Swartland-based Mullineux is one of the most respected of the new wave of South African wine estates, and in the 2012 Platter Guide they achieved a remarkable clean sweep of…
Naturae wines from Gerard Bertrand, made with no added sulfur dioxide
Very interested to try this pair of wines made by Gerard Bertrand, and stocked by UK retailer Marks & Spencer. They’re not what you would associate with the natural wine…
Abbe Rous Cornet et Cie Collioure Blanc, a mini vertical
Does it count as a vertical when you taste just two vintages of the same wine? Not sure. But I enjoyed opening two consecutive vintages of this lovely white wine…
Video: tasting Champagne – Roederer NV compared with Lanson NV
Haven’t done one of these in a while: here I am on camera, tasting two non vintage Champagnes. Roederer and Lanson.
Consider a tear
Consider a tear. [I’m referring here to the tear that comes from our eyes, not the tear that occurs in a fabric, or the sort that runs up the inside…
Northern Rhone series 26, Jean-Luc Colombo Les Fees Brunes Crozes 2009
Cornas-based winegrower and negociant Jean-Luc Colombo divides opinion. To some, he’s too modern – and I have had mixed experiences with his wines, finding some a little oak influenced, and…
Cricket at Hampton Wick
So, the hottest day of the year so far. A muggy 30 degrees, under a blue sky with just a hint of haze. And time for some wine trade cricket,…
Te Tera Pinot Noir from Martinborough
Kiwi Pinot Noir rocks. And this is one of my favourite inexpensive examples. It’s made by Martinborough Vineyard, and comes from the wonderful Martinborough/Wairarapa region, not far from the capital…
Curious Brew, a remarkable lager
A beautiful evening. In the mid-20s, with a gentle breeze. Time for some beer. It’s Curious Brew, a lager from UK winery Chapel Down. (See www.curiousbrew.com.) Made with East Anglian…