By Charles Lea on 23/12/2013
Closing the shop on Christmas Eve (we are open until five tomorrow) is always a challenge and I may have to see if I can sneak off a bit early to get to my favourite carol service. The charm is worth it - the tiny thirteenth century St Philip's church of Little Rollright has no electricity, and so the rare services here are entirely candle-lit.
By Charles Lea on 17/12/2013
Andrea Oberto, Barolo Vigneto Albarella 2009
Barolo (Piedmont), Italy, Dry Red (Cork), 14.5% abv
The tasting of the year for me was a Quinta do Noval and Noval Nacional port tasting, the same six vintages of each, but as retail stockists are as common as hens’ teeth I’ve chosen this fragrant, expressive Barolo instead:
By Andrew Hooper on 10/12/2013
The theme, such as you need a theme beyond ‘Christmas’, was to put a few less likely wines in front of people, to test and tantalize the taste-buds. With that in mind, we left out the traditional option of Champagne, and kicked off with the very splendid Gusbourne 2008 Brut Reserve from the Garden of England, a zippy but textured fizz that works really well as an aperitif.
By Charles Lea on 01/12/2013
Victoria Moore’s Christmas recommendations in THE TELEGRAPH….
By Charles Lea on 01/12/2013
Jane MacQuitty chose a couple of L&S wines in her Christmas line-up – one Burgundy and one Claret, either of which would make a great Christmas wine:
By Ed H-B on 04/11/2013
“there are four shops – in Chiswick, Notting Hill, Barnes and Chelsea – and a reputation, achieved through a mixture of hard bloody work and elan, for selling distinctive, cleverly sourced wines, in particular from France and Italy. Lea & Sandeman has become a London institution”
By Andrew Hooper on 01/11/2013
We’ve put together a mixed half dozen – some hearty reds, a zippy Sauvignon and a bottle of supreme fizz – to cover your Bonfire Night needs.
By Charles Lea on 28/10/2013
We had a great email from Leopardo Felici last week, who, if he knew the English expression, would say his cup is brimming over. As it is he expresses himself with such clarity and is so obviously so happy that we really have to publish as it comes:- "the harvest is over since few days now.
By Andrew Hooper on 27/10/2013
The winegang were in attendance at our recent SNP tasting at the Saatchi Gallery and have kindly penned some complimentary words about LEA & SANDEMAN. Words like these: 'Our scores speak for themselves: there's no question that LEA & SANDEMAN is one of Britain's top wine merchants.' Praise indeed.
By Charles Lea on 14/10/2013
We are prompted this week by the lovely note from David Williams in The Observer into making this our wine of the week:- 2011 ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO Dei £12.95 single bottle, / £11.
By Charles Lea on 14/10/2013
Three reds and a Champagne at a one-day only price. Not sure what it is like where you are, but it's been grey and rainy all day in London, so if you are not feeling much like going out, here is a one-off opportunity to stock up on some real Autumn favourites at special prices for today only.
By Charles Lea on 13/10/2013
Roberto Guerrini-Fuligni reported from Fuligni in Montalcino on the 9th October:- 'Harvest 2013 is just finished, a few days ago, (it took 7 days to pick about 12 hectares) and I have in my hands the analytical dates of a great vintage.