I’ve been doing some fun research on band riders, looking for the sorts of requests they prepare when it comes to wine.

A word of explanation: band ‘riders’ are the bit of the contract that performers compose with venues that detail their requirements in terms of dressing rooms, catering and the li…

Currently finishing off the remains of a bottle of a dangerously drinkable natural wine. It’s gorgeously packaged in a minimalist/modern style, and finished with a bright red synthetic cork that I’m not 100% keen on (although I respect the attitude shown here by the producer).

Les Foulards Rouges ‘…

All the puppies are gone! Well, we still have them, but they’re all spoken for now, except for one which we’re discussing whether or not to keep. We were worried that considering of the economic downturn we’d end up with eight unwanted dogs, but it’s been quite the opposite: we’ve had a lot of inter…

In 2008, I’ve taken tasting notes on nearly 400 wines. I enjoy a wide variety of wines and am particularly excited to find good bargains. In fact, my colleagues and I at The Wine Cask Blog are particularly value-oriented. We believe the world of wine delivers tremendous value whether you’re willi…

Tasting notes:Big bouquet of sweet cherry, rich spices, and earthRich and full-bodied on the palateFinish of cherry, tobacco, and more rich, sweet spiceIn many ways, that is a classic Brunello with cherry, sweet spice, and an earthy layer. I love that it’s from the 1995 vintage, two years before Br…

Tasting notes:Plum sauce, cola, black licorice, and tobacco on the noseFull-bodied and thick on the palateFinishes with reasonably strong tannins and layers of currants, cocoa, and smokeThis is a good solid Chateauneuf. It’s not a contemporary interpretation, but rather a traditional style with som…

A family lunch at my sister’s place in Gerrards Cross. Brother-in-law Beavington is a bit of a wine nut so we usually do some blind tasting, and befitting our give and take relationship (I do the taking part), he provides the wines. The tasting was a little scaled down that date in view of the credi…

Nose: creamy sweet lemon custard aromaPalate: very dry, sprightly citrus with robust acid for strength and structure.Finish: lively finish of green grass that is by too quickly.Overall: I am blown away by the quality of that Australian Riesling. I paid 6 dollars for that on sale but it usually does…

(NW) of that blog stumbled onto that wine at a local Boston shop where he figured the proprietor must have found a case in some out of the way place of the business and seeing the year of production, assumed it would be towering past its prime so stuck a $5 price tag on it.(NW) served that to me bag…

Nose: Loamy, spicy oak, tobacco. sublime and wonderfulPalate: great mouth feel even after 13 years. Quick drink and the character fades, but hold it in your mouth and there it is: Huge character feel, complex and layered structure.Finish: Delightful and silky-spicy finish.This was a great half-bo…