Monthly Archives: December 2017


…beginning with sherry Barbadillo Manzanilla Pasada Pastora En Rama (2017 bottling), Spain (£9.99 per half Amazon, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Taurus Wines, Roberts and Speight, The Dorset Wine Co, Mumbles Fine Wine) Has the classic bracing briny edge of Manzanilla, but this is deeper in colour, and weightier, with pungest yeasty […]

A selection of sweet and fortified wines…


A variety of Italian wines, mostly red, beginning in the North West Renato Ratti Langhe Nebbiolo “Ochetti” 2015, Piedmont, Italy (£20.49 Hailsham Cellars, Hoults, CMT Wines, Larner Bros, Mumbles Fine Wines, Liquorice, Framlingham Wines, Banstead Vintners) Promising young wine, starts off with (reduced) aromas of blackcurrant pastilles but then open […]

An Italian Assortment


Beginning in Italy with Prosecco. Or not… Rivolto Zanotto Vino Bianco Spumante Extra Dry NV, Veneto, Italy (£10 Vino Beano) Fresh, satisfying fizz, not massively complex but scores for its dry caramel and green apple flavours, dangerously moreish… B+   And another Italian I didn’t film… Il Serraglio Saliceto Buzzalino […]

Sparkling Wine Round-Up



Bit of a Bordeaux round-up today, starting with an excellent value Merlot-based wine Château Clos l’Eglise Côtes de Castillon 2002, Bordeaux, France (£13.95 From Vineyards Direct) Excellent value for mature claret, this is warm and juicy, and still has plenty of plummy blackcurrant and cedar character. Yes, there’s a touch […]

Five Bordeaux reds


(late update – found another Chardonnay in need of exposure, see at the end…) Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuissé 2015, Burgundy, France (~£25 Hailsham Cellars, Warlingham Wines, Saxty’s, North and South Wines, FL Dickins, Chester Beer and Wine, Fine Wine Sellers, Exel Wines, winedirect.co.uk, Amazon) Gentle, generous style of wine, the warmth […]

Chardonnays from Burgundy & the Languedoc (plus a late addition…)


Another batch of videos in an attempt to clear the backlog. Beginning with one of the best wines I’ve had this year… Maison Harbour Gevrey Chambertin La Justice 2015, Burgundy, France (£48.33 Vino Beano) Oh yum. Wonderfully supple style, still desperately young, but already showing its immense charms. Lovely pure […]

Burgundy, Beaujolais and Bais. OK, Pais…