I’m off to Portugal this evening. Back to the Douro, for some quality time with the Douro Boys. I remember my first visit to the Douro. It was back in…
A mini vertical of Noval Vintage Port
Had a chance to try four vintages of Noval side by side. Sadly, this was tasting not drinking – and usually, tasting notes made in the act of drinking have…
Taberna do Mercado, Old Spitafields, London
Yesterday’s lunch was at the much talked about Taberna do Mercado, in Old Spitafields Market, a short walk from Liverpool Street Station. This is Nuno Mendes’ relatively new venture, so…
Some lovely Portuguese whites
Some Portuguese whites, tasted with lunch on the Lisbon coast. All impressive, and not too expensive. Soalheiro Vinho Verde 2014 Portugal This is benchmark Alvarinho from one of the top…
Video: planting an Arinto vineyard in Vinho Verde, Portugal
A brief film showing an Arinto vineyard being planted in Vinho Verde, Portugal. It’s from Casal de Ventozela, which is one of the properties I visited in April when I…
Quinta do Noval 2013 Vintage Port
Don’t you just love eccentric declarations? We’re talking Vintage Port here. It used to be so solemn and predictable: three declarations a decade, from the very best years, agreed in…
Video: Cockburn’s Port Bicentenary Tasting
Here’s a film from the recent Cockburn’s Port Bicentenary tasting, held in London. It involved a range of Ports from Cockburn’s glory days to the present day, including a couple…
O-Port-Unidade
This is super cool. O-Port-Unidade is a charity Port, organized by Axel Probst, German fighter pilot and Port lover (his website is World of Port). 24 Port producers (with one…
Lunch with Dirk Niepoort, including the Poeirinho Baga and a Madeira from 1795
Dirk Niepoort is in town, so yesterday we arranged to have lunch at Kitchen W8. It’s been a while since I caught up with Mr Niepoort, who is one of…