It’s not been a great year for wine writing. Several fellow writers have lost their newspaper columns and regular gigs. It has been particularly tough for those who rely solely…
On being ill
I’m currently ill. This is unusual for me: I can’t remember the last time. Of course, I haven’t seen a doctor. I’m male and British, and we tend not to…
In Madeira with Blandy’s
I’m in Madeira. It’s my first time on the island. It’s quite a beautiful place. The reason? To find out about Madeira wine, with the island’s largest producer, Blandy’s. Day…
Co-chairing at the International Wine Challenge Tranche 1
This week I have been judging in Tranche 1 of the 2017 version of the international Wine Challenge (IWC). After eight years as a panel chair, I’m now a co-chair…
Some good value wines that impress
I’m aware that many of the wines I recommend here are quite expensive. So these are some wines that I’ve tried recently that represent excellent value for money. These are…
On flying
Flew back from Vancouver on Saturday night. The plane in the top left picture above is the ancient BA 747-400 that we were flying on, getting ready for boarding. The…
Brand familiarity, quality and the mac and cheese metaphor
Yesterday’s Kayra tasting raised an interesting question. In 2006, winemaker Daniel O’Donnell finds himself in charge of one of Turkey’s most popular wine brands, Buzbag. As a winemaker, surely it’s…
You don’t have to be the best: you just have to be famous
In a field like athletics, the recipe to success is clear: be the best. Being the best is quantifiable. If you run faster, throw harder or jump higher, no one…
Responding to a reader’s comment on excessive travel and narrow scoring
I had an interesting comment on my blog a few days ago, and I’ve been mulling it over. If anyone takes the trouble to comment at length like this, and…