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 Andrew Hooper on 24/01/2013
In these straitened times, splashing out on a few cases of 2011 Burgundy might seem a tad indulgent. Well, with a miniscule (but, by all reports, excellent) 2012 vintage to follow and the Burgundians making ever more successful overtures toward the Chinese market, it could turn out that 2011 was the smart vintage to buy.
By Charles Lea on 15/12/2012
The time is fast approaching.
By Charles Lea on 09/12/2012
From Victoria Moore's column in yesterday's Telegraph, a little raft of recommendations from our last tasting.
By Charles Lea on 08/12/2012
Nice note from Liz Sagues in the Ham & High this week:- "I’d planned to write about several more excellent independent merchants here, but there is room only for a quick focus on one, Lea & Sandeman (shops in Chelsea, Kensington, Barnes and Chiswick, online at www.
By Charles Lea on 08/12/2012
'Light and brisk or solid and savoury? Choose your Christmas bubbly.
By Charles Lea on 24/11/2012
STAR BUY in Jane Macquitty’s The Times 50 white wines for Christmas 2012. “Superior Picpoul de Pinet, like this star, is worth splashing out on. This zesty 2011, with oodles of ripe, fat, lemon-peel and greengage-layered fruit, closing on a fine, smokey, steely, minerally finish is a triumph. Best with fish of seafood or as an aperitif.”
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 22/11/2012
We have had Andrea Sottimano (from the eponymous wine estate in Piemonte) going round the shops and various restaurant customers this week, tasting his wines, culminating in a dinner at Quo Vadis. And they are just great. The Barbarescos (Barbaresci?) (no - appparently 'Barbareschi' is correct) are awesome, but it is clear from our tastings that these young wines they do benefit from being opened early if possible.
By Andrew Hooper on 13/11/2012
We are delighted to offer the second release of Gonzalez Byass’ rare and delicious Palmas range of sherries. Since the 1880s Gonzalez Byass has used the Palmas system to classify its highest quality Finos.
By Charles Lea on 08/11/2012
This year we were happy to be awarded the accolade of best Independent Champagne retailer by the trade mag. 'Harpers', but that pales into insignificance beside the tweet that Jancis Robinson sent out after our last tasting:- "Today's tasting suggested nowhere better in London to buy Champagne than Lea & Sandeman".