Oaked

The 2nd wine bought in Samoëns for evening / dinner drinks at the chalet, and a very refined, elegant Syrah it was. Perhaps not …

Another salutary lesson in blind wine tasting, this one – I thought it was an oak aged California Chardonnay, given its ripeness, malo and …

Our final, slightly hungover, on-our-way-to-the-airport tutored tasting after Rust was highly memorable. At the hedonists’ palace that is the Palais Coburg hotel-restaurant – with …

The bloody, gamey notes on this, coupled with plenty of peppery, spicy aromatics made this a decent enough match for a game stew on …

The hit of Christmas – a lovely elegant yet deep, minerally yet with some fruit, savoury yet creamy. Very satisfying. I think the cool, …

This is almost the epitome of a study wine – interesting to have tasted and drunk, academically, but not necessarily my favourite wine – …

Fascinating way to start MW study group studies, blind. A much more satisfying old-school Rioja than the 1991 Bosconia. Pale garnet, with a tawny …

Thanks to Tracy for this unusual California brand! Deep ruby with a narrow rim. Medium+ intensity nose of blackcurrant, a hint of black cherry, …

A second vintage of this, from a similar source. And again, a good example of a £10-15, modern-style, attractive Reserva Rioja. A touch jammy, …

A really nice surprise this, from a non-classic vintage and appellation. Yet a classic, perfumed Pinot Noir. Pale ruby, with a hint of garnet …