Archive for May, 2012

English Wine Laid Bare

May 13, 2012 - 4 Comments by - Drinking Now, Feature


Last year, I declared that English wine had come a long way.

I may have been a bit premature.

Hot on the heels of sampling some fabulous sparklers at an English Wine Producers trade event, came a short, sharp dose of reality – tasting more than 40 English wines blind. Stripped of labels, information about the producers, stories behind the wines and other influencing factors, there was nowhere to hide. (more…)

Nice Wine, Great Price

May 10, 2012 - No Comments by - Drinking Now, Feature


We Brits love a bargain.

Getting something for next to nothing is part of our national psyche. Especially when it comes to wine.

No, this isn’t a diatribe about cheap wine. Been there. Done that.

This is about good value wine.  (more…)

A Navarra Ending Story

May 1, 2012 - No Comments by - Feature, Opinion, Tasting Notes


Before I went to a recent Wines of Navarra tasting, my thoughts were as follows: wines from this region are approachable, made primarily from Garnacha (Grenache) and Tempranillo, and great value compared to neighbouring Rioja. Oh, and they make a lot of rosado (rosé).

Circling the tables in London’s bijou Bar Pepito, though, I felt a lot less confident about summing up Navarra’s wines so neatly. (more…)