The other day I was in a convenience store over the road, under instructions to buy some Chewits Extreme for younger son, when a couple of bottles of wine caught…
Two lovely Rieslings, Alsace and Austria
Two happy hunting grounds for Riesling: Alsace and Austria. These bottles satisfied, the Trimbach for its purity and freshness, and the Stadt Krems for its depth of flavour and richness of…
Celebrating the Wine Blog Awards with Taittinger Comtes 2000
I was thrilled to find out today that I won an award. I was shortlisted in the ‘Best Overall Wine Blog’ category in the Wine Blog Awards, and the results…
The joys of camping
Got back from our camping holiday in Somerset, which involved five teenagers (two of ours plus friends) and lots of rain, as well as a bit of sunshine. Because we…
Quinta de Sant’Ana Pinot Noir 2010
I’ve written before about this Pinot Noir. Its debut vintage, 2009, impressed me, and can be found online at a bargain price of £12. This follow-up is equally convincing. A…
A sticky end, a noble Sauvignon Blanc
I’m not really sure I like the branding of Brent Marris’ Marisco Vineyards, but I do like the wines. This is a remarkable botrytised Sauvignon Blanc with real personality. Marisco…
Tio Pepe Fino En Rama, the new release
It’s the third release (I think) of this wonderful sherry. Taken straight from the cask without filtering or fining, and when the flor (the layer of yeast cells growing on…
Kadarka and Kekfrankos, two very nice Hungarian reds from Grof Buttler
Ever since I judged at the Pannon Wine Awards in May, I’ve had an appetite for Hungarian wines. Two varieties, in particular, have caught my attention. The elegant, Pinot Noir…
Another lovely Kiwi Syrah, at an affordable price
Following on from yesterday’s plug for Trinity Hill’s rather tasty Syrah, here’s another lovely Kiwi Syrah, this time at a nicely affordable price. Villa Maria Private Bin Syrah 2009 Hawkes Bay,…