2018 Bordeaux En Primeur: Left Bank Roundup By Edward Richardson on 06/04/2019 On Wednesday we published our immediate thoughts on the wines of the Right Bank (see 2018 Bordeaux En Primeur: Right Bank Roundup). Here are our first impressions from the other side of the river and a list of wines we felt were outstanding within their quality level or commune. Read more
2018 Bordeaux En Primeur: Delight Or Dismay? By Edward Richardson on 01/04/2019 We will touch down at Mérignac airport early on Sunday morning and fly straight into the 2018 Bordeaux en primeur tastings. Judgement will be reserved until all the barrels have been sampled but here are some early impressions of the vintage and thoughts on the upcoming campaign. Read more
Opposites Attract: Two Very Different Brunello Releases – 2014 & 2013 Riserva By David Porter on 27/03/2019 Every March the new releases from Montalcino are unveiled. The rules stipulate that Brunello must be aged at the estate for 5 years and for the Riservas it is 7 years before hitting the market. 2019 therefore marks the release of the 2014 Brunellos and the Riservas from 2013. Read more
2019 L&S Annual Italian Tasting – Salute! 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. Read more
2015 Le Macchiole New Releases: Superb Super Tuscans with Scores to Match By David Porter on 28/02/2019 ‘Simply put 2015 is a tremendous vintage for Bolgheri.’ Antonio Galloni, www. Read more
Tim Smith named ‘Barons of Barossa’ Winemaker of the Year 2019 By Charles Lea on 19/02/2019 “I’m absolutely ecstatic and humbled (and very hungover) after this being officially announced yesterday.” Read more
Who Ate All The Jamón? A Visit To Acústic And Autòcton Cellars By Angus Barcroft on 27/11/2018 On Tuesday, with two members of the Duddells’ team, I flew out to Barcelona to see Albert Jané of Acústic and Auctòcton cellars. Many of you will know of his wonderful creations, especially the Acústic wines from Montsant that we have been importing since the 2004 vintage, a year after Albert bought his first vines in the region. Read more
Beautiful Barbaresco – 2014 Sottimano 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. Read more
Summer Red – Pies Negros: Joyful new-wave Rioja By David Porter on 11/07/2018 2016 PIES NEGROS RIOJA Crianza Bodegas y Viñedos Artuke [caption id="attachment_29446" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Artuke Vines[/caption] Brothers Arturo and Kike (Artu-ke) are making such great wines in their beautiful corner of Rioja and this 2016 Pies Negro - their Crianza - is another complete gem. Read more
Straight from the barrel – ‘En Rama’ Sherry By David Porter on 26/06/2018 One of the great thrills of working in this business is the chance to get into the cellars and taste wines straight from the barrel with the winemaker. To taste a wine in its most natural, 'un-mucked-about-with' state is a great experience. Read more
New Wave Wine Producers in Spain – Our recent visit to Rioja By Derek Robertson on 20/06/2018 Spain could lay claim to being the most exciting wine country in the world at present. A real sense of adventure has taken grip in the lesser known regions whilst new life has been breathed into the established areas with a new generation of younger winemakers and a new vision of what can be achieved. Read more
2016 Vintage Port – A Much Anticipated Declaration By David Porter on 24/05/2018 The last full 'declaration' by the leading Port houses was for the very fine 2011 Vintage. 2015 came painfully close, and we were hugely impressed by the 'Single Quinta' releases last year. How good must 2016 be to have trumped those superb 2015s? 2016: The Wines There has therefore been a palpable sense of excitement in anticipation of this new Vintage. Read more