Category Archives: Wine Tastings

Ripples Become Waves – Howard Ripley German 2017 GG and Reds

There’s a certain sedate quality to your average Howard Ripley Tasting. You turn up early to the grand venue, the Pension’s Room in Gray’s Inn, and for a few moments you can sip amid a sea of calm. Even when … Continue reading

Posted in Fine Wine, German Wine, Mosel, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Red Squirrel Portfolio 2018

I’ve been to the Red Squirrel Portfolio Tasting a few times now, and I can say with conviction that the 2018 event, at the China Exchange in Gerrard Street, Soho, on Tuesday this week, was the best ever. It was … Continue reading

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Wieninger and Wiener Wein

It is no secret that I have a disproportionate passion for Wiener Gemischter Satz, compared that is to most sane wine obsessives. It’s not just the flavours, nor an interest in field blends in general. Once you’ve seen these unique, … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Austrian Wine, biodynamic wine, Heurigen, Vienna, Wiener Gemischter Satz, Wieninger, Wine, Wine Tastings, Wine Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sisters Are Doin’ It at Weingut Renner

Our trip to visit Rennersistas at Gols began very early with a forty-five minute train ride from Vienna Hauptbahnhof to Neusiedl-am-See, and an eleven kilometre cycle into the wind. It made us slightly late and very hot for our 10.30 appointment, but … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Austria, Austrian Wine, Natural Wine, Neusiedlersee, Vienna, Wine, Wine Tastings, Wine Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Lodi Old Vines with Abe Schoener

I’m not usually star struck when it comes to people in wine, but I have to admit that the wines of Abe Schoener’s Scholium Project had a big influence on me when I first came across them through The Sampler … Continue reading

Posted in Californian Wine, Wine, Wine Heroes, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Utravino – The Full Piemonte

A lot of my articles draw attention to small importers, often working in specialist areas. Without the innovation and deep knowledge these small merchants bring to the table we’d probably miss out on some spectacular wines, as I hope recent … Continue reading

Posted in Fine Wine, Italian Wine, Piemonte, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bojo Rising Part 2 – The Tasting

If you read Part 1 of my article on the Westbury Comms/Inter Beaujolais Annual Tasting which took place on Thursday this week you will have gained an overview of what is happening in this once more buzzing region of France. You … Continue reading

Posted in Beaujolais, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bojo Rising Part 1 – The Masterclass

Thursday saw the annual trade tasting for Inter Beaujolais, organised to perfection once more by Westbury Comms at The Trampery on Old Street. In my second article (to follow) I plan to provide an overview of the 2016 and 2017 vintages by … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Beaujolais, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Meeting António Maçanita

There was a buzz being created around the Azores even before Sarah Ahmed wrote a revealing article in Decanter last summer, and that buzz has without doubt been created largely by one man, António Maçanita, the founder (with Paulo Machado) … Continue reading

Posted in Azores, Portuguese wine, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Volcanic Wines, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Modal Wines at Plateau – Nic Rizzi Talks Natural Wines and Terroir Wines

Last night, Nicolas Rizzi, founder of Modal Wines, undertook a tasting at Plateau in Brighton, introducing a few of the wines from his portfolio, and discussing how provenance affects the wine in the bottle. As well as importing a very exciting small range of … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Bars, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments