By David Porter on 07/03/2019
Last week we hosted our 4th annual pure Italian Tasting which has become one of the highlights of our year. A showcase of our incredible Italian selection which grows every year, presented by the wonderful people who make the wines.
By David Porter on 15/10/2018
It was a year for the very best vineyards and the very best producers to shine. Skilled and dedicated winemakers farming the best sites of Barbaresco have pulled it out of the bag. And none more so than the brilliant Andrea Sottimano.
By Charles Lea on 27/04/2016
'This is simply a magical bottle. That's all there is to it' "Le Piane's 2011 Boca is simply dazzling. Rich, translucent and remarkably vivid, the 2011 encapsulates all the reasons the wines from Alto Piemonte are so compelling.
By Ed H-B on 04/09/2014
Our introduction to the wines of Cigliuti was a bottle (followed over the ensuing months by several more) of their ‘Briccoserra, a 50/50 Barbera and Nebbiolo blend, many years back in Giuseppe Turi’s Putney restaurant ‘Enotecal Turi’.
By Charles Lea on 19/06/2014
‘The 2010 vintage in Barolo is shaping up to be a modern-day classic. The cool growing season produced transparent, vibrant Barolos that pulsate with tension, crystalline purity and site-specific nuance.’ (Antonio Galloni, vinousmedia.com)
By Charles Lea on 26/03/2014
Following on from the fantastic 2006 vintage, the Tassinaia 2007 has been extremely popular in our shops of late and as Victoria Moore points out in her piece ‘Best Wine Deals’ in The Telegraph last Saturday
By Andrew Hooper on 11/01/2014
The winegang’s January report includes on L&S wines tasted last year at our Sangiovese, Pinot Noir & Nebbiolo tasting and at The Bunch’s trade tasting. “The scores from both events speak for themselves” they say. Speak away…
By Charles Lea on 17/12/2013
Andrea Oberto, Barolo Vigneto Albarella 2009
Barolo (Piedmont), Italy, Dry Red (Cork), 14.5% abv
The tasting of the year for me was a Quinta do Noval and Noval Nacional port tasting, the same six vintages of each, but as retail stockists are as common as hens’ teeth I’ve chosen this fragrant, expressive Barolo instead:
By Ed H-B on 04/11/2013
“there are four shops – in Chiswick, Notting Hill, Barnes and Chelsea – and a reputation, achieved through a mixture of hard bloody work and elan, for selling distinctive, cleverly sourced wines, in particular from France and Italy. Lea & Sandeman has become a London institution”
By Andrew Hooper on 27/10/2013
The winegang were in attendance at our recent SNP tasting at the Saatchi Gallery and have kindly penned some complimentary words about LEA & SANDEMAN. Words like these: 'Our scores speak for themselves: there's no question that LEA & SANDEMAN is one of Britain's top wine merchants.' Praise indeed.
By Charles Lea on 22/11/2012
We have had Andrea Sottimano (from the eponymous wine estate in Piemonte) going round the shops and various restaurant customers this week, tasting his wines, culminating in a dinner at Quo Vadis. And they are just great. The Barbarescos (Barbaresci?) (no - appparently 'Barbareschi' is correct) are awesome, but it is clear from our tastings that these young wines they do benefit from being opened early if possible.
By David Porter on 26/10/2012
On Monday we faced another of the many hurdles on the long path since losing Patrick, with our postponed Press tasting. An opportunity for us to show the world our latest finds, as well as new vintages of much loved wines on our list.