Anyone else have to delay their evening meal because of this afternoon’s tennis? And while we’re on the tennis – and I’m not trying to take anything away from the achievements of Roger the Dodger – did anyone get to a stage in that final set where they just wanted […]
Simon
Just saw that Jamie Goode has described a Californian Sangiovese on Facebook as ‘quite good’. Actually, I got that wrong, the term he used was was ‘actually quite good’. And then when I looked for it on his blog, I found that this was very much a positive comment (it’s […]
When ‘good’ isn’t good enough…
Did anyone else used to have a pumice stone that was disguised as a mouse in their bathroom? Can’t remember the last time I was up close and dirty with one, but the smell of them lingers in my brain and I’ve just found it again in the Dourthe No1 […]
Pumice stone and beeswax – two Bordeaux whites
Wine writer-turned-winemaker Monty Waldin credits me with him becoming a wine writer. He used to work in Roberson in London, and apparently when I was in there one day in the early 1990s, I mentioned that Wine Magazine (now RIP) was lookings for a tastings co-ordinator. He applied for the […]
Monty’s Red & White 2008
There’s a well-known estate in Bordeaux called Château Petit Village. It’s in the hallowed appellation of Pomerol and is owned by the insurance group AXA. There’s a less well-known estate called Château Grand Village. Logic would dictate that if Petit Village cost un bras et une jambe, then you should […]
Why is Petit grander than Grand? Discuss…
Sometimes you open hallowed bottles and they piss on your chips. Occasionally it’s because they’re corked, but most often the let-downs are because the wines just don’t live up to their billing – anyone seen a good Bob Dylan gig in the last 20 years? But tonight, I’m on a […]