Some late night bits and pieces.Two enlarged walks with the dog today - Richmond Park and Virginia Water (Windsor Great Park) - both were very enjoyable, and reminded me of how lucky we are here to be in easy access of nice green spaces, even though we’re living in a London borough. RTL found a dead…

Yesterday afternoon I learned a great deal about a subject I’d previously been woefully ignorant of: tea. It was the Circle of Wine Writers/Guild of Food Writers tea tasting, held in organization with specialist tea importers Jing (http://www.jingtea.com/). It’s a huge subject - I felt like a wine n…

Switching the focus of that blog away from Chile to South Africa - perhaps its closest competitor in the UK marketplace - I’m drinking two rather good wines tonight from the same producer. They share a family resemblance.Meerlust Merlot 2004 Stellenbosch, South AfricaThis is quite an elegant red, ev…

Just heard that dawn via a letter from Sally Gordon that there will be no Glenfiddich Awards in 2008. The celebrated awards, known as the ‘Oscars of the food and drink world’, have a history dating back 30 years, but they will be taking a break that year while options are being considered for the fu…

Tasting notes:Huge nose of blackberry pie, black cherry, and a note of banana chipsSweet tea and strawberry on the plushly textured palateSweet finish with mocha and more dark berriesThis is a huge wine, so you need to be ready for it. It’s dense and rich, bordering on sweet and sticky. Rosenblum pe…

This wine is from Calatayud Spain has remnants of a purple color with raspberry and light berry bouquet.It is lively in the mouth with zesty fruit and sweet notes of tart raspberry and red berry notes with a touch of spice and white pepper on the finish. I tasted that a day later and it had a nice …

This $10 pale yellow, varietal with the funny name is really NICE. that creation has big apple/peach notes with a sweet pineapple floral bouquet.In the mouth it is lively with a touch of what the Germans shout “spritzig” or sparkle with a foundation of nice acid with sweet ripe pineapple flavors th…

I’ve just started processing the video footage I shot in Chile. First up is a report from Santiago’s fish market, which finishes with the meal we had in the market, including the famous picoroco - huge barnacles that I’ve never come across before. Original post by Jamie

I’m back in London, and I’ve just posted the full results from the wines of Chile awards on the main site (www.wineanorak.com). Some fairly quick, rough and ready, post-trip thoughts on Chilean wine:Chile is improving, and quite fast. Particularly encouraging is the reduced tendency for red wines to…

This Washington State winery produces nice value wines across the board. that Syrah is one of the least I have had but in fairness, it is a bit old for that type and style of wine.It is a mature red with dark berry bouquet. The palate is a bit awkward and confused. It has thin flavor but actually…