Symington: 2019 Single Quintas New Releases
Portugal, featured
, Jun 2021
The 2019 vintage in the Douro may not have coerced Symingtons into a declaration, but it did lay the foundation for a set of new single Quintas releases.
Cellar Favorite: 1998 Domaine Georges Roumier Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Jun 2021
There is no point in restating the fact that I, along with countless other Burgundy-lovers, adore the wines of Christophe Roumier. Oops, I did it again!
Beyond Wine: Album Review of Floating Points, Pharoah Saunders, London Symphony Orchestra - Promises
Beyond Wine
, Jun 2021
I cannot write too much about Promises – it is something you really have to listen to and immerse yourself in, preferably late at night with the lights dimmed, preferably on vinyl on a high-end audiophile system.
Seven Australian Cabernets from 2015
featured, Australia, Verticals & Retrospectives
, Jun 2021
Maybe, like me, you have forgotten the joy a bottle of top-notch Australian Cabernet can bring. In a brief diversion away from tasting Bordeaux primeur, I sampled several wines that jogged my memory.
Cellar Favorite: 1896 Taylor’s Single Harvest Port
Portugal, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jun 2021
Several years ago, Taylor’s Fladgate had what might be described as a eureka moment. Instead of using precious, ancient and irreplaceable pipes of Port into their 40-Year Old Blend for example, why not see if there is a niche market for limited launches of historical fortified wines?
Cellar Favorite: 1978 Château de Pommard Pommard
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Jun 2021
Before I started scribbling words about wine writing, I worked for a Japanese import company that acted as agents for a dozen or so producers. One of those was Château de Pommard and so naturally I was in regular contact with its erstwhile proprietor, Jean-Louis Laplanche.
Vingt-Vingt Vins: Bordeaux 2020
featured, France: Bordeaux
, May 2021
Twenty-twenty was a year that turned out like no other, yet Nature ploughs on regardless, another Bordeaux vintage, another primeur and another report from barrel. Does 2020 complete the triumvirate? Does it really belong up there with the greatest vintages? As usual, I ignored all the hype and tell it how I find it.
His Father’s Son: Grand Mayne 1955-2011
featured, France: Bordeaux, Verticals & Retrospectives
, May 2021
Jean-Antoine Nony was one of the first winemakers I ever interviewed for Wine-Journal in 2003. Almost two decades later, I finally return to Grand Mayne to conduct a comprehensive vertical and discover more about this ascendant Saint-Émilion estate.
Vinous Table: High Timber, London, UK
Vinous Table, United Kingdom
, May 2021
It was a pleasure to get back out again and revisit one of central London’s dining secrets. Anyone with an interest in South African wine should make a beeline for High Timber, which should reopen fully from May 17.
Cellar Favorite: 2008 Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella
cellar favorite, South Africa, Cellar Favorites
, May 2021
On my bucket list of wine-related things to do, apart from tasting the 1947 Romanée-Conti and climbing K2 with Lalou Bize-Leroy in order to overcome my debilitating vertigo, is to conduct an unabridged vertical of Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella.