The older I get the more I like Champagne. This makes me sound like an old fart, but it is true. Champagne rocks. It’s a very interesting drink, and it…
Some remarkable older wines: 1937 Noval Colheita, 1975 Deutz and a 1919 Sherry
Three nice older bottles opened at the Gonzalez Byass 10th anniversary dinner last week: Champagne Deutz Blanc de Noir 1975 France (magnum) This Pinot Noir comes from Grand Cru Aÿ,…
Two from Champagne Savart
Fred Savart’s Champagnes are the real deal. His elevage is in a mixture of oak and now concrete, and the production here consists of small volume, terroir focused wines. I’ve…
Some great wines at lunch, including Cristal, Faiveley Corton and Schlumberger GC Saering
After judging the Roederer Awards on Tuesday, we repaired to Chez Buce, where – naturally – we popped a couple of bottles of Roederer’s Cristal. This was followed up with…
Eight stunning grower Champagnes
These are all brilliant. Champagne Agrapart Cuvée Minerale Grand Cru Avize 2007 Lovely depth and finesse here, with toast and apple, pear and citrus. Lovely complexity. Dry, structured, pure and…
Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV, comparing 2012 disgorgement with 2005
This was an interesting excercise. The same NV Champagne – the excellent Charles Heidsieck – from disgorgements seven years apart. The older bottled had been professionally cellared in the interim….
Champagne Agrapart Terroirs Extra Brut
On my last day in San Francisco I met up with Blake Edgar, editor at University of California Press (who have published 3 of my books). It was a beautiful…
A Sunday in San Francisco
So, I got a text from Joshua Thomas: ‘Are you interested in brunch?’ Of course! So I headed across town to meet him at Nopalito for a Mexican brunch. The…
Fifth Grand New Year Blind Champagne Tasting Video
So here it is, the fifth Grand New Year Blind Champagne Tasting. A little shorter than last year’s (only 48 minutes!), but with two more wines, and some quality chat,…