Marchesi di Grésy: monopolising Martinenga 
Gaja: brilliance in Barbaresco 
Judgement of London: English Sparkling versus Champagne 
Other Asti styles surprise 
Brachetto d’Acqui: red, sweet, sparkling, different 
Barbera d’Asti and Nizza: finest Barbera? Mature
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 …
536. Pierre Morey, Meursault 1er Cru Perrières, 1996
A birthday present for SJ, since she likes Meursault so much! A bit of a risk to try a late ‘90s white Burgundy, but …
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 …
473. Château Cantenac-Brown, Margaux Grand Cru Classé, 1991
Brought for comedy value (awful vintage; moderate quality producer; random provenance), and drunk after the 1982, but surprisingly not too bad at all (though …
472. Château Larmande, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 1982
In the hunt for a reasonably priced 1982 Bordeaux for Katy’s brother’s girlfriend’s birthday (a 1982 baby…), which ultimately yielded Langoa-Barton, we picked this …
457. Paul Garaudet, Monthelie 1er Cru Les Duresses, 1998
The lads at Planet of the Grapes picked this up for a song from another merchant who had categorised it as “cooking wine”. In …
434. Carrick, Pinot Noir Central Otago, 2003
Dropped by Carrick on the recommendation of the woman in the wine shop in Cromwell. An excellent spot for lunch I suspect, and another …
427. Domaine Tempier, Bandol Cuvée spéciale La Tourtine, 1996
So, whilst sourcing the Dom Tempier 2004 for the next Optimor wine case, the lads at POTG got hold of a bottle of the …
421. Taylor, Vintage Port, 1966
What a cracking way to finish Tony’s stag party dinner at Greig’s Grill. It is such a shame that they served this in old-school …