Books & Magazines
bordeaux/burgundy – a vintage rivalry, jean-robert pitte (2008)
It was while visiting Aubert de Villaine way back in 2005 that he recommended this book to me, and despite it only (at that time) being available in French, I picked up a copy. It’s probably a measure of my French niveau that I recollect scarcely a thing – except for a quote to [...]
desert island wine, miles lambert-gócs (2007)
After I exhibited something approaching enthusiasm for ‘Is this bottle Corked?‘ a reader suggested that I might like to try this tome, so…
Desert Island Wine, is a paperback of 190 pages, the back page boilerplate starting with:
Who says wine is no laughing matter? No such thing as a wine book to take to the beach? [...]
guide to the wines of burgundy, graham chidgey (1977)
What a little gold-mine this book turned out to be!
A compact, if not quite pocket-sized, volume of around 120 pages. Published by Pitman in 1977 and reprinted (my copy) in 1978 – also signed by the author. But what of the author? – it’s the first time I’ve heard the name.
According [...]
the white wines of burgundy, jasper morris (1988)
Not so long ago I made a basic search using the keyword ‘Burgundy’ and up popped this book. A quick email to Jasper elicited the response that this was “obviously the single finest book on burgundy ever written….” If nothing else, it is clearly the leader in value; the purchase price [...]
The Wines of Burgundy, Clive Coates
2008, University of California Press
I usually give my thoughts on books here, but given that this is the most important book published in over 10 years that is devoted to Burgundy, I felt that I should make a more considered comment. ‘Important’ could also be synonymous with weighty given that Amazon quote a shipping [...]
chablis, bernard ginestet (1990)
This is the second book from this series that I’ve managed to pick up. After ‘Le Montrachet‘ there is also (in theory) Chambertin, Clos de Vougeot and Corton in the series, but I’ve yet to see English editions of those latter three – if they exist(?) – but I continue my look-out!
Whereas Jean-François Bazin [...]
living with wine, samantha nestor & alice feiring (2009)
The last book I read turned out to be a bit of a Christmas stocking filler. This one is published in time to make such a list too (and you can already buy it for a discount!), but be warned, you will need a considerably larger stocking!
This book is far too big for my [...]
is this bottle corked?, kathleen burk & michael bywater (2009)
Do you, like me, inwardly groan (while still offering a cheery smile) each and every time somebody buys you something to do with wine as a birthday or Christmas present? – or perhaps a card resplendent with bottles and glasses? Come-on everyone, we are individuals, let’s have a little imagination! – what about the [...]
chablis & the art of eating
Okay, not strictly a wine magazine, but…
I have to thank Alice Feiring for alerting me to this, the magazine ‘The Art of Eating‘ by Edward Behr, and in particular his most recent issue that has 20 of the magazine’s 48 pages dedicated to Chablis – a further seven pages offer recipes to match.
There is a [...]
“sour grapes”
Remember this? That was June 2008. Well now we have the following:
Wine buff sues after being accused of a vintage rip-off
Among wine connoisseurs, Michael Broadbent reigns supreme. The 6ft tall, pinstriped oenophile, who launched the peerless Christie’s wine department in 1966, has spent a lifetime travelling the world tasting fine vintages, keeping notes of [...]
TONG – a wine magazine
TONG – note, that this was a promotional copy, so I’m honour-bound to say nice things – right? Yeah-right, just like here
It’s worth pointing out, that I’m drawn to things that have been ‘designed’, or perhaps I should say that I’m drawn to things that have not just been made to look good [...]
a life uncorked, hugh johnson (2005)
This is quite a big book – not quite a coffee-table book, but close to 400 pages that have weighed down my laptop bag for 5 months or so.
5 months?
Well, it’s a book that you can dip into, returning after 2 weeks absence is no loss…
Frankly, I was expecting great things – it [...]
