Anyone for red Chardonnay?
by The Secret Wine Merchant
There is no doubt that the Great British Public loves wine. After all, they’re regularly accused of abusing themselves with more than two glasses a night but it seems to...
Author: Tim Atkin
Bordeaux 2014 – my methodology
by Ron Washam
Before the unveiling of my anxiously anticipated scores for 2014 Bordeaux (many of which fall between 90 and 98 points, and have pretty much been randomly assigned), I thought it...
Burgundy bids farewell to Anne-Claude Leflaive
by Tim Atkin
Anne-Claude Leflaive was sometimes described as one of Burgundy’s “grandes dames” but there was nothing aloof about the woman who ran the most famous white wine domaine in the Côte...
The five essential wine words
by Ron Washam
Most people are uncomfortable talking about wine. They think they lack the vocabulary to speak about it and, therefore, they sound stupid. They are correct. There is no subject that...
Punk Rock wines
by Henry Jeffreys
I was watching a program about Irish rock music on BBC 4 the other night. The problem with these compilation shows is that in order to get to the Pogues...
Bordeaux’s Stonehenge moment
by Tim Atkin
There’s a scene in This is Spinal Tap, Rob Reiner’s spoof rockumentary about an English heavy metal band, that features a live performance of a song called Stonehenge. Keen to...
Ask Dr. Pinny! The Simpleton’s Guide to Wine
by Ron Washam
Wine might be the most difficult beverage on Earth to enjoy properly. Coffee is easy. No matter what coffee “experts” tell you, coffee is all the same. It’s roasted beans,...
What went wrong at Vinopolis?
by Tim Atkin
Is it really 16 years since Vinopolis opened its doors to the public? I can clearly remember the hoopla and sense of anticipation that accompanied the launch of London’s self-styled...
The six people you want to avoid in the wine business
by Ron Washam
Everyone has advice for whom you should know in the wine business. Article after article on the subject have appeared in online publications. And each one is self-serving crap, a...
Farewell, Dave West and Serge Hochar
by Tim Atkin
It’s highly unlikely that Dave West, the former barrow boy who created Eastenders in Calais, and Serge Hochar of Lebanon’s Château Musar ever met. The former didn’t strike me as...
Who are you calling an alcoholic?
by Henry Jeffreys
I’m sure you’ve already had your fill of writers telling you that they’re giving up drink for January or that they’re not giving up anything for January because they’re different....
What not to publish on your wine blog in 2015
by Ron Washam
Shut up about alcohol levels, for Christ’s sake. You don’t know what you’re talking about. And what ABV (Alcohol By Verisimilitude) is it that you’re referring to, the number listed...