An evening with Nick Mills from Rippon Vineyards
By Patrick Sandeman on 19/09/2012
Nick Mills from Central Otago's Rippon Vineyards (New Zealand) is one of our favourite winemakers, for lots of reasons.
Author Archives: Patrick Sandeman
Celebrate our latest award with a FREE bottle of Barnaut.
By Patrick Sandeman on 12/09/2012
Last night we picked up the award for London Wine Merchant of the Year 2012 at the International Wine Challenge - for the fourth year in a row! Once again Lea & Sandeman had to fight off stiff competition to win this award, and far from being complacent we are already thinking about how we can improve every aspect of our business in order to be in line for next year's award.
Lea & Sandeman WHITE BURGUNDY – introductory offer
By Patrick Sandeman on 07/09/2012
Lea & Sandeman WHITE BURGUNDY - introductory offer At last we have found an exceptional quality and very well priced white burgundy that is good enough to carry the Lea & Sandeman label, alongside our already best selling red Lea & Sandeman Bordeaux.
Grouse about Burgundy.
By Patrick Sandeman on 29/08/2012
Very generous friends of mine recently invited me to join them for a grouse dinner at White's club in St James'. Having ordered a very fine Chablis to accompany our starters (delicious smoked eel with a fiery but creamy horseradish sauce) the conversation turned to red wine, and what to drink with our grouse.
Through a glass darkly?
By Patrick Sandeman on 16/08/2012
Through a glass darkly? (Or where are my specs?) Last night I hosted a 'shepherd's pie and claret' supper, something which has become a summer ritual, for nine of my closest 'August bachelor' friends. Only this year I intentionally did not serve any claret, but unintentionally served some wines as a result of not taking my specs into the cellar, which proved interesting.
Wine & the art of seduction – Victoria Moore
By Patrick Sandeman on 15/08/2012
Wine & the art of seduction - Victoria Moore 'Does it matter what wine is poured when the intention is to seduce? And if so, what bottles might it be good to open? I ask these questions because I was browsing in wine merchants Lea & Sandeman last Friday when a chap, who I’ll call Mr X, walked in and asked for help.
Decanter Magazine’s only Outstanding 2010 Crozes Hermitage, & for under £20!
By Patrick Sandeman on 30/07/2012
Decanter Magazine’s only ‘Outstanding’ 2010 Crozes Hermitage, & for under £20!
More Sherry? Manzanilla La Gitana ‘En Rama’ Hidalgo
By Patrick Sandeman on 19/07/2012
Mas Fino? Por favor! La Gitana Manzanilla Fino 'En Rama', Hidalgo Anybody who bought Gonzalez Byass' Tio Pepe 'En Rama' this year will know by now what a great wine it is, and will surely be ready for yet more fabulous sherry to drink this summer! Shortly after this year's Tio Pepe release we were offered a tiny quantity of Hidalgo's stunning Manzanilla La Gitana ' En Rama'.
Drinking from Zalto glassware – the best wine glasses, ever?
By Patrick Sandeman on 25/06/2012
In November last year I wrote about my fabulous introduction to ZALTO glassware, and six months on I am delighted that my initial excitement has not been unfounded, and is being shared by a growing number of our customers.
Tio Pepe ‘En Rama’ Sherry – 2012 release
By Patrick Sandeman on 22/05/2012
Tio Pepe 'En Rama' Sherry- 2012 release from Gonzalez Byass Gonzalez Byass' much awaited 2012 release of the very special Tio Pepe Fino 'En Rama' coincides with the 200th birthday of its founder, Manuel Maria Gonzalez, and is a fabulous wine to celebrate this anniversary.
May Day….& it’s raining again!
By Patrick Sandeman on 01/05/2012
May Day, it's raining again and with forecasters predicting yet another wet month ahead of us, surely this must already the wettest drought on record? It certainly feels like it.
Le Petit Roy – Boy Oh Boy!
By Patrick Sandeman on 12/04/2012
I made this simple Vin de France wine of the week after glugging almost an entire bottle of it on my own one evening this week! One of Charles' new finds in the Rhône valley, from a relatively unknown and very small producer in Châteaneuf (although they do make it into Bob Parker's Wine Advocate), 'Le Petit Roy' is simply a Vin de France because it is made up of eveything that does not make it into the Châteaneuf cuvées, and as such carries no vintage on the label, only '11eme année' which is a clue I guess.