Lunch kicked off with the wrong bottle. Johnny had arranged for a bottle of Laurent Perrier 1990 which we only discovered having opened a brace of Louis Roederer Brut Premiers but we managed to find room for all three. The LP 1990 was nutty and biscuity, slightly honeyed.

Sacha Lichine, son of the famous Alexis Lichine, told me we should be stocking his Chateau d’Esclans Provence Rose, now the region’s most exclusive and expensive rose when I saw him at Vinexpo in Hong Kong.

Ch d’Esclans

I agreed that it was a good idea, but wasn’t sure if people would be happy to pay in […]

2 weeks in my father and step-mothers magic house in Cogolin in the south of France seems a distant memory as the body readjusts to the cool of Britain. The journey down was legendary, punctuated by a stop in Beaune and a visit to Clos des Lambrays in Morey St Denis to taste with winemaker […]

Last weekend I was lucky enough to taste two vintages side by side from this prestigious 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is usually considered to outperform its classification and these wines are no exception.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 1999 was absolutely delicious and is drinking really well at the moment. Lovely dark fruit flavours and good concentration with […]

I have just been in the north of Scotland for a couple of weeks with the family. Part of the time we were staying in a tiny little place called Achiltibuie. I’m sure not many of you will have heard of this but, for those who have, they will know what an amazing […]