Category Archives: Wine

Bulgaria is Back – Edinburgh Masterclass with Jamie Goode

There may be one or two readers who remember the glory days of Bulgarian wine in the early 1990s, but not many, so perhaps I should enlighten those who don’t. There was a time when Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon was possibly … Continue reading

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Wine Prices – A Bit of a Moan

Over the period since Brexit and the Covid pandemic the prices of individual bottles of wine I have bought for years have unquestionably gone up…and considerably. I can think of wines which perhaps cost in the low £30s back in … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Fine Wine, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Hobby, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Recent Wines December 2023 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

Before we get onto Part 2 of the wines I drank in December, a quick plug for a wine book project close to my heart. Some of you may have already seen that Wink Lorch has launched a Kickstarter campaign … Continue reading

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Recent Wines December 2023 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

As I begin writing, I’m enjoying the extra Bank Holiday (January 2nd) we have up here in Scotland. Hogmanay obviously requires more recovery time than New Year down in England. As I appeared to have a large glass of undiluted … Continue reading

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Review of the Year 2023

My Review of the Year 2023 marks a new phase in my life. I can’t really say career, because as far as wine goes, it isn’t a conventional one (and I think, to many working in wine in my new … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, Review of the Year, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Books, Wine Festivals, Wine Heroes, Wine Merchants, Wine Science, Wine Tastings, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wines of the Year 2023 #theglouthatbindsus

Wines of the Year! It could be so self-indulgent, could it not? A dozen posh bottles which no one can afford and will probably never drink. I do have some of that stuff left in my cellar, a kind of … Continue reading

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Recent Wines November 2023 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

The second and final part of November’s “Recent Wines” (the wines we drank at home) ranges from a rare Alpine treat from Savoie, a genuinely remarkable Sherry and another nice entry-level wine from a well-known Tuscan estate, to another of … Continue reading

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Recent Wines November 2023 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

November has seen me away from home quite a lot, so there are only ten wines we drank at home to tell you about, and nine out of those ten wines were European. At least this focuses the mind on … Continue reading

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Basket Press – New Vintages in Edinburgh

The last of the Edinburgh tastings for November featured some new wines from Basket Press Wines, actually tasted outdoors on a lovely mid-November lunchtime. It doesn’t always rain here, contrary to the myths put about down south. You will doubtless … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Czech Wine, German Wine, Hungarian Wine, Natural Wine, Slovakian Wine, Slovenian Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Modal Wines Edinburgh Tasting at Spry, November 2023

Modal Wines held their Edinburgh Trade Tasting on 6 November at Spry Wines which, at 1 Haddington Place, is at the top of Leith Walk. For anyone who doesn’t know Spry, it is a natural wine-focused bar and restaurant which … Continue reading

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