695. Château Laville, Sauternes, 2001 
694. Château Sociando-Mallet, Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc, 2001 
693. Mas Amiel, Prestige 15 Ans d’Age Maury, NV (2006) 
692. Rey Fernando de Castilla, Antique Palo Cortado Sherry, NV (2012) 
691. Equipo Navazos, I Think Saca de Abril de 2012 En Rama Manzanilla Sherry, NV (2012) 
690. Château Lascombes, Chevalier de Lascombes Margaux, 2004 Sauvignon Blanc
695. Château Laville, Sauternes, 2001
The finishers’ gift for completing the Marathon du Médoc – and turned out to be one of the highlights of Christmas 2012 at Andy …
672. Domaine Philippe Gilbert, Menetou-Salon, 2010
A gift for conference speaking, and it turned out to be the best producer of this Sancerre-alternative appellation. A good, clean, clear Sauvignon Blanc, …
670. Château Rieussec, 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes, 1975
First of a case of anniversary Rieussec 75s, broached on my birthday at Planet of the Grapes, with Nicolas Jaboulet. A pretty good wine, …
601. Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau, Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, 2008
Another one out of chronological order – should be flipped with the Gruner Veltliner that accompanied the first course of Saturday’s Booker Dinner – …
Napa: exceptional Cabernets, and exaggerated too
Napa Valley, the Big Daddy of California wines, is today world-famous for Big Cabs and Bold Chardonnays, landmark wineries and the Napa Valley Wine …
544. Grover Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc India, 20??
Sadly I managed to throw the bottle away before getting the modern-style label from this Indian wine. To judge by the packaging, this …
513. Château de Tracy, Pouilly-Fumé, 2005
A gift from Peter, which we drank whilst skiing… well, with dinner, après-ski, of course! Drank with a mushroom risotto, and it went pretty …
510. St Hallett, Poacher’s Blend Barossa, 2008
I was shopping swiftly in John Lewis food hall for an impromptu dinner, when someone called my name (Oli Loveday) and offered me a …
509. Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes 1er Cru Classé, 1996
Sadly this label was just going to fall apart not matter what… A good Sauternes, with a mid-gold colour, starting to deepen towards amber. …
South Africa: exciting, fast-changing, beautiful Cape Winelands
South Africa – a wine industry that’s 320-odd years old. Or 20-odd, depending on your point of view (OK, some poetic licence taken there …