By Patrick Sandeman on 19/01/2012
Moreua2010 BURGUNDY - some thoughts and recommendations Last week we saw what has become the annual round of tastings of the new Burgundy vintage put on by the merchants and importers, mostly for journalists, but also for trade and private customers.
By Patrick Sandeman on 14/12/2011
An Estuarine Christmas with the Sandemans The Sandeman family are heading to the depths of South Devon to spend another Christmas in the Goodshelter estuary, inland from Salcombe. Not actually 'in' the estuary, of course, but in the beautifully secluded and remote cottage which sits on the edge of the water at the head of the creek.
By Patrick Sandeman on 12/12/2011
Great Whites by Jancis Robinson In Jancis Robinson's penultimate round up of seasonal wines in the FT Weekend Magazine she highlights some of her selected 'great whites', to accompany the sparkling and red wines already published over the previous weekends. There's nothing quite like six of the best from Jancis! South African Sauvignon with class: Dombeya Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Stellenbosch £10.
By Patrick Sandeman on 11/12/2011
PINOT PERFECTION Bodega Chacra, Argentina. When we introduced Bodega Chacra’s Pinot Noirs from Argentina two years ago, they were initially met with some scepticism. How could a country famous for producing monster Malbecs, brimming with rich, ripe fruit and high alcohol possibly produce Pinot Noirs which were anything other than monsters too? Well, Bodega Chacra is quite simply unique.
By Patrick Sandeman on 06/12/2011
Dazzling reds for festive fare - selected by Jancis Robinson In Jancis Robinson's Top 100 festive wines: part two, published in the FT Weekend Magazine, she selected a number of cracking wines from Lea & Sandeman. Only four were published in the magazine because of space issues, while the full list is on her site JancisRobinson.
By Patrick Sandeman on 02/12/2011
More Christmas treats & cases for giving.
By Patrick Sandeman on 29/11/2011
BUBBLY TREATS for the festive season. Jancis Robinson recommended 25 'bubblys' in the first of her 'Top 100 festive wines' series, in Saturday's FT Weekend Magazine. Many of them were highlighted as stocked by Lea & Sandeman (indeed some are direct imports of ours), and here is that selection together with her tasting notes.
By Patrick Sandeman on 25/11/2011
CHRISTMAS TREATS at Lea & Sandeman It’s going to be carnage again in the supermarkets this Christmas, as they advertise eye-wateringly discounted prices for champagnes, whiskies, wines and just about anything else in an attempt to draw customers in through the door.
By Patrick Sandeman on 21/11/2011
WE NOW OFFER FREE UK MAINLAND DELIVERY! Take advantage of our NEW FREE UK MAINLAND* delivery this Christmas on all orders over £100. *(some exclusions apply). All orders received up until midnight on Sunday 18th December are guaranteed for delivery before Christmas (unless the country grinds to a standstill with snow and ice).
By Patrick Sandeman on 18/11/2011
Last night Lea & Sandeman hosted the NSPCC City Fine Wine Challenge for the sixth year running. Twenty four tables of ten, from leading city companies including KPMG, Grenpact, Diligenta and IBM, packed the room at RIBA following a Champagne Benedick reception, to take part in the interactive quiz while tasting eight wines, mostly blind.
By Patrick Sandeman on 14/11/2011
Beaujolais 'Nouveau'! 'Mon Dieu!' you might well say, as at Lea & Sandeman we announce that we are offering a BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU for release this coming 'Beaujolais Thursday', 17th November, and we would not be at all surprised to hear you say so, since we really cannot remember the last time we did release one! But this is not just any old (new) Beaujolais.
By Patrick Sandeman on 11/11/2011
Following our large and very well attended tasting at the Vintners' Hall in mid October, a number of wines have been already been written about by various journalists, and finally Jancis Robinson has published her notes on her website.