By Charles Lea on 03/03/2012
Matthew Jukes, wine writing's ebullient enthusiast, came to our last tasting, and was very complimentary - like the Wine Gang, of which more shortly. He chose just one wine, as it happens it is the same vineyard that Neal Martin picked out in the 2010 vintage from our 2010 Burgundy tasting, but this is the 2009 which is available now.
By Charles Lea on 29/02/2012
Tim Atkin MW published his take on the 2010 Burgundies last week (while I was scooting about the Languedoc unearthing new jewels (of which more later) and attending the ViniSud wine fair in the not so romantic expo park next to Montpellier airport, so there's been a small delay in passing on his recommendations.
By Charles Lea on 16/02/2012
Jancis Robinson, in her article in the Financial Times on 2010 Burgundy, picked out some producers dear to our hearts, in particular Daniel Barraud, whose remarkable wines from his vineyards in Vergisson continue to thrill - (see previous post about Steven Spurrier's best wines of 2010), and Jean-Marc Boillot, particularly for his very reasonably-priced Montagny, but do note that we can also still offer a wide range of his Pulignys right up to Batard Montrachet.
By Charles Lea on 08/02/2012
In the recent Decanter Magazine Steven Spurrier writes "Compared to 2009, the 2010s are less rich but more precise. Compared to 2008, they are more rich and more balanced. Precision and purity were the buzzwords during the tastings, then character and depth; elegance wasn’t mentioned, as it was common to all.
By Charles Lea on 30/01/2012
The Today Programme (never wrong of course) said this morning that psychologists have determined that this is Happy Monday (coming a mere two weeks after miserable Monday when the Christmas festivities are over). Why not celebrate with some cracking Burgundy? In keeping with the slightly austere feel of the beginning of the year, these too are bargains even if not in the Sale.
By Charles Lea on 24/01/2012
Dreary day in London town, but no day so dreary it cannot be lightened by adding to our occasional series of visiting producers on Patrick's motorbike. The old Ducati ST4 has been worn through pounding round the restaurants of London, and has been replaced by an even more ancient Sneeze sorry Cagiva 'Grand Canyon' which was obviously previously owned by a real fair-weather and weekend-only biker, since he had only managed 4500km in ten years.
By Charles Lea on 24/10/2011
Just when we were thinking that 2010 Bordeaux was all over, the Delmas-Montrose team decide to release the 2010 Chateau Tronquoy Lalande. This was a favourite 'hit-list' contender at the outset of the campaign, as all tasters were impressed by this even better follow up to the fantastic 2009.
By Charles Lea on 20/10/2011
Lea & Sandeman will take part in The Wine Gang Christmas fair. (It's not actually at Christmas, but in time for you to think about what to stock up with before Christmas) on Saturday 29th October at Vinopolis. Click the logo to see more details and book tickets via TicketSoup The Wine Gang Christmas Wine Fair 2011 - London Where? Vinopolis, No.
By Charles Lea on 20/10/2011
The Lea & Sandeman Autumn tasting was great fun for us all, attended during the day by many journalists and trade buyers, and in the evening by nearly 200 paying customers, many of who took advantage of the evening's offer to refund their ticket in full against the value of orders taken on the night.
By Charles Lea on 17/09/2011
This week L&S took part in a press tasting jointly with the 5 other members of The Bunch. Amongst other things it was a good moment to launch the slightly made-over Bunch logo. We started with a sub-£10 group tasting to show what good wines we can find at the lower end of the price range of 'fine wine' .
By Charles Lea on 06/09/2011
We are delighted for all L&S staff to have been made winners of the award for London Wine Merchant of the year for 2011/12. This is inevitably the most hotly contested of the 'regional' awards and we are mightily chuffed to have won for the third year running.
By Charles Lea on 17/07/2011
I promise this is the very last word on 2010 Primeurs, but it has been pointed out to me that I have not announced the creation and contents of this year's L&S Mixed Sauternes Cases.