By Andrew Hooper on 07/02/2014
You will be aware of Susie & Peter. They may sound a bit like CBeebies presenters but they are, in fact, the two rising stars of wine reviewerdom - Peter Richards MW and Susie Barrie MW, two MWs who married each other and take turns to pop up on 'Saturday Kitchen' conjuring up wine matches to the cuisine on offer in James Martin's TV kitchen.
By Charles Lea on 02/09/2013
Unlike some Champagne houses who rattle out the vintages one to the next – Pol have the strength of mind and the integrity to hang on to theirs until they are really sure that it is at the perfect point to release, allowing for early drinking for the impatient, but always with the class and depth needed for longer-term ageing.
By Andrew Hooper on 29/01/2013
Another exhaustive taster of new vintage Burgundies is Tim Atkin MW, who has been hard at work, both at the tasting table and the lap-top, of late. If for nothing else than the beautiful photographs, his opus on the 2011 vintage is well worth a look.
By Charles Lea on 19/12/2012
The deadline for deliveries before Christmas outside London is past, but if you live in (central-ish) London, you can still order online for delivery today (Wednesday), or, if you really insist on taking it to the wire, tomorrow (Thursday). Even then our magnificent warehouse crew will get your wine to you before Christmas.
By Charles Lea on 24/11/2012
Saturday, and grey old day in London town, so if you are in the capital, and the weather makes you think you'd rather stay in, you can always shop online. If you feel like getting out, maybe see you for breakfast in Portobello. Here's another addition to our seasonal Champagnes offer.
By Charles Lea on 21/11/2012
We may be on the 'beach' here, but golly what a dreary day it is! It seems hardly to have got light today on the western borders of Chelsea.
By Charles Lea on 01/11/2012
I had heard little whispers in the trade along the lines of 'I gather the 2011s are showing pretty well', and taken them with a large dose of scepticism. But my first day of tasting today has left me feeling that the rumours did not say the half of it.
By David Porter on 26/10/2012
On Monday we faced another of the many hurdles on the long path since losing Patrick, with our postponed Press tasting. An opportunity for us to show the world our latest finds, as well as new vintages of much loved wines on our list.
By Patrick Sandeman on 15/08/2012
Wine & the art of seduction - Victoria Moore 'Does it matter what wine is poured when the intention is to seduce? And if so, what bottles might it be good to open? I ask these questions because I was browsing in wine merchants Lea & Sandeman last Friday when a chap, who I’ll call Mr X, walked in and asked for help.
By Patrick Sandeman on 04/02/2012
The Wine Gang will undoubtedly be familiar to many of our customers, but for those who are not the 'Gang' is made up of five of the UK's foremost wine writers and tasters: Tom Cannavan, Jane Parkinson, Anthony Rose, Joanna Simon, and David Williams.
By Patrick Sandeman on 19/01/2012
Moreua2010 BURGUNDY - some thoughts and recommendations Last week we saw what has become the annual round of tastings of the new Burgundy vintage put on by the merchants and importers, mostly for journalists, but also for trade and private customers.
By Patrick Sandeman on 29/11/2011
BUBBLY TREATS for the festive season. Jancis Robinson recommended 25 'bubblys' in the first of her 'Top 100 festive wines' series, in Saturday's FT Weekend Magazine. Many of them were highlighted as stocked by Lea & Sandeman (indeed some are direct imports of ours), and here is that selection together with her tasting notes.