Author Archives: dccrossley

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About dccrossley

Writing here and elsewhere mainly about the outer reaches of the wine universe and the availability of wonderful, characterful, wines from all over the globe. Very wide interests but a soft spot for Jura, Austria and Champagne, with a general preference for low intervention in vineyard and winery. Other passions include music (equally wide tastes) and travel. Co-organiser of the Oddities wine lunches.

Les Caves de Pyrene Drinking Outside the Box Tasting 2019 (Part 3)

This final part of my coverage of the large and rather magnificent 2019 vintage Les Caves portfolio tasting (or at least the London leg) contains well over thirty wines, so I won’t waste time on introductions. If you haven’t read my preliminary … Continue reading

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Les Caves de Pyrene Drinking Outside the Box Tasting 2019 (Part 2)

This second part of my coverage of Les Caves de Pyrene‘s 2019 London Portfolio Tasting takes in four of the categories of wines which relate to “terroir and climate”. These are Minerals, Sea Sand and Saline, Volcanoes and Mountains and Garrigue Maquis Fynbos. If you would … Continue reading

Posted in Minerals and Wine, Natural Wine, Volcanic Wines, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Les Caves de Pyrene Drinking Outside the Box Tasting 2019 (Part 1)

Les Caves de Pyrene held their annual Portfolio Tasting on Tuesday 23 September at the Hellenic Centre off Marylebone High Street, London. As with a similar event last year, Les Caves decided to stir things up a bit. A lot … Continue reading

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Swiss Wine by Sue Style

To give it its proper title, Sue Style’s latest book is The Landscape of Swiss Wine – A Wine-Lover’s Tour of Switzerland. Now you all know that I’m a bit of a fan of Swiss Wines, and from time to time … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Grape Varieties, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Three Go Mad In Islington – Nekter, Roland, Modal Portfolio 2019

The three dynamic, young and small importers featured here have not chosen a pithy name for themselves, like the “Dirty Dozen”, so I’ve kind of done it for them in my title (sorry chaps). Nekter Wines, Roland Wines and Modal … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Austrian Wine, Californian Wine, Natural Wine, Slovakian Wine, Slovenian Wine, South African Wines, Spanish Wine, Tuscan Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines August 2019 #theglouthatbindsus

August is traditionally the month when people head off on their holidays, but we were at home, drinking our way through a host of wonderful wines as usual. I’ve cut this down to twelve bottles, assisted by having written a … Continue reading

Posted in Arbois, Artisan Wines, Austrian Wine, Beaujolais, biodynamic wine, Czech Wine, German Wine, Greek Wine, Jura, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wild Flor Hove Again

Friends and acquaintances in London are increasingly asking me where to dine in Brighton, and I always come up with two recommendations now. I say to them that if they want a buzzy atmosphere and cutting edge natural wines, within … Continue reading

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Dirty Dozen Tasting 2019 (Part 2)

I wrote about some of the wines tasted at London’s Dirty Dozen Tasting in Part 1, here. Those importers covered were The Wine Treasury, Roberson Wine, Howard Ripley Wines, Raymond Reynolds, H2Vin and Flint Wines. Follow the link above to see what … Continue reading

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Dirty Dozen Tasting 2019 (Part 1)

September sees so many tastings, too many. A top Sommelier told me yesterday that all the importers think that the sommeliers change their wine lists, starting from scratch, in November, but she also added that this is a complete myth. … Continue reading

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Howard Ripley 2018 GGs and ’17/’16 Pinot

No one in the UK has a range of German Wines that outstrips that of Howard Ripley Wines. Although they could not supply all my German requirements, if I had to I could live off Ripley Riesling (and Spätburgunder). They … Continue reading

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