So, I am in Santiago, Chile. I arrived here this afternoon, after a fairly gruelling flight on an old BA 777 (predictably, the Highlife entertainment system wasn’t working, so I…
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2011
This was the standout vintage of a recent 10-year vertical tasting of Pinot Noirs from Craggy Range’s Te Muna Road vineyard in Martinborough. It’s not a rich, dense, flashy Pinot,…
Reyneke Reserve Red 2010 one of South Africa’s finest
This is probably one of the best South African reds I have tasted. And I have tasted quite a few. It’s a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon,…
Sparkling Wine Symposium 2013, a stunning line-up of speakers
OK, this is a plug. For an event of which I’m one of the organizing team. But I just wanted to bring everyone’s attention to the International Sparkling Wine Symposium…
A Beaujolais Nouveau that’s delicious
Is there still life in Beaujolais Nouveau? It’s a very young wine, bottled and shipped by the third Thursday of November (today), very soon after harvest. It used to be…
A lovely South African Chardonnay, and a top Champagne
I have been judging wines at Tranche 1 of the International Wine Challenge this week. The idea is, for the first time, to split judging into two sessions: the customary…
Some lovely wines at The Sampler
The Sampler is such a great wine merchant. I spent some time at the South Kensington store this evening tasting wines from their enomatic machines. You don’t need to spend…
A brilliantly affordable sweet South African
Very impressed by this affordable sweet wine from South Africa. It’s remarkable value for money. Nuy Red Muskadel NV South Africa 16% alcohol. This is something a bit different: an old-fashioned fortified…
Stunning wines from Alvaro Palacios
I have just written up the remarkable wines of Alvaro Palacios (and other family members): Alvaro Palacios, Priorat Descendientes de J Palacios, Bierzo Palacios Remondo, Rioja The top wines from…