Bottega: quality Prosecco and Prosecco Rosé 
Book 5 Index 
951. Mullineux, Syrah Swartland, 2011 
950. W & J Graham & Co, 30 Year Old Tawny Port, NV (2010) 
949. Cartuxa, Pêra-Manca Branco Évora, 2012 
948. Pella, Xi-Ro Cuvée Experimentale, NV Champagne
720. Champagne Philipponnat, Clos des Goisses Brut, 2000
It took a long time (and several bottles) to get a proper tasting note down to accompany the label from bottle 1. Ultimately, this …
719. Champagne Egly-Ouriet, Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Ambonnay Les Crayères Brut, NV (2013)
Finally tasted this über-grower Champagne at J&B’s grower tasting, and this estate lived up to its reputation entirely. This was my wine of the …
600. Champagne Ayala, Brut Majeur, NV (2011)
Having had some indifferent experiences with Ayala in the past, it was interesting to hear of the quality improvements under Bollinger, so I got …
Judgement of London: English Sparkling versus Champagne
Judgement of London organisers, 67 Pall Mall and importer The Finest Bubble, invited me to judge as a professional at the second edition of …
Berry Bros press tasting: how the other half live
The Berry Bros & Rudd Autumn / Winter press tasting, in stark contrast to the Co-op supermarket’s Autumn press tasting exactly a week before, showed …
560. Champagne Lanson, Black Label Brut, NV (2011)
This turned out to be an unexpected pleasure. I didn’t have a good impression of Lanson as a Champagne brand, and this was a …
558. Champagne Pol Roger, Extra Cuvée de Réserve Vintage, 1999
The first couple of bottles of this were underwhelming and somewhat so, respectively – with the acidity disjointed and lack of elegance. Given the …
528. Champagne Georges Vesselle, Juline Bouzy Grand Cru, NV (2010)
Bought from the producer with Katy, but drunk & enjoyed with SJ. A really good, quite profound Champagne, whose weight and complexity grew over …
512. Champagne Louis Roederer, Blanc de Blancs Brut, 1979
To celebrate New Year’s Eve dinner with Kev, Pete and Whippet, as the clouds over Mont Blanc cleared to reveal it in all its …
495. Champagne Bollinger, Grande Année Brut, 1979
Having had a 1995-disgorged 1979 RD, this Grande Année sibling outdid it comfortably. Wow. Such aromatic complexity that just steadily gave up different layers: …