Recent Posts


Snoqualmie Naked Merlot 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines) Starts with a pleasant leafy edge, a touch of tobacco and reasonable plummy fruit, but then goes rather dilute, with clunky oak coming through. C Snoqualmie Naked Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines) […]

Four Bordeaux-inspired reds from Chile & Washington State


You may have noticed it being a bit quiet here recently. A couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s been the Easter holidays – Alton Towers was great, the knackered clutch on the way home less so… Secondly, I’ve been on International Wine Challenge duty, and as one of the 20 panel […]

Scones, wines and Alton Towers


Clarendelle is the ‘new’ range of generic Bordeaux from one of the finest addresses in Bordeaux. May I quote from a press release that accompanied them…. ‘According to Prince Robert of Luxembourg, great-grandson of Clarence Dillon and President of Château Haut-Brion; “Clarendelle’s style and structure represent elegance, complexity and balance. […]

Clarendelle from the owners of Haut-Brion



Montes Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Curicó, Chile (£6.50 www.qpwines.com) Clean and fresh, slight lime and lemon jelly, zippy and zesty, with a touch of river pebble, a simple but honest style. C+ Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Leyda, Chile (£9.40 www.qpwines.com) A mixture of lushness, warmer and rounder, a touch […]

Three Chileans, One Washingtonian – all white



Saw that Tilar Mazzeo had done a post called 5 Huge Misconceptions About Visiting Wineries. Here’s my take on the subject. If you’re lucky, you may have wineries near where you live. If not, you may at least find yourself on holiday in a wine region. But whichever, I have […]

Grape Grazing – 10 tips on how to behave when ...