2005

Given the comparative ripeness of the 2005 vintage, this is a bit of a lean, mean, minerally Puligny. Mid gold. Dry, smoky, ‘gunflint’, mineral-led …

As a conference presentation thank you gift, not too bad. But ultimately a mid-range, modern-style Rioja, that was pleasant enough, but not radically inspiring. …

Picked up randomly at Albion Café en route to an afternoon callover / meeting at Albion, just before Christmas. And the day after doing …

Surprisingly sweet, this – medium at least – which made this probably not a wine one would sit down with and sip – in …

The most ridiculously heavy bottle I’ve ever come across – 1,198g empty, compared with 1,320g for a full bottle of d’Armailhac – heralded this …

A really good value, well-made pure Malbec, which shows off Argentina’s style and potential, without necessarily being over-extracted, hyper-ripe or just ‘score-chasing’. Drinking well …

Little room to describe this! Good, very easy to drink, but not a 95+ point wine! Deep garnet. Narrow rim. Medium+ lightly vanilla and …

[Signed by Haridimos Hatzidakis in 2016, about 6 months before he killed himself] This is, self-evidently, Hatzidakis’ Mavrotragano, which is a rare, red Santorini …

A good, solid, classic Alsatian Pinot Gris. And a pretty good (emergency) match for French onion soup (particularly as the soup was much paler …

Another Friday night Booker wine, and another nice one. Just coming into its drinking window now, it’ll probably peak in 3 years as its …