By Charles Lea on 21/05/2020
I am still reeling from the news of the death last week of Denis Durantou, owner and winemaker of Chateau l'Église Clinet, La Petite Église (its second wine) Cruzelles, Montlandrie, La Chenade and Saintayme. He was only 62. I've been so disengaged (delegation) from the last two Bordeaux primeur campaigns, that I didn't even know he was ill.
By Charles Lea on 12/05/2020
Word has been seeping out that the 2019 vintage in Bordeaux is a good one. Not ‘the vintage of the century’ again, but better than 2018, and continuing the long run of successful vintage that Bordeaux has enjoyed, both in terms of quantity and quality.
By Charles Lea on 20/03/2020
‘a whiff of wet oilskin’, ‘like a pretty child with an upturned nose’ – tasting notes from one of the greats. In the midst of all the current gloom and uncertainty, take a moment to celebrate the long life of Michael Broadbent MW, who died on Wednesday night, timing his exit elegantly as you’d expect. Think about raising a glass in his memory over the weekend.
By Charles Lea on 08/01/2020
The Whites The whites, produced from a welcome large harvest, are good to very good, a vintage which will be welcome in the market as much for the volume as for the quality. The grapes were in perfect condition at the harvest and it was possible to press hard and long.
By Charles Lea on 05/06/2019
If you drive down the A303 on a regular basis, and read the large signs just west of Stonehenge, then you will already know about this, but might have forgotten when it’s happening, (this weekend), and of course if you don’t drive down the 303, you might still be interested.
By Charles Lea on 28/02/2019
This year’s edition raised in excess of £200,000, bringing the total raised since L&S’s involvement to over £2.1 Million
By Charles Lea on 25/02/2019
…for those who like refined Syrah that isn’t particularly high in alcohol, these are great wines, many of which drink well young on the youthful fruit, but will also age gracefully for ten years or more.
By Charles Lea on 19/02/2019
“I’m absolutely ecstatic and humbled (and very hungover) after this being officially announced yesterday.”
By Charles Lea on 27/10/2018
This week's Money Week 'Wine of The Week': 2015 GEWURZTRAMINER Domaine Marcel Deiss We have long quietly moaned about national newspaper editors’ extraordinary spinelessness and double standards when it comes to the price constraints that they impose on their wine writers.
By Charles Lea on 12/04/2018
We are absolutely delighted to announce that Lea & Sandeman Co. Ltd. has been granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen, effective from the 1st April 2018. As the company approaches its 30th Anniversary (trading started on the 1st June 1988), this wonderful news gives cause for double celebration.
By Charles Lea on 26/01/2018
Following our 2016 Burgundy tasting, this week's Country Life wine column by Harry Eyres picks up on the story of the small harvest as a result of frost, but also says: "at its best this is a very good vintage indeed, with especially elegant wines.
By Charles Lea on 15/09/2017
“…an astonishing Yquem that will rank alongside the 2001 and 2009.” If you want some of this gorgeous nectar in your cellar, the time to stash it away is now.