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 SB
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 …
474. Château Rieussec, Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé, 2003
Bought a case en primeur, and well worthwhile – albeit likely to mature early due to the weather profile – it’s definitely more intensely …