Caught a glimpse of this new wine label from D’Arenberg, for a celebratory sparkling wine they are releasing. It’s very funny indeed. (For those who don’t get the joke, see…
The third New Year Great Blind Champagne Tasting video!
So here it is. The third installment of the Great Blind Champagne Tasting, which is – by tradition – held on new year’s eve. This years’ was bigger (16 wines)…
Christmas bottles
OK, a round-up of some of the memorable wines we’ve had this holiday. Pictured above: the Man O’War Chardonnay 2009, with its characteristic matchstick reduction adding some Burgundian-style complexity. This…
The mechanics of the £20 Taittinger offer
This is the time of year when the supermarkets try t0 outdo each other with special offers on well-known fizz. I was surprised when I popped into my local Asda…
A lovely wine dinner focusing on Champagne and Bordeaux
Headed over to brother-in-law Beavington’s place for a joint birthday celebration (ours are 6 days apart, but he is a year older than me). We had some fabulous wines. Champagne…
Champagne Roederer Vintage 2005
Unsurprisingly, Roederer’s Vintage 2005 is a tasty Champagne indeed. Here’s my note on the bottle consumed this evening: Champagne Louis Roederer Vintage 2005 12% alcohol. Very youthful, fine and taut…
At the sparkling wine symposium
Just back from day 1 of the 2011 instalment of the International Sparkling Wine Symposium, held at Denbies wine estate in Dorking, Surrey. I’m one of the organizing committee, so it was…
More Rugby and some very nice Gosset
A big day yesterday. It began with a stroll down to the waterfront for some beers with Nick Stock and Iain Riggs (of Brokenwood in Australia’s Hunter Valley), but this…
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2004 and Vintage Rose 2004
A chance to taste the new releases from Veuve Clicquot, both of which are really impressive. Caveat: these bottles had been open for a while. The Vintage 2004 is quite…