been some debate about whether or not English sparkling wine needs a name, prompted by the release of Coates & Seely’s new fizz, for which they have…
Northern Rhone series 7, Coursodon Silice St Joseph 2007
The Northern Rhone journey continues. Sticking with St Joseph, an appellation with some excellent terroirs as well as some poorer ones, we move to a superb example from 2007. This…
Sacred Hill Deerstalkers Syrah 2009
Now this is a remarkable New Zealand Syrah, from the famous Gimblett Gravels terroir of Hawkes Bay. It’s a style I like a good deal, and which I predict has…
Lunch at La Trompette
A quick note on Wednesday’s lunch at La Trompette in Chiswick, with Robin Davis and Tom Carson. It’s under the same ownership as the excellent Glasshouse in Kew, a joint…
Northern Rhone series 6, Gilles Barge Clos des Martinets St Joseph 2001
I don’t make whole-case purchases all that often. Usually I find that 12 of a particular wine is a little too much. 6 is usually better. But this is the…
Two Provencale roses that I really like
Rose tends to be a functional sort of wine. You enjoy it in the right circumstances, but don’t really feel like writing a long essay on it. And I find…