Brachetto d’Acqui: red, sweet, sparkling, different 
Barbera d’Asti and Nizza: finest Barbera? 
Moscato d’Asti, Asti Dolce and Asti Secco 
Asti: Barbera, Moscato and friends 
Cantariña, Bierzo: Finance to fine wine 
Napa: exceptional Cabernets, and exaggerated too Book 3
557. Cave de Tain l’Hermitage, Hermitage Nobles Rives, 2000
Red wine of the night at our annual get-together with Jack, Rob etc. Only overshadowed by Marc Colin’s 2006 Chassagne-Montrachet Vide Bourse. This shows …
556. Jean Latour-Labille, Meursault 1er Cru Charmes, 2007
Youthful. Drinking pretty well now, but will be better in 3-5 years, to allow the slightly ‘hard’ acidity to mellow and integrate, whilst complexity …
555. Ata Rangi, Pinot Noir Martinborough, 2006
Took this to Allegra’s wedding in the belief that we were bringing for our table… and then was lucky to be able to rescue …
554. Ridge Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains, 2003
A wine to drink on its own, since it has that Cali sweet flavour profile, rather than savoury. But above all, the altitude shines …
553. Sodade, Vinho do Fogo Branco, NV (2010)
More a curiosity than a great wine. In fact, definitely curiosity value. Whilst on Cape Verde, we had to try the local wine – …
552. Jobard-Chabloz, Meursault Clos du Cromin, 2006
Good, but not great, by any means. It was straight from the fridge, which wouldn’t have done it any favours on length & complexity, …
551. Rolan, Alvarinho Minho, 2004
Thoroughly unexpected in several ways. Firstly, SJ and I had this on our first night in Cape Verde, where our expectations (well, mine) had …
550. Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Hermitage La Chapelle, 1998
Well, this surprised and delighted. I’d heard several poor reviews of La Chapelles between about 1995 and 2005. However, although this was missing something …
549. Château de Parenchère, Bordeaux Supérieur Cuvée Raphaël, 2007
An unexpected, completely blind tasting courtesy of SJ – and the first I’d done for about a year. I think I got lucky, but …
548. Château de Claribès, Sainte Foy Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, 2005
This was an unexpected gift from the people we stayed with in Henley 2010, where the husband Andy explained that a friend had established …