Back in May, when the weather was refusing to warm up and the grey skies seemed to be sticking around for the foreseeable future, we ventured across the border to Essex. Specifically to the Crouch Valley. The aim of our visit was not to chase the good weather but to see for ourselves what all the […]
Our focus on Italian wine occurred fairly organically. The business began with a decent collection of Burgundy and Bordeaux but, through customer interest and some chance encounters in the wine industry, we began to stock more and more Italian wines. With this increase in stock came a sudden need for better knowledge and a more in
Book Review: Barolo and Barbaresco by Kerin O’Keefe Read More »
UK Exclusive on Tuscan Petit Verdot Petit Verdot is a grape variety few people pay much attention to. Its main claim to fame is its use in Bordeaux where many chateaux use it to add colour and a touch of spice. The quantities used are very small, usually under 10% and sometimes as little as
A Grape to Rediscover Sangiovese has long been the main grape grown in central Italy and, though some put it to good use, a much larger number were using it to make cheap, bulk wine with little varietal character. There has been a great deal of change in the last 40 years and, thanks to some
When I began my career as a wine merchant I was kindly gifted a book. It wasn’t new and definitely didn’t come with a gift receipt. It was a well-used, slightly yellowing copy of Alexis Lichine’s, Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits: the reference book said giver had been using since he first bought it back
Spring may have sprung but the chill in the air is yet to disappear. We thought about splitting our spring case down the middle with an even three of each white and red but then we thought a nice warming old vine Gamay might be just the thing to enjoy outside in the fading light with a blanket
2017 Mischief and Mayhem Brouilly £18 per bottle As ever with Mischief and Mayhem they have taken a simple and sometimes average grape and created an interesting wine. The 2017 Brouilly has the sweet, heady notes of Gamay with black pepper, spice and a hint of underlying complexity that brings it all together. 2018 Coteaux
Our guest contributor, Patrick Brady, is back, this time with a gentle stroll through Champagne. It is hard to believe that you can be in one of the world’s greatest wine regions in less than three hour’s drive from Calais. Past the endless flat plains of Northern France, through the Department of the Somme, the battlefields
Good wines for under £30 Finding great value wine is especially satisfying in those months when we’re not feeling particularly decadent. We have put together a collection of wines for £30 and under that tick the box of interesting, well-made wines, that remain within the low-mid range price bracket. 2021 Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Trenitno Alto
We have never been ones for whimsical change so this year has started like many others: no new year resolutions, just a gentle reminder that our preference for mature vintages is a sensible one. Below is a selection of red wines with a good amount of age behind them that will keep things interesting in
Sweet, Sticky and Endlessly Satisfying Whilst some would happily have a glass of desert wine every evening, for many it is only at Christmas that they indulge in a glass or two with pudding. Either way, sweet wines tend to be some of the best value wines around. The most recognised sweet wines are reliant on
Well-aged Claret offers characteristics that are hard to find in modern, young wines. However much people try to recreate them. Notes of leather, tobacco, smoke and spice, dark berry fruit, cassis, liquorice, toasted oak, the list is endless. And whilst other wines do hold some of these notes, mature Bordeaux (when made well) marries these
Finding the perfect size bottle for the coming festivities Odd sized bottles tend to have their moment in the spotlight at this time of year. Of course, we’re big fans of them all year round but, the festive gatherings tend to call for something different. Whether that be a half bottle of Champagne as a
It’s fairly easy to imagine what a wine merchant drinks of an evening. It’s usually the same as most people: the good value, easy drinking bottle on a weeknight and something a little more interesting at the weekends. We’re not really that different or more imaginative than the average man we just have a wider
Our big move to Suffolk in the spring gave us the opportunity to enjoy a sun filled summer and is now allowing us to reap the rewards of Autumn. Not only from the woods and fields around us but also from the patch of garden we were so glad to inhabit during the heatwaves. Blackberries,
Autumn Mixed Case of 6 £120 Autumn officially starts in September but we never feel quite ready for it until October. There’s always that last glimmer of summer at the end of September that makes all the talk of Halloween and bonfire night a little premature. October is here though and Autumn is well under way:
The vintage of the decade with prices to match? The 2016 vintage presents us with a slight problem: it is becoming rather expensive. Several wine regions, mainly in Europe, enjoyed excellent growing conditions and subsequent success in 2016. Six years on and the price is rapidly increasing especially on the big name wines from Tuscany, Piedmont,
As the end of summer draws near we thought a little spring clean would be beneficial. Our cellars have helpfully revealed a list of wines that could do with a new home. Some bottles are perfect for drinking now but won’t last forever, others are wines we would prefer to re-house so we can make way
Nemo Wine Cellars began life in South West London in 2018 and this year moved out to the Suffolk coast. Back in December 2021 an opportunity arose to purchase an old mill with space for an office and tasting room. The word ‘old’ is quite important here as the property is a work in progress
Finding value from Italy’s top producers The big name producers in Italy usually gain a reputation from their high end, flagship wine but their portfolio tends to extend much further and can offer great value. Roagna, famous for its Barbaresco Crichët Pajé, also make a basic Langhe Rosso that is far from simple yet incredibly affordable. Guado
Tastings are back in full swing and keeping us busy. However, whilst these events are a perk of the job, not all of them, or the wines showcased, are wholeheartedly successful. The recent Nebbiolo day held in London happened to coincide with a transport strike; as we had cycled there and inevitably had to cycle
At around 10pm one evening in September we received a text message from a friend in the Côte de Beaune advising us to quickly stock up on both red and white Burgundy as the majority of the 2021 harvest was being devastated by pelting rain. As dramatic as it sounded at the time it was a worthwhile piece of advice to take. 2021
The three most prestigious and reliable Super Tuscans are now available in our Super Tuscan Aristocracy case from the exceptional 2016 vintage. 2016 was a great vintage in Tuscany with high quality fruit and low yields that encouraged concentration and contributed to the incredible depth of flavour and complexity in these three wines. 2016 Ornellaia
We like Burgundy. We like the incredible range it offers from so few grape varieties and the myriad of differences between the large number of producers working in the region. But, like many, we struggle with finding value. Good quality wines at reasonable prices do exist but they are difficult to track down. There is an
