Another spot of blind tasting. Always a good way to learn. These four were selected at random from a large stash of wines I have lying around: there are enough…
Dirty Julie, a Verdelho from the Swartland
I love everything about this wine. The packaging (you can’t see the wax capsule in this picture), the grape variety (Verdelho), the winemaking (natural ferment), the flavour, and – of…
More on supermarket fake half price wine deals
Good to see supermarket fake half price deals coming in for some stick in the national press. The Telegraph have an article about it, titled Beware supermarket wine bargains. Most…
Capturing Englishness, in wine
I have just spent a lovely evening playing cricket in Marble Hill Park, Twickenham, with a great bunch of guys. There is something so English about cricket. Pass through a…
A thoughtful piece on Bordeaux primeurs
I liked this thoughtful piece on Bordeaux primeurs by Oliver Styles, a Brit now resident in New Zealand. I love Bordeaux as a region, but I have consistently avoided the…
Champagne Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs 2002
Enjoyed this, a rich style of Champagne from Bruno Paillard. This was released later than most of its peers, after spending 10 years on the lees, and has a relatively low…
In Bordeaux for Vinexpo, some highlights
Just on my way home from Bordeaux, and a quick one-night stay for Vinexpo, the huge bi-annual wine trade fair. The scale of Vinexpo, with it’s multitiered stands and kilometre…
What do I look for in Pinot Noir?
What do I like in Pinot Noir? I look for a few things in a great Pinot. First of all, that indefinable quality of elegance. I wish I could define…
Helix, a new cork-based closure solution
Very interested by this new development, which was launched today at Vinexpo. It’s the Helix closure, which is the result of a partnership between cork company Amorim and glass manufacturer…