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There's lots happening on the Iberian peninsula - 30 wines tested - Caramba!

A hot ten days with 8 hot wines - all very sweet Aperitif heaven.

I first visited Mont du Toit in November 2002, a fine South African producer.
Here's the new release.

King of the Malbecs.
The new vintage from Achával Ferrer

Decided to move the blog page onto the main index, so this is just an archive now - sorry :-) - 06.oct.03, bill.n

Another new producer's website, this time from Domaine des Chézeaux. Some super-keen prices too for the Grand Cru's of Griotte-Chambertin, Chambertin & Clos Saint Denis, all reviewed in the forthcoming Burgundy Report - 01.oct.03, bill.n

So it's 7:15pm on the 24th September, looking west past the cross on the corner of Romanée Saint-Vivant the sun is already gone. You need something against the chill - it's about 12°C with a sneaky breeze. Despite all the vineyards around being harvested many days ago, the grapes in the DRC vineyards are still hanging. The grapes appear more homogenous than 12 days ago when still there were many green bunches. We must be very close to the harvest though, as it will be close to 3°C tonight . . . . . . - 25.sept.03, bill.n

A little more on terroir? How about a more scientific look at the concept of wines tasting like the soils they are grown on - Jamie Goode is our guide - 22.sept.03, bill.n

Ever wondered what James Bond drinks? Here's a treasure-trove of information - where he drinks that half-bottle of '53 Mouton Rothschild etc. - 19.sept.03, bill.n

Ever though of updating your cellar? Just think, if you made it over 12 metres tall from glass and stainless steel, you'd have to throw away all those cartons with only one bottle in, and probably the lids from wooden cases that you thought you might find a use for! - 19.sept.03, bill.n

Sacrifice in Romanée-Conti 12.09.2003 - some domaines harvested in August but most left it until September; by the 12th most have finished, but for the Grand Cru's of Vosne-Romanée, most still have their fruit on the vine. The yields look pitiful with 2-3 small bunches per vine - and yet still whole bunches are sacrificed in the 'nameplate' vineyard - 13.sept.03, bill.n

I cannot lie, Terry Thiese was a new name to me when I came across his work this week. An ardent terroiriste he writes with wit verve and for me the occasional bolt of blinding clarity. Do yourself a favour and check out some of his work. - 9.sept.03, bill.n

Just in case you didn't know, there's a big problem with en-primeur tastings; back in January 2002 the 2000 Grand Cru of Clos des Lambrays really stood out for me at a tasting organised by Howard Ripley. The problem is that the wines are sometimes not representitive of what eventually gets bottled. I drank a bottle of the retail 'version' this week and despite lovely fruit, the palate is like chewing wood - very disappointed - this will probably be affecting the wine in 10 years time. - 8.sept.03, bill.n

Can one vineyard consistently produce wine of a different quality or expression despite being separated by no more than a small dirt road? It is the basis of the French A.O.C system and the clarion call of the 'terroiristes'. There are those who find this (very) frankly an unsatisfactory and even worse a completely unscientific explanation of the phenomenon - if indeed there is such a phenomenon :-) Although starting on the (almost) completely different subject of reviewing Andrew Jefford's super new book 'The New France' here in this thread a wonderfull display of entrenched positions emerge. - 6.sept.03, bill.n

Nicolas Potel's first website had a touch of the 'off the shelf' about it, but this new one looks a lot smarter. Hopefully we will see plenty of updates! - 2.sept.03, bill.n

Can there ever be such a thing as a free lunch? Well Tom Stevenson's superb and completely free 2003 Champagne & Sparkling Wine Guide at 228 pages seems hard to argue with - 30.aug.03, bill.n

Without doubt the best value wine tasted so far this year. The 2001 Albada, Garnacha (Calatayud DO) for 10.80SFr is a dark crimson/ruby colour showing a purple rim. Sweet nose which is a little peppery. Very interesting fruit with good acidity and medium-plus tannins. A long finish too - worth more than twice the price - amazing value. - 22.aug.03, bill.n

Fight the flies and dine in a restaurant with a cellar to die for. It must be the Bison roaming the fields that attract the flies, but I know what attracted me to Farnsburg. Next time I'll go in winter! - 22.aug.03, bill.n

Neal Martin don't you hate him? Young enough to get away with liking trendy bands (that you've never heard of), gorgeous Japanese girlfriend, spends all his time drinking 1785 claret, writes with a rare witty style - and on top of all that - his new website is already (probably) the best repository of (up-to-date) info on the Bordeaux Châteaux - bugger. - 10.aug.03, bill.n

1997 Altesino, Brunello di Montalcino: Medium-plus garnet. The nose is high toned with an undertow of a leathery alcoholic plum. Very fresh palate - strong acidity and firm tannins. The fruit concentration is not as high as with many of the 1997's, but the balance is very good - this should be very long lived. - 07.jul.03, bill.n