Clive Coates, wine-buyer turned wine educator, author and critic, died in Hospital 1 week ago.
The first news trickled out only on Friday – I waited for further corroboration before offering a small note on Twitter.
Clive was open and generous, starting his wine journey in the lesser appellations of France before majoring on Bordeaux – Burgundy came later – but Clive became a reference on the subject.
Clive was particularly a reference for wine-buyers; I still have all the copies of his (roughly!) monthly periodical ‘The Vine‘ starting from his reviews of the 1995 Burgundy vintage until he closed his publication and retired to a house near the hills of Beaujolais.
Multiple were the tastings in his living room in Chiswick where I often asked stupid questions – only to receive enlightening answers. Afterwards, we met in many tastings in Burgundy, Clive always remained approachable despite becoming harder of hearing. I sadly lost touch in the covid years – how quickly 3 years pass.
He was only 81 and he will be missed. The education and joy that he brought to a generation of enthusiasts is incalculable…
*Image, initially, with the permission of Clive when he first reviewed my book – I subsequently find that the originator is Michel Joly – apologies to him for using his image, it’s not clear (to me) who had the copyright…
There's a special place in my heart for Clive Coates, joining many 'Master Tastings' at his house in Chiswick in the 1990s & later tasting with him in Burgundy too. I hear that he has passed – I will raise more than one glass to him this weekend…
— 🅱️ill nanson (@billnanson) July 30, 2022
There are 3 responses to “Clive Coates RIP”
A giant/legend amongst expert commentators on Burgundy – that he lived and worked from there in his latter years for me only adding to his reputation. I only met him once at a UK merchant tasting in Colchester, England where the room was heady with pours of the Red Burgundy tasting he was presenting. He was hugely impressive to this novice ,yet humble and relaxed in answering all manner of audience questions. I’d have loved to have met him again at his often referenced London home tastings or on the Cote. I have many of his excellent books – which are reference works like no other. RIP Clive – ‘Mr Burgundy’.
Vale Clive.
All 241 issues of The Vine remain a reference work. Didn’t/don’t always agree but he was mostly on the money for us wine buyers of a certain age. You were never left wondering what Clive thought. His transition from Bordeaux to Burgundy coincided with the renaissance of the red wines of the latter as the former bowed to the views of Parker. My wine cellar benefited greatly from Clive’s wealth of knowledge and experience.
Condolences to those he’s left behind
Hear, hear…
Generous indeed. I never met Clive Coates but wrote to him a few times over the years by email with some questions. He always answered notwithstanding I was just an ordinary Burgundy lover. His work, The Wines of Burgundy, remains my go-to book to this day (sorry Bill! 🙂 … However your web site is the best on Burgundy by far!).