When I mention my interest in wine to a new acquaintance I am rarely surprised by the responses I hear. Sadly, the most frequent reaction is for someone to adjust their face to a woefully tiresome expression and say, in a tone more appropriate for accusing someone of farting in their granny’s face, “Oh you [...]
I wanted to obtain this bottle of Nebbiolo to see if it was worth shelling out for the producer’s flasher wines. When I was on the blower to the wine-merchant he said he only had one bottle of the grown-up example I particularly wanted, so I scored that anyway. Perhaps this is cognitive dissonance at [...]
Boca DOC is a deeply obscure Piedmontese wine region. They claim that during the 19th century it was one of the most well-regarded wine regions in Europe, but isn’t that what all of these unrecognised wine regions say about themselves? It is certainly true that a lot of quality wine regions were blitzed by phyloxera [...]
Yesterday I had the great pleasure to dine at Hawksmoor, London’s best meat restaurant, in the company of some engaging and entertaining chaps. Many thanks to Guy Dennis for organising it; it was lovely to see you and Paul Day again and distinctly jolly to make the acquaintance of Nigel Platts-Martin, a restauranteur with a [...]
I scored a bunch of 2009 Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Riesling Kabinetts and I thought it would be interesting to compare and contrast them. Peter was in Town so he came along as did first-time visitor to casa Strange Guy Dennis. He said he likes this site, which clearly marks him out as a chap of style and [...]
We don’t drink that much Chianti, but this one seemed well-priced for a well-thought of producer of Chianti Rufina. Another pleasing wine from our ‘affordable drinking’ selection. Chianti Rufina Riserva ‘Vigento Bucerchiale’ 2006, Fattoria Selvapiana An intense nose of bitter cherry fruit. The alcohol level is perhaps a tad high, but its sweetness adds to [...]
We had some friends around earlier tonight and decided to open wines of general drinking standard. Some where very noticeably better than others. Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg L31E 2002, Albert Boxler Whilst this has some pure fruit and refined minerality on the nose there is also a slightly dirty, cardboardy character as well; it is [...]
My other mag of red is Barolo, something I went through a bit of a phase of buying a few years ago. I tried enough to realise that I prefer ‘new style’ Barolo, rather than the dried-out, oxidised, old style wines. Barolo ‘Nei Cannubi’ 1997, Luigi Einaudi en magnum A highly perfumed, expressive nose that [...]
We had a dinner party last night which was not entirely successful. Our guests brought some lovely wines, but most of the stuff I opened was either awful or downright weird. Riesling Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Kabinett 2005, Schloss Saarstein Still a bit yeasty on the nose. It had some good fruit and acidity, but not [...]
Some friends dropped around yesterday and it ended up turning into a dinner party. Sadly all I could offer to eat was soup, that is all I am allowed to eat after my stomach operation, but we drank quite well. Champagne NV ‘White Foil’, Pol Roger This shows a lot of development on the nose, [...]
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