Day 2 of the International Wine Challenge, and it was a big one. The team I was working with tasted 160 wines today. A lot by any standard, and by…
Day 1, International Wine Challenge 2012
The first day of this year’s International Wine Challenge was a huge success. It’s the biggest yet, in terms of entries, and this was the first day at a new…
Northern Rhone series 20, the 2010s from Pierre Gaillard
I was fortunate enough to be sent some cask samples of the 2010s from Pierre Gaillard. He makes wine in a modern style, but avoids spoofiness and over-ripeness. In a…
The beginning of the end of Bordeaux primeurs?
Are we about to see the beginning of the end of the annual Bordeaux en primeur campaign? For as long as I have been following wine, a key point in…
How to manage a Champagne brand, some thoughts
I’ve been thinking a bit about wine branding recently, and specifically about Champagne brands. The large Champagne houses are skilled brand managers. It has taken a lot of hard work…
In the Douro, at Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhao Valley
A short film from a visit to Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha, in the heart of the beautiful Pinhao Valley. I am with Paul Symington and viticulturist Miles Edlmann.
Two great older whites: Burgundy and South Africa
Had these two fabulous older whites, and thought they deserved a blog post of their own. Both have aged beautifully. Domaine Marc Morey 1er Cru Virondot Chassagne Montrachet 1999 Burgundy,…
Bordeaux pricing is actually all about sex
Let’s talk about the pricing of top Bordeaux wines. It’s the subject of intense current discussion, but I think there’s some misunderstanding here. We’re not just talking about the price…
Beers from Thornbridge
Delighted to find three beers from Bakewell-based brewery Thornbridge in Waitrose today. They’re all brilliant. First up, Thornbridge Jaipur India Pale Ale. It’s aromatic, spicy and hoppy with a hint…