Journey's End Honeycomb Chardonnay 2016, South Africa (£10, Marks & Spencer) Poor old Chardonnay. I was told of someone recently who refuses to even allow it into the room, such is the virulent distaste they have for it. I'd argue this is to throw the baby out with the...
Meerlust Pinot Noir 2016, South Africa (£17-22, 2015 vintage currently at The Wine Society, Four Walls, Hedonism or via WineSearcher) I remember my first visit to Meerlust, back in 2003. Over a very convivial lunch with gravel-voiced owner Hannes Myburgh, a fair old quantity of his fine Pinot Noir...
In any global destination, there are must-see sights. The Colosseum. Angkor Wat. Twickenham Stadium...
Muga Rioja Blanco 2015, Spain (£9.99, Majestic or via Wine Searcher) This Muga white Rioja is a rare example of an elegantly oaked white under a tenner on the UK high street (and indeed elsewhere, if you care to check the Wine Searcher link). It made a seamless pairing...
Côté Mas Vermentino 2015, France (£8.49, Waitrose or via Wine Searcher) I'll admit it. When I first saw the recipe that Atul Kochhar was cooking on Saturday Kitchen - sumptuous spiced roast chicken with bread sauce, brioche-filled stuffing and gravy, all with an aromatic Indian twist -...
Domaine Jacques Rouzé Reuilly Rouge Pinot Noir 2014, France (£130 per case, Lupton Wines) It's rare to find a wine region described as somewhere 'Jeremy Corbyn would buy his Y-fronts', or a winemaker 'who makes Jeff Capes look like John Inman'. But then not every wine merchant is like...
Morandé One to One old vines País 2015, 12.5%, Chile (£6.99 when you buy 6+ bottles or £8.99 per single bottle, Majestic) Sometimes wine can be just a bit too serious. That's why we all need a good healthy dose of a wine like this Morandé old vines...
Fief Guérin Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu Sur Lie 2015, 12.5%, France (£7.99, Waitrose or via Wine Searcher) Muscadet is enjoying a bit of a renaissance at the moment and this Fief Guérin is not only a pleasantly refreshing, saline-inflected rendition, it also makes a fine match for...
Le Montrachet 2007, Lucien Le Moine, Burgundy, France - en jeroboam (Not commercially available but see Wine Searcher for other vintages) OK, OK, so it came as the 12th wine during a marathon dinner at the domaine. And yet, for a dinner positively swilling in fine wine of the highest...
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 1990, 14%, France (£350-500+, see Wine Searcher) ‘As a winemaker, you have to be humble in front of a wine like this,’ muses Caroline Frey, whose family took over historic Rhône producer Paul Jaboulet Aîné in 2006, of the estate’s iconic Hermitage...