The French know how to conduct a national holiday. In Britain you would hardly notice the difference, whereas our Gallic friends go into lock-down. The streets are deserted, there is not a soul to be seen as I drive up to Vosne to visit Domaine Sylvain Cathiard. I arrive early, and with an interregnum of morning [...]
Filed under: burgundy | Tagged: burgundy, jacques prieur, seguin-manuel, sylvain cathiard | Leave a Comment »
Another mental day that starts and ends with Domaine Hubert Lignier (2009 and 2008 respectively.) Lunch consists of another baguette in Gevrey at one of those cafés where the locals give you funny looks. I feel like standing up and saying: “My country liberated you”, but I don’t think that would go down well. Domaine [...]
Filed under: burgundy | Tagged: dauvissat, laurent ponsot, morey st denis | Leave a Comment »
Another mentally busy day. I have vague recollections of Domaine Taupenot-Merme, Meo-Camuzet, Drouhin-Laroze and Clos du Tart, an elephantine baguette in Morey St. Denis. I am listening to “Dark Side of the Moon” in the car. I discover that it takes exactly one “Dark Side of the Moon” to drive from Morey to Chassagne. I [...]
Filed under: burgundy | Tagged: caroline l'estimee, jean-noel gagnard | Leave a Comment »
Tasting Burgundy is hard. In Bordeaux, you ring the doorbell, taste the Grand Vin and Deuxieme Vin and bid adieu. In Burgundy you might taste 20 wines in one sitting, all slightly nuanced. It’s not easy. I pick up the hire car and then head straight down to Denis Bachelet in Gevrey, although I would [...]
Filed under: burgundy | Tagged: aubert de villaine, batard-montrachet, denis bachelet, drc | Leave a Comment »
We are off again, this time to Burgundy to commence tasting the heralded 2009 vintage. I catch the Eurostar from St. Pancras. I’ve an extra tenner for a decent seat and a free meal, which makes it much easier to spend the 5-hour journey working. The meal is a little underwhelming: a pie that would [...]
Filed under: burgundy | Tagged: burgundy, eurostar, mick hucknall, simply red | Leave a Comment »
“Sparklers….we want sparklers.” That is the chorus of wails emanating from my daughters throughout the entire day. Were last night’s pyrotechnics in Stoke Park not enough? Obviously not. So after writing throughout the day before next week’s trip, I purchase some sparklers from Sainsburys. I even buy a packet for myself. After dinner, we are [...]
Filed under: lily & daisy | Tagged: donald draper, mad men, sparklers, the apprentice | Leave a Comment »
Remember, remember, the 5th of November. I awake and remember it is the 5th November mainly because my daughters are going on and on ad nauseum about whether they can see the fireworks tonight. After working like a demon through the day I agree and together with thousands of other nuclear families we watch 50% [...]
Filed under: lily & daisy | Tagged: fireworks | Leave a Comment »
Wake up in the country mansion after a good night’s kip. Shower, breakfast down in the kitchen dominated by the AGA (one of two…maybe three) and then back to Guildford on the train. No time to stop. Straight out to The Square where I am speaking at a dinner for the Claret Club where the [...]
Filed under: bordeaux, dining | Tagged: 1986, 1998, 2000, 2003, chateau mouton rothschild, claret club, the square | Leave a Comment »
Today I am off to Bristol as a special guest at the Commanderie’s 30th Anniversary Dinner. I love the West Country - such a beautiful part of the English countryside. I work (as usual) on the train and then catch a taxi to “The Pumphouse” where I meet a friend from Avery’s, two wine-loving GP’s and [...]
Filed under: bordeaux | Tagged: 1945, bristol, clos de tart, commanderie | Leave a Comment »
Looking at my diary until Christmas, I wonder exactly when I can actually write anything? I am away almost every week until Santa starts packing his sack. To compound my woes, I realize that I completely forgot to attend a vertical of Quinta do Noval Nacional last week, a personal invitation by Christian Seely that [...]
Filed under: london tastings | Tagged: cedric bouchard, mad men, the sampler | Leave a Comment »
