by Juel Mahoney
Many people hold memories of their first bottle of Grange close to their heart. Much like other history-defining events, when people talk about Grange the conversation tends to become a game of “Where were you when…?”
The opportunity to taste three in a row was too good to miss. For the launch of the new Grange 2008 we also tasted …
by Juel Mahoney
If Bordeaux is like the Hollywood of wine, during En Primeur week, the cellars are the sets. The tanks are shined to a mirror, the barrels are in perfect rows. After tasting the 2012 Chateau Palmer in their dramatic tasting room, Thomas Duroux excitedly whisked us away to show us around the new cellars. As one of the Fine Wine team’s favourite wines, we were …
by Juel Mahoney
After two days, our impressions of the left bank are very mixed. 2012 is not a uniformly good vintage for Pauillac, St-Julien, St-Estephe and Margaux. There are some good to very good wines but there are also some fiercely tannic, extracted and very difficult wines. As Ben Collins said on the way over the bridge to the right bank, …
by Juel Mahoney
We only have one CD in the car as we drive around the superstar chateaux on the left bank of Bordeaux: The Best of Rod Stewart. “It was only £2.50,” said Ben Collins, unwrapping it from its plastic, “No wonder went HMV bust.” We wondered how he could have paid so much – much as we wondered …
by Juel Mahoney
Before we arrive in Bordeaux to taste the 2012 wines in barrel, here is a round-up of what the pundits are saying about the 2012 vintage conditions:
by Juel Mahoney
Tasting the Bin Series wines from Penfolds last Friday at Tate Modern was like meeting up with an old friend. Despite the years that have gone by since last tasting these wines, the Penfolds house style is instantly recognisable.
With the dark red wines from South Australia set before us, making a stark contrast to the grey London sky, …
by Juel Mahoney
One way to make a Burgundy winemaker choke on their Volnay is to describe a wine with the French word “buvabilité”. Essentially it means “drinkability”. Apparently, we were told, French wine merchants use this word a lot. It seems to drive winemakers crazy: “Ahh, this wine is very drinkable!”
Ok… fair point.
UK merchants have their own words; for example, we …
by Juel Mahoney
Something is happening in Meursault.
Just say the last time you had tasted a Meursault was 5 or 10 years ago…then you might not recognise the 2011s. The change in style over recent years is reminiscent of one of those ‘before and after’ shots on diet ads: Meursault has lost 15kg and now feels terrific!
Are the winemakers on a …
by Juel Mahoney
After getting lost around the Rock of Solutre in Macon, which is a poor effort as we have all been there before, we arrived at Domaine Robert-Denogent with Jean-Jacques holding a handkerchief. Had he been crying? Was he upset we were late? Or was it a few tears over the tiny …
By Juel Mahoney
The Bibendum Team are on their way to Burgundy to taste the 2011 vintage. Visit the blog this week for updates direct from the cellars.
There is no better way to understand a Burgundy vintage than to go out there and taste the wines directly from the barrel and meet the winemakers. So, with bags packed full of warm socks …
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