Month: March, 2017

Piedmont’s “other” wines

Just returned from Piedmont, Assistant Buyer Chloe Dale-Harris espouses the virtues of the region’s lesser known varieties, considering the charm of Barbera, Dolcetto and Arneis Barolo and Barbaresco are arguably the wines that put Piedmont on the map. Made from the elegant and powerful Nebbiolo grape, they have helped to develop Italy’s reputation for fine […]

Penny Blue VSOP: four ways

To mark the arrival of Penny Blue VSOP on our shelves, Mixology Specialist (and rum enthusiast) Jess Cheeseman has created four signature serves for this softly spiced spirit When looking at Penny Blue VSOP, it was important, for me, to keep a tropical influence in the cocktails. While working on the concepts for the drinks, I […]

Bordeaux 2016: first impressions

With just a month to go before the Bordelais unveil their 2016 wines, Buying Director and Bordeaux Buyer Max Lalondrelle shares his first impressions of the vintage Every year, long before the en primeur tastings in early April, I visit Bordeaux to check on the quality of the vintage. These visits, the first during the […]

Roaming around the Rhône

As the region’s 2015 wines are released en primeur, Oliver Barton reports on a trip to the region – tasting the wines and talking to the people who made them A very good vintage in the Rhône valley is long overdue, as we have been waiting for one since the all-round winner of 2010. Well, […]