Chateau Latour 2012 & Forts de Latour 2014 – First Release
By Charles Lea on 27/05/2020
Château Latour 2012 is released today – for the first time, as this was the first vintage in which Latour was not offered en primeur.
Europe
Denis Durantou
By Charles Lea on 21/05/2020
I am still reeling from the news of the death last week of Denis Durantou, owner and winemaker of Chateau l'Église Clinet, La Petite Église (its second wine) Cruzelles, Montlandrie, La Chenade and Saintayme. He was only 62. I've been so disengaged (delegation) from the last two Bordeaux primeur campaigns, that I didn't even know he was ill.
The Virtual Dinner Party – with Virtually Perfect Wine Pairings
By David Porter on 15/04/2020
Is there anything that beats a good Dinner Party? Coming together to share delicious food, exciting wines, and lively conversation with friends now seems more essential than ever before – but how to have that experience now? In recent weeks, technology has really stepped up to the plate, changing the way we work, play, and socialise.
A wintery visit to Piedmont: 2016 Barolo & 2017 Barbaresco
By Phil Weeks on 25/02/2020
Piedmont at the end of January you would think would be a pretty sleepy place, but in fact Alba was buzzing with activity, as it was the host for the Anteprima Nebbiolo tasting for journalists, and the Grandi Langhe tasting for trade and importers.
2015 Brunello di Montalcino – A Tuscan Triumph
By Tom Lorimer on 11/02/2020
2015 Brunello di Montalcino - A Tuscan Triumph As each week passes, it’s hard to avoid the hype and noise around 2015 Brunello. There have been some really good vintages in the last few years like 2007 and 2010, but there is a strong feeling that 2015 trumps them all – and from our early tastings it is easy to understand the excitement.
2018 Northern Rhône: A view from our Rhône (Obsessive) Buyer
By Derek Robertson on 28/01/2020
Every January the small village of Ampuis in the Northern Rhone plays host to the annual Marché aux vins, a salon that attracts a global audience of Syrah and Viognier enthusiasts, collectors and buyers.
What we’ll be drinking for Christmas – Our Favourite Wines
By David Porter on 23/12/2019
It’s the busiest moment of the year for our team as we try to help everyone get the right wines into their glasses as well as the perfect presents into people's stockings for Christmas.
2018 Burgundy En Primeur | First Impressions
By Peter Ogilvy-Wedderburn on 25/11/2019
2018 was a very hot vintage – the growing season only beaten by 2003 for overall heat. However the wines are very different from 2003, for even where they are ripe there is much more freshness than one could have dreamed possible.
2015 Basarin: Sottimano’s Brand New Barbaresco Cru
By Edward Richardson on 19/07/2019
Those who have visited Piedmont will understand just how varied these beautiful Alpine foothills are in aspect, altitude and geology. The best winemakers are able to translate the nuance of these sites, or 'crus', into delicious and distinctive expressions of Nebbiolo. Andrea Sottimano is an absolute master of the art.
2018 Bordeaux En Primeur: Left Bank Roundup
By Edward Richardson on 06/04/2019
On Wednesday we published our immediate thoughts on the wines of the Right Bank (see 2018 Bordeaux En Primeur: Right Bank Roundup). Here are our first impressions from the other side of the river and a list of wines we felt were outstanding within their quality level or commune.
2018 Bordeaux En Primeur: Delight Or Dismay?
By Edward Richardson on 01/04/2019
We will touch down at Mérignac airport early on Sunday morning and fly straight into the 2018 Bordeaux en primeur tastings. Judgement will be reserved until all the barrels have been sampled but here are some early impressions of the vintage and thoughts on the upcoming campaign.
Opposites Attract: Two Very Different Brunello Releases – 2014 & 2013 Riserva
By David Porter on 27/03/2019
Every March the new releases from Montalcino are unveiled. The rules stipulate that Brunello must be aged at the estate for 5 years and for the Riservas it is 7 years before hitting the market. 2019 therefore marks the release of the 2014 Brunellos and the Riservas from 2013.