By David Porter on 21/03/2014
A whistle-stop trip to Bollinger has been a great reminder of just how good this Champagne House is. From the outset it is clear that at Bollinger they really do not cut corners in their efforts to make the most of the raw materials they have.
By Charles Lea on 18/03/2014
Now that Latour has withdrawn from the annual en primeur circus, we can expect regular releases of wines the Château deems ready to drink. This year it is the turn of The Forts 2006 and the Grand Vin 2004, which is a wine we liked at the original en primeur tasting in 2005 but sadly not had the opportunity to try since.
By Ed H-B on 18/03/2014
Rose Murray-Brown of the Scotsman puts the straight chardonnay Legras Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne in the top spot on a recent park bench tasting in Champagne with Christophe Constant of JL Vergnon:
By Charles Lea on 12/03/2014
"Baciato dalla grazia" – "kissed by good fortune" – is how Italians refer to those rare, fortunate individuals who always appear to achieve what they want in life with no effort. The Gambero Rosso tasting of Messorio starts "In three words? Baciato dalla grazia. In one? Fantastico" and goes on to note it at 96/100.
By Andrew Hooper on 09/03/2014
Stephen Tanzer is the respected author of the well-followed wine review site International Wine Cellar and his thoughts are widely quoted, not least by LEA & SANDEMAN. Quoted as "exceptionally informative" by none other than Robert Parker and "thoroughly reliable" by our own Jancis Robinson MW, his views on the wines of the 2012 Burgundy vintage are required reading.
By David Porter on 06/03/2014
On Thursday 27th February, an eager team from Lea and Sandeman assembled, sleeves rolled-up, to help prepare for the NSPCC City Fine Wine Challenge – an annual team tasting quiz for some of the City’s most respected institutions.
By Peter Ogilvy-Wedderburn on 04/03/2014
A recent article by Ferran Centelles, sommelier of Restaurant El Bulli, on Jancis Robinson.com is entitled ‘Montsant – half-price Priorat?’, which is a provocative title, but the article shows just how far this D.O has come in a very short space of time.
By DJD on 03/03/2014
LEA & SANDEMAN – BARNES
Burgundy Tasting – Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th March
For our first in-store tasting of 2014 we have chosen a real Lea & Sandeman speciality – BURGUNDY
By Andrew Hooper on 25/02/2014
Please note this mail refers to a Primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site. I know from speaking to several customers over the last few days that there are more of you out there who have been meaning to order 2012 Burgundy but have just not quite got round to it.
By Andrew Hooper on 20/02/2014
As this year’s Burgundy primeurs season progresses and we add a few remaining delicacies to the website offer, it is worth mentioning that while much of the scrabbling for allocations of 2012 Burgundy has focused on red wines, there are some really great whites.
By Andrew Hooper on 13/02/2014
There are still some spaces left at next week’s South African Tasting. Should you be in the mood for a some crisp and refreshing white (most of which, perhaps counter intuitively, aren't Chenin Blanc); an array of finely textured reds (to the relief of many, not from Pinotage, except one that really is worth trying) and an outstanding sweetie, then advance just £15 to us to secure your place.
By Andrew Hooper on 07/02/2014
You will be aware of Susie & Peter. They may sound a bit like CBeebies presenters but they are, in fact, the two rising stars of wine reviewerdom - Peter Richards MW and Susie Barrie MW, two MWs who married each other and take turns to pop up on 'Saturday Kitchen' conjuring up wine matches to the cuisine on offer in James Martin's TV kitchen.