Month: June, 2012

One of these things is not like the others…

Sometimes, when re-reading tasting notes I have written, one word or phrase rather sticks out from the rest. Often, it’s a flavour or aroma that is not commonly associated with spirits or their un-distilled brethren, wines and beers. Sometimes it’s a texture or taste of something most people would be unlikely to put in their […]

Penfolds – An Iconic Tasting

On Tuesday 26 June, Jamie Sach, global ambassador for Penfolds, swapped the warmth of southern Australia for a windy grey day in Basingstoke to showcase the latest release of Penfolds. Penfolds hardly needs any introduction: founded in 1855 by Dr Christopher Rawson Penfolds, Penfolds has only seen three chief winemakers during  its entire 157 year […]

To blind taste or not to blind taste?

Blind tasting is very difficult. I am well-qualified to make this statement, having experienced the challenges of the Master of Wine course over the past few years. I have sat through numerous 12-wine mock exam sessions, during which I sometimes got the wines spot-on, and sometimes so drastically wrong that I didn’t know whether to […]

Jancis Robinson MW Book Launch

I was privileged to join book buyers, magazine editors and representatives from the wine industry gathered for an intimate tasting led by Jancis Robinson MW on Thursday (14) for the unveiling of the first copy of a soon-to-be-published wine book. Wine enthusiasts will certainly be taking their appreciation to a new level with the publication […]