MoneyWeek

2017 Château Capbern, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

As we ease into December, I would love to introduce you to two of the finest value Bordeaux blends I have tasted this year.  If you are looking to keep the cash under control while drinking world-class wines this month, then look no further than this pair.  Firstly, the extraordinary 2017 Capbern from the same stable as one of my favourite wines on…
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MoneyWeek Christmas Special – 6 epic wines for ultimate celebrations

MoneyWeek Christmas Special 2006 Billecart-Salmon, Le Clos Saint Hilaire Brut, Champagne, France (approx. £350.00, www.hedonism.co.uk, www.thefinestbubble.com).  I was fortunate to be invited to a tasting of every vintage of Le Clos Saint Hilaire since the inaugural 1995, and it was an eye-popping event.  A preview of the 2006 release, this tasting…
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2018 Beeslaar, Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Abrie Beeslaar made this magnificent wine from 25-year-old bush vines, and it was fermented in concrete tanks with regular punch-downs to gain as much extraction from the powerful Pinotage skins as possible.  It was then aged for 21 months in 40% new French oak barriques.  There is nothing particularly unusual about this recipe, and so my question…
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MoneyWeek Wine Club – November 2021

MoneyWeek Wine Club introduces Six November Beauties from Lea & Sandeman (t) 020 7244 0522 (w) www.leaandsandeman.co.uk (e) chelsea@leaandsandeman.co.uk www.moneyweekwineclub.com/november  A mixed case of 12 bottles (2 of each of the wines) is a bargain-priced £172.00 (saving a huge £24.70) I know I bang on about value for money each month,…
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2019 Swinney, Farvie Frankland River Syrah, Western Australia

Last year, I alerted you to the majesty of the inaugural 2018 vintage of Farvie Grenache and its sibling Syrah.  With scores of 19.5/20 and 19/20, respectively, these are two of the finest debut wine labels I have ever tasted.  So how did these daring wines fare in the cooler 2019 vintage, and did they suffer from all too familiar ‘second album…
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2015 Château Laforge, Grand Cru Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France

It is probably bad form to quote one’s own previously published work in this brand new column, but here we go.  To set the scene, back in April 2016, I tasted this wine out of the barrel in preparation for my annual Bordeaux En Primeur Report.  This is what I wrote - ‘There are a few more members of the Laforge orchestra, in terms of flavour complexity,…
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2018 Littorai, The Pivot Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California

While the topic of top-end Californian Pinot Noir might be a little esoteric, I cannot get through this week without flagging up this bottle for you because I know that there are super-nerd fans out there, and they will go gaga for this wine.  2018 The Pivot Vineyard is the finest American Pinot Noir I have ever tasted.  Made by Ted and Heidi Lemon…
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2007 Quinta do Noval, Colheita, Tawny Port, Portugal

I have been struggling to find retailers for this wine, and it is a source of complete bafflement and exasperation for me because this is, without doubt, the most sensational Tawny Port I have ever tasted.  I first sampled this wine on 8th April, and I still remember every single facet of its excellence.  It ought to feature on every single serious…
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MoneyWeek Wine Club – October 2021

MoneyWeek Wine Club introduces an Extraordinary Autumnal Selection from Swig (t) 08000 272272 (w) www.swig.co.uk  www.moneyweekwineclub.com A mixed case of 12 bottles (2 of each of the wine) is a bargain-priced £204.50 (saving a massive £30.20) I have my wine antenna alert and receiving information all day every day, and every so often, when…
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2019 The Society’s Exhibition Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône, France

Alexandre Caso started an agency in the Rhône supplying specialised labour for vineyard work, and his first employee was Guillaume, son of legendary Hermitage winemaker Marc Sorrel.  After early success, it was not long before they decided to branch out, and so in 2009, they rented some neglected vines in Saint-Joseph, followed by a hectare in Crozes-Hermitage…
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2016 Roda I Reserva, Bodegas Roda, Rioja, Spain

We have all had to wait an eternity for the new Bond film to be released, and I have had to sit tight for a slightly shorter period for my favourite ever Roda I to arrive on our shores, and, in truth, it has felt longer than the 007 delay.  But, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, and the world’s most famous secret agent and this…
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2020 Soalheiro, Primeiras Vinhas, Alvarinho, Vinho Verde, Portugal

I experienced a rare eureka moment in August.  While dining at a smarty-pants fish restaurant in Portugal, a wine waiter asked me if I wanted to taste a ‘special wine’ which they had just received but which hadn’t yet made it onto the wine list.  Of course, my answer was yes.  I am sure many people are familiar with Soalheiro – Portugal’s…
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