Are en primeur Bordeaux scores out of control?
by Tim Atkin
In his timely article on Wine-Pages about score inflation in Bordeaux, Stephen Brook sets out to prove that points reached a “preposterous level” in 2014. He also accuses me of...
Topic: Column
Priorat: too little of a good thing?
by Tim Atkin
It doesn’t feature on many wine tours, but the village of Bellmunt del Priorat has its very own mining museum, a tribute to a time when lead was more important...
Jefford on Mundane: Palate and Column Fatigue
by Ron Washam
How do you maintain your nose? Your tongue is your most important tool, but whose box do you keep it in? How often do you need a liver transplant? And...
To spray or not to spray?
by Tim Atkin
Thibault Liger-Belair is the last person you’d expect to see in a court of law. He’s friendly, respected and a supremely honest bloke who makes some of the best wines...
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...
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...