June 15, 2017
Considerably later this week than is my norm but forgive me, 24 hours, is a long time in Politics. A smattering of inbound goodies from Bordeaux and starting with a St-Émilion Grand Cru 2009 at £ 22.50 (10 cases) and graduating right across the other famous Bordeaux communes. Also Premier Cru (Red) Burgundy 2010 from £ 22.00 and a smattering of other Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. I have tried plenty this week but a couple that should feature next week: a tip-top Cahors Malbec and a Kiwi Pinot Noir. And depending upon price, maybe a 5-grape Bordeaux blend from Paarl, South Africa. Despite the ongoing rollercoaster of the £-E we are mitigating out any price increases on at...
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May 25, 2017
Nine different Burgundies due in today alone. New Provence Rosé too. Just swing by if you can. Not cheap but a truly elegant Californian Chardonnay, Beaune-like dare I say and one rare success from a full two hours tasting 35-40 Californ-i-a’s: Schug “Carneros, Sonoma” Chardonnay 2014 at £ 28.50 per Bottle 84 Bottles due in tomorrow Serious Season: Well, for fifty years I have viewed Kensington as the centre of my World and thus, the true centre of London. I was therefore a little surprised to pick-up an 1888 book of “Kensington, Picturesque & Historical” and find the opening paragraph describes Kensington as “Suburbia”! In it are maps from 1837 and huge swathes of RBK&C were...
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May 17, 2017
Though rain is forecast I do at least feel like Summer is finally en route. As such, two classic Summer reds, though truly at either end of the spectrum: Kaesler Vineyards “The Bogan” 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia at £ 35.00 per Bottle Here is the epitome of the perfect BBQ wine. Rich, ripe, intense berry fruit in this ballsy Barossa Shiraz. It has lost its fiery belly as the bottle-age has made this chewy offering age gracefully and mellow just a touch. Not just the 10+ years bottle-age but 2004 is one of Southern Australia’s finest vintages. A bogan is derogatory Australasian slang for someone of uncouth appearance and or behaviour. So if you have any visiting Bruce...
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May 03, 2017
With the outstanding 2014 White Burgundies just beginning to grow thin on the ground, it is imperative to seek out what you can, be that for drinking now or cellaring. Now the more widely available but much hyped 2015’s have merit indeed but in my little book, not to the uniform degree and classic heights that 2014 seems to possess. Last week we sold our last case of 2014 Jean-Noël Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet. So here is a direct missing link to that: Santenay “Les Hâtes” 2014 Domaine René Lequin-Colin at £ 25.00 per Bottle I first tried this a fortnight back and blind thought it was a Chassagne-Montrachet. Mouth-puckering savoury, saline, grassy notes yet still a Chardonnay core. The relative...
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