Some white Burgundy highlights from yesterday’s Berry Bros & Rudd tasting. Usual caveat: these are cask samples, not bottled. So treat the score as a very approximate guide. These wines…
Pollen Cider, wine-like, natural, and delicious
I was really impressed by this. It’s a new cider made by Ben Slater, who comes from a wine background (he works for The Sampler). He’s made a pretty natural…
On writing
Everyone wants to be a writer. At least, it seems that way. Few get to write for a living. But people so love to work with words that they are…
Eulogio Pomares Albariño Crianza Oxidativa 2011 Rías Baixas, Spain
Eulogio Pomares is the viticulturist and winemaker at Zarate in Rias Baixas, Spain, and he has also his own project, Grandes Vinos Desiguales. He makes two wines, both from Albariño:…
The Guigal La Las from 2001
Tried these three at The Sampler. Guigal’s single-vineyard Côte Rôties, known colloquially as the La Las. These are often thought of as the ultimate expression of Côte Rôtie, and they…
Spoiling pleasure: why we should be angry about the UK Chief Medical Officers Alcohol Guidelines Review
Today, the UK government has controversially published revised guidelines on safe drinking levels which see the recommended limits for men fall to 14 units a week, down from 21. The…
Video: New Year’s Blind Champagne Tasting (lite)
For the last few years, a feature of new year’s eve has been a blind Champagne tasting with my brother in law Beavington. This year we couldn’t meet up, but…
Pearl Morissette Chardonnay 2012 Niagara, Canada
This is interesting. It’s a Chardonnay from Canada’s Niagara wine region, made by the talented and slightly controversial Francois Morissette of Pearl Morissette. I’ve reviewed his wines in the past…
On the ‘relaxation’ of planting rights in the European Union
There’s been a lot of discussion on changes to the rules on planting new vineyards in the European Union. For as long as I have been alive, there have been…