Off to Corney & Barrow this morning to taste the 2009s from the legendary Domaine de la Romanee Conti, which we all know as DRC. Of course, it is virtually…
Heida: a brilliant Swiss white wine
Swiss wines are great, but they’re rarely seen out of Switzerland. This is a mountain wine, grown at an altitude of 1150 metres, which makes it one of the highest…
Some great wines at today’s Majestic press tasting
I really enjoyed today’s small but perfectly formed Majestic press tasting, held in a stock room at their fine wine store in St John’s Wood. [As an aside, they have…
How export approval can stand in the way of less conventional or natural wines
Some good news. Wine Australia today announced that they are dropping the tasting panel element from export approval. Getting export approval has been a big problem for natural winemakers in Australia,…
A decent, affordable Carignan
£9 used to be quite a lot to spend on a bottle of wine. Now, with duty increases and exchange rates, it really isn’t. I’m not saying that £9 is…
Two Beaujolais, one nice, one thrilling
Two more really good wines from the 2010 vintage in Beaujolais, one of which is thrillingly beautiful. Yvon Métras Beaujolais 2010 12% alcohol. Pale cherry red in colour, this is…
Another great beer: Goose Island IPA
Really enjoying beer at the moment. Here’s another great one, this time from Chicago’s Goose Island. Great to find this in Tesco, and it wasn’t expensive. I wish you could…
Exploring perception at the Champagne assembly
Today was the Champagne Mumm/Perrier Jouet Champagne Assembly, held in the fabulous surroundings of the Marriott Renaissance Hotel at St Pancras. I attended three of the five sessions, and they…
At the Australia Day tasting
Some great wines on show today at the Australia Day tasting in London’s Saatchi gallery. Great venue for wine tasting: lots of natural light, and big airy spaces. Couldn’t have…