Andy Kerr has a full-time job in Chester but moonlights as on-line wine merchant Artisan Wines (www.artisanwines.co.uk). And while his range isn’t the largest in the UK, it’s one of the more intriguiing, focussing as it does on (currently) exclusively French wines, with a distinct organic and biodynamic slant. Some […]
France
Lots of stuff in the news at the moment about how Brits are deserting Champagne for Prosecco, Cava and other cheaper fizzes. Not much of a surprise that, since most of us aren’t awash with cash at the mo. But Prosecco and Cava are for me rather different beasts. Bog-standard […]
Champagne Gaviscon
Another weekend of foraging in the cellar and finding some Alice in Wonderland-style bottles that had ‘Drink Me’ written (invisibly of course) all over them. I last tasted the Mission Vineyards Reserve Syrah 2002 from the Gimblett Gravels in Hawkes Bayin autumn 2005. Then, I said ‘drink up to 2009’ […]
A Mission to the Judean Hills
Just back from three days in France, and a mound of work and clutter to deal with. After the sun of the Languedoc, it was a bit of a shock to wake up at home this morning with a smattering of snow on the car. After tasting ~400 wines from […]
1855 revisited, and the Wine Wasteland
It’s Valentine’s Day and I probably should be wooing my sweetheart. However, we’ve had a wonderful day together, including a long lie-in, a trip to IKEA (without which no Valentine’s Day is complete), a cuddle at the cinema (Slumdog Millionaire – Anil Kapoor is the Indian Michel Rolland) and a […]
Valentine’s Day Aftermath-acre
“The Rhône Valley’s vineyards welcome you with open tendrils” At least that’s what it says on this page from the not especially useful Inter-Rhône web site. For me open tendrils smacks too much of the Triffid. No matter. I’m married to a lovely laydee who is a big Grenache fan, […]