Vik 2019, Millahue, Cachapoal, Chile, 14.5% (c £100-115, Slurp has the 2015; also internationally for other vintages - find Vik in Winesearcher) Cabernet Sauvignon is the workhorse of Chilean wine. It accounts for nearly a third of the entire vineyard. So it's not surprising there's a fair...
Festive. What does that word mean to you? For some, it elicits a buzz of intense excitement. For others, it sends a chill down the spine. The majority will be somewhere in between – or both at the same time. And that includes us. Particularly this year. In...
(By Peter) I took part in a blind tasting in late September 2022 for Which? magazine to find some great value sparkling and red wines for Christmas. Full results are in the magazine or the PDF below. It's quite a handy guide if you're on the lookout...
Château Cheval Blanc 1949, St Emilion This isn't an attempt to grandstand. I was lucky enough to try this very special wine during a recent visit to 'The Fort Knox of wine', 100 feet underground in Octavian's Corsham Cellars, and I thought it would be interesting to...
Gosh we haven't posted on here for a while - we blame the podcast for taking up all our time! On which note, we wanted to share the very exciting news that we've been featured in the Radio Times. Wine Blast is Show of the Week...
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2020, 12.5%, England (from £27.99, Lyme Bay website & cellar door, Amps Fine Wines, Fareham Cellars, Tivoli, Elizabeth Rose, Wickham Wines etc) When we put this tip out via social media, someone responded along the lines of: all English Pinots taste like battery...
Here's a column I wrote for Decanter on how Covid has changed wine retail. It was based partly on my experiences chairing the Decanter Retailer Awards. Here's an excerpt: 'Far from blighting wine retail, the pandemic has created openings for a new breed of ambitious wine purveyor [...
Feudo di Santa Tresa 'Rina Russa' Frappato 2019, 13%, Sicily, Italy (from £8.99, The Wine Society, Ocado, Vintage Roots) This is a juicy, upbeat, lighter-bodied red perfect for autumn or spring drinking. It's also amazing value for money – plus it’s organic and suitable for vegans. On the back...
Bride Valley Pinot Noir 2018, Dorset, England, 12% (£21.50, Bride Valley) This is a sprightly, elegant red with a spring in its step, a joie de vivre and a youthful charm, all of which captures something of its proprietor, Steven Spurrier, who recently died aged 79. His passing...
OK, so it's not writing per se (apologies). It's definitely more on the 'listening' side of things. But there are things to read if you want to! That is, about our appearance on the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast with Natalie MacLean. Natalie recently suggested a podcast...