February 2012
11 posts
Champagne. Snob's Drink? Yes, but isn't that the...
I received an invitation to the Harpers Champagne Summit some months ago, but it was the promise of tasting some old re-releases of Moët et Chandon that convinced me to go. I’m glad I did. The day was full of discussions and masterclasses, celebrating all aspects of Champagne as a brand, a money making opportunity, and as an essential addition to the restaurant wine list.
I only really went...
Triple fff Brewery, Four Marks. Fortississimo!
This tiny brewery near my brother’s house, by my old home town of Alton deserves notice. There are a few pubs in London, like Parsons Green’s legendary White Horse where you might see a bit if this in London, and they now bottle some of their ales, sensitively pasteurised at a moderate carbonation. My brother introduced me to Alton Pride, fff’s most well known ale a few years...
What is a bottle of wine worth?
I asked Twitter this morning what it would spend on a bottle of wine. My old mate and former colleague Howard Winn asked if it was to drink or invest? This made me realise how irresponsible it is to sell a wine for more than you’d pay for it as a drink. It reminded me of house prices. No house in London is worth more than about a quarter of its face value, in bricks and mortar terms. It only...
Ok. Slug and Lettuce a.k.a Da Slug (Ya get me?)
I am sitting here at a table that I have sat at a few times before, but it feels different this time. You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this, but I’ve had excuses to be here. Number 1, they have Sky Sports 3D, making it the regular for watching 6 Nations and Liverpool FC games when I lived up the road. Secondly, it is the most convenient place to meet my brother...
WatchLook on Googe Earth/Maps then look at this. They’ve been busy bunnies. Tallest building in Europe on track to open in July. My friend might be putting a Tony & Guy concession up there. Oo. Get him!
Claret is a Con.
All regions have exceptions that prove the rule. Even Bordeaux. I agree that there are bargains - Deyrem-Valentin 08, Cambon La Pelouse 05, Labégorce-Zédé 04 to name a few, even the odd Cru Classé, like Durfort-Vivens or Pedesclaux 2004. But, no one can hope to justify the price increases experienced since 2005.
Just to completely and utterly bury myself in shit, I would like to state for the...
