Can any wine compare with the intensity and sheer excitement of great Sherry? Now there’s a question which we could spend a lot of time debating … but frankly on Christmas Eve we are not going to! This is just a brilliant drink. The pleasure begins the moment you pour a small amount into a
Christmas begins here Read More »
The idea of the ‘second wine of an estate appears to have started in Bordeaux with its large estates and volumes of wine. The very best grapes (hopefully from a good majority of the estate’s vineyards) will go into the grand vin leaving the producer with a problem with the remnant. If this was put
More than a hint of greatness? Read More »
Most commuters live a routine and humdrum existence. The times of trains are anchors in ours lives. Mine is the 7:35 from Andover, for Rob, occasional guest blogger on this website, it is the same train but for him it is the 7:49 from Overton. People read their newspapers, books and electronic devices. Some work
Tipple of choice on the 7:35? Read More »
Some wine regions or countries seem to breed complexity. Italy for non-specialists is somewhat forbidding once you get beyond Prosecco, Soave, Chianti and Barolo; modern Spain is getting more complicated as ever more new areas come to international attention. Most of us don’t try very hard with Eastern Europe or Greece. But of the major
Triumphant Portugal Read More »
Martin Hudson MW’s presentation of fortified wines, some of them sweet, was organised by pairings – two Sherry styles, two Madeiras, two Ports, two Vin Doux Naturels and a lonely Rutherglen Muscat at the end. In this way, with some elegant economy, he was able to illustrate the remarkable diversity of the world of fortified
Fortified wines: two by two Read More »
The term ‘entry level’ is a very useful marketing and quality phrase, indicating some real quality, affordable price (a relative term itself) and the enticement of something outstanding at a much higher price. It gets around the problem neatly which you have in Italian where the normal term for entry level wine is ‘base’ wine
Entry level grand cru? Read More »
May’s BBC 1 – bring any quality bottle or the odd joker and taste them blind – threw up a distinctly mixed bag. The whites in general,, unusually, did not shine, the one sparkling wine met a distinctly mixed reception and the evening was saved by good company and a high standard in the reds.
Things can only get better Read More »
As stated many times on this blog, exposing yourself to trial by blind tasting is a mug’s game. My worst moment was failing to identify the grape variety of an Alsace Grand Cru Gewurztraminer. After I knew what it was its typical rose water and lychees aromas were as obvious as it gets. And yes
Blind tasting improbability index Read More »
This weekend saw the chance to taste two interesting but very contrasting sweet wines. I am sorry that it was only after the event that I thought to take the photo. It was one of those evenings that sort of ‘developed’ as it went along But if are very sharp sighted and use a bit
The birthday boy’s choice for this month’s themed Bring a Bottle club was Burgundy (good choice!), with a stipulation for more reds than whites. That is in fact how it worked out but not always for the best of reasons. Even if the wine is off it can serve some photographic purpose. Sadly two of
Highs and lows in Burgundy Read More »