MoneyWeek

MoneyWeek, 13 March 2009 – 2006 Surveyor Thomson Pinot Noir, Central Otago

2006 Surveyor Thomson Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand (£19.99, Coe Vintners of Redbridge, Essex tel. 0208 551 4966). I was in Hong Kong a few months ago hosting a Burgundy dinner and after a thoroughly enjoyable line up of bottles and some seriously good food I made my way around the guests answering questions and reveling…
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MoneyWeek, 6 March 2009 – 2006 Côtes-du-Rhône, Belleruche, Chapoutier

2006 Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche Rouge, M. Chapoutier, Rhône, France (£8.99 per bottle, £7.19 by the case, Oddbins; £7.99, EH Booth, Majestic). I tasted the full portfolio of Chapoutier wines the other day and for the very first time I was completely and utterly taken by each and every one of them. The average score that I awarded them, out of…
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MoneyWeek, 27 February 2009 – 2008 Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde, Portugal

2008 Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde, Portugal (£6.24, reduced by 20% if you buy any two Portuguese wines, £4.99, Majestic). Drop sixty quid at Majestic this week and you will have invested a relatively small amount of cash in the unqualified success of your very first summer party of 2009. As investments go I can promise you that this will yield…
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MoneyWeek, 20 February 2009 – 2008 Hochterrassen, Grüner Veltliner, Salomon Undhof, Austria

2008 Hochterrassen Grüner Veltliner, Salomon Undhof, Niederösterreich, Austria (£8.95, Lea & Sandeman, tel. 020 7244 0522 & www.londonfinewine.co.uk ).  The annual Austrian Wine tasting at the IOD is a funny affair.  Lots of adroit looking ladies and gents pouring, in some cases, stellar wines in the knowledge that very few of them will…
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MoneyWeek, 13 February 2009 – 2007 Clocktower Pinot Noir, New Zealand

2007 Clocktower Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand (£10.99, Marks & Spencer). Rather than recommending a bottle of rosé Champagne this year, for Valentine's Day wooing, I have decided to save you a few pounds (£20, in fact) and substitute this rather predictable style of wine for a delicious, hypnotic, red.  The reason for this is that Clocktower…
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MoneyWeek, 6 February 2009 – 2005 Viré-Clessé, Domaine de Roally, Burgundy

2005 Viré-Clessé, Domaine de Roally, Thévenet, Burgundy, France (£17.99, 3 for 2 deal takes the price to £11.99, selected Wine Rack). I recently had the pleasure of wandering around my local Wine Rack with Jonathan Butt.  His business card says that he is Head of Global Sourcing for Wine Rack, a strange title, however I know him simply as a very…
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MoneyWeek, 30 January 2009 – 2007 Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett, Mosel

2007 Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett, Weingut St.Urbans-Hof, Mosel, Germany (£12.99, The WineBarn tel. 01256 391211 & www.thewinebarn.co.uk).  Several years ago I took my one and only trip to the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer to taste wine (I do hope to go back!).  I adore Mosel Riesling and have done for decades, but going there and standing in the…
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MoneyWeek, 23 January 2009 – 2006 The White, John Forrest, New Zealand

2006 The White, The John Forrest Collection, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (£16.99, Adnams tel. 01502 727222 & www.adnams.co.uk). Many moons ago (in May 2004, I think?) I had dinner with a few high level wine wizards in London. The venue was Kensington Place - stunning food, great wine, Jeff Grosset (Clare Valley Riesling fame), John…
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MoneyWeek, 16 January 2009 – 2007 Greco di Tufo, Vesevo, Avellino, Italy

2007 Greco di Tufo, Vesevo, Avellino, Southern Italy (£10.99, reduced to £8.99 until 2 February, if you buy two bottles as part of a mixed case, Majestic).  A few weeks ago I introduced you to the joys of Southern Italian white wines in the shape of 2007 I Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina.  Feudi is a great company, but there is a new name in town…
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MoneyWeek, 9 January 2009 – 2007 The Gum Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, SA

2007 The Gum Adelaide Hills Shiraz, South Australia (£9.99, reduced to £7.99 until 31st January, Marks & Spencer).  This is the third wine from this hallowed property to grace this column so far in my massively enjoyable two and a half year tenure at MoneyWeek.  The problem for you, dear wine lover, is that you wouldn't know it from the label,…
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MoneyWeek, 22 December 2009 – 1988 Tokaji Aszu, Hungary

1988 Tokaji Aszú, 5 Puttonyos, Nyulászó Dűlő, Hungary (£14.99, 50cl bottle, reduced to £11.99 as part of a mixed case, selected Oddbins).  I adore Hungarian Tokaji - the decadent and historic sweetie in its trademark, dumpy, 50cl bottle.  Every year I taste a handful of examples and search for the finest of the bunch.  The current vintage…
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MoneyWeek, 17 December 2008 – 2000 Billecart-Salmon, Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Rosé Champagne

2000 Billecart-Salmon, Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon, Champagne, France (£120.00, Harvey Nichols tel. 020 7201 8537; £115.00, Uncorked tel. 020 7638 5998). Created in 1988 as a tribute to co-founder Elisabeth Salmon this rare Billecart cuvée is the most exciting this ever to happen to rosé Champagne.  A 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir blend, with a …
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