Rippon Vineyards Pinot Noir

Burgundy is expensive – that is a fact.  Prices so far for the 2015 Burgundy vintage look very strong indeed and the 2016 Burgundy vintage is a tiny one – this can only put more pressure on pricing.  Where this really hurts is at village level: decent village Vosne or Gevrey can set you back £500 a case these days; premier cru wines even more. This leaves the Pinot lover with a problem: what...
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2013 Diamond Creek Releases

Serious Napa Cabernet... So: we haven’t tasted it, and nor has Robert Parker, Antonio Galloni, James Suckling or any of the major critics.  The only taster that we are aware of is John Tilson of the Underground Wineletter.  But when we were offered our allocation it was a very quick decision in the positive.  Ma...
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2006 Taittinger Comtes De Champagne Rosé

All about pleasure.. We tasted this in the office yesterday.  We are a pretty hard bunch to please and this bottle made our day. In terms of upfront pleasure, which is surely what wine is all about, this is a very hard wine to beat. 2006 Comtes de Champagne Rosé is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, all from grand cru vineyards.  The delightful colour – a w...
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2004 Dom Ruinart Blanc De Blancs

2002 may be the vintage that is talked about but taste 2004s and read what the critics have to say and it is clear that, not only does 2004 run it close, it beats it in many cases.  And, stylistically, if you like an edgier, more mineral style, then 2004 is the one to go for.  And the wines will keep and keep. Dom Ruinart is both a prime example of 2004 brilliance, it is also one of the “cuv...
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Chambolle Les Amoureuses

Or, translated, the lovers. Along with the Clos St Jacques in Gevrey-Chambertin, Les Amoureuses is the greatest premier cru vineyard in the Côte de Nuits and one that is a candidate for promotion to grand cru.  This is widely accepted, and the prices of the wines reflect that. The vineyard covers 5.42 hectares, just east and downslope from Le Musigny.  Robert Groffier has the largest hold...
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