By Andrew Hooper on 12/09/2013
Behold a fine trio of French red wines to warm the spirit, all of which will yield the faintest hint of change from a twenty and also make an ideal accompaniment to autumnal cooking:
By Ed H-B on 06/09/2013
The ‘en rama’ phenomenon was started by Gonzalez Byass, who released their first Tio Pepe ‘En Rama’ sherry in celebration of their 175th birthday. It caused a sensation and has been released every year since.
By Charles Lea on 04/09/2013
Great excitement has greeted the release of the 2010 vintage of Antinori’s ultimate flagship wine, Solaia. Two critics have already hailed it as the best vintage yet of this intense, classical Cabernet-based SuperTuscan, and this certainly looks to be one not to miss.
By Charles Lea on 02/09/2013
Unlike some Champagne houses who rattle out the vintages one to the next – Pol have the strength of mind and the integrity to hang on to theirs until they are really sure that it is at the perfect point to release, allowing for early drinking for the impatient, but always with the class and depth needed for longer-term ageing.
By Charles Lea on 29/08/2013
Agostino Lenci of Fattoria di Magliano wrote to us excitedly this week, with the news that in the 2013 'Vinellando', a competition organised by the local trade bodies for Morellino di Scansano, his 2011 MORELLINO DI SCANSANO Heba Fattoria di Magliano came out top.
By Ed H-B on 15/08/2013
La Grêle Rosé - Château de Roquefort: £12.95 Btl or £11.95 case price Lovers of Burgundy will be aware that the 2012 vintage, already not looking large, was decimated by hailstorms producing a reportedly minuscule vintage.
By Andrew Hooper on 12/08/2013
Tasting activities in W4 for 2013 resume on Wednesday 25th September with a rather special evening. Here in the shop in Chiswick - that doyen of British wine journalism, jovial bon viveur and knowledgeable evangelist for fruits of the Lusitanian vine, Charles Metcalfe will on hand to talk you through a selection of Portuguese wines pulled from the shelves of LEA & SANDEMAN.
By Charles Lea on 26/07/2013
Hail has been much in the news recently, with Tamlyn Currin making Raimond de Villeneuve's La Grêle 2012 Rosé the wine of the week last week on www.
By Charles Lea on 24/07/2013
International Wine Challenge (IWC) Merchant Awards Strictly Come Wine Tasting? On the 18th of July, at the 30th anniversary of the IWC awards, Lea & Sandeman was awarded 'En Primeur Merchant of the Year', All the L&S team are absolutely delighted to have been given this award by such a high-calibre panel, (Tim Atkin MW, Oz Clarke, Sam Harrop MW, Peter McCombie MW, Charles Metcalfe and Derek Smedley MW) and judged against such formidable competition.
By Ed H-B on 19/07/2013
In anticipation of the Royal birth we have dropped our price on our Royal warranted champagnes: Pol Roger White Foil Brut, Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut and Louis Roederer Brut Premier, all just £30 a bottle. For ideas on how to top up for the hot weekend, browse our recommendations throughout our blog.
By Ed H-B on 15/07/2013
Louis Roederer is one of the largest remaining independent Champagne Houses, owned by the same family since it was founded in 1776, the same year that the USA was officially founded. The house is famous for making 'Cristal' - the highly demanded Super Cuvée - but the Brut Premier is their classic, non vintage blend and represents excellent quality in the slightly fuller, creamier style.
By Andrew Hooper on 12/07/2013
i Clivi was created when Ferdinando Zanusso bought two dishevelled old vineyards in the early 1990's. They were in a poor state but were rescuable and their age has become key to i Clivi's success.