Met with Michael Hill-Smith today at the shiny new Liberty Wine offices in Clapham, to taste the latest releases of Shaw & Smith. For me, this is one of Australia’s…
Diam Rendezvous, Bordeaux: the influencers in the world of wine
On Friday, I took part in an interesting conference in Bordeaux, organized by closure manufacturer Diam. The audience was a group of Bordeaux wine growers, and the panel consisted of…
Two cracking Marlborough Sauvignons
These are two lovely Kiwi Sauvignons from the 2012 vintage. Both are from the Wine Society, and while they are priced above the entry level, the fact that the entry…
Riesling focus, 2: Ostertag Vignoble d’E
Over the last year, I have fallen in love with Alsace. Along with the Mosel and Austria, it is one of the world’s top destinations for Riesling. Here’s a cracking…
Two superb beers from Thornbridge
Good wine is, unfortunately, rarely cheap. Great beer is more often than not quite affordable. Of course, most beer is boring. Increasingly, though, exciting beers are becoming easier to find….
Dinner at Comptoir Cuisine, Bordeaux, with 1953 La Mission
I had a free evening in Bordeaux last night, and Matthieu and Anne-Laurence Chadronnier (pictured above) kindly offered to take me to dinner. I am so glad I accepted their…
Three New Zealand Syrahs from the Gimblett Gravels
There isn’t a lot of Syrah in New Zealand. But it’s a grape that does very well here, when it is grown. I’ve had great examples from Waiheke Island, Martinborough,…
Burgundy 2011 – some impressions
This week is Burgundy en primeurs, in London. Unlike the Bordelais, the Burgundians wait a bit longer before showing cask samples (15 months after vintage, versus 6), and travel to…
Lunch at 28-50 – a dream restaurant for a wine lover
Had lunch with wine trade buddy Daniel Primack (of www.aroundwine.co.uk) at the brilliant 28-50 in Marylebone today (www.2850.co.uk/marylebone). I’ve visited the other 28-50 in Fetter Lane a couple of times, and…