Maison Champy, founded in 1720, is, as far as I’m aware, the oldest documented négociant still trading. In their heyday, amongst the many prestigious appellations they owned or commercialised was the monopoly of the Clos de Tart in Morey St.Denis and the Montrachet holdings of the Marquis du… Read More

No slurping or spitting! This is a compendium of wines that were drunk with food, friends and family, between August 2008 and the end of November 2008. A mere 52 bottles are listed here, but don’t forget that another 113 from this Autumn Report lie here – it… Read More

No slurping or spitting! Normally this is a compendium of wines that, in the main, are really drunk with food, friends and family, but I would say about two thirds of this issue’s are from tastings, all though between December 2007 and March 2008. A higher incidence of corked… Read More

A very interesting tasting followed by dinner in the Château du Vougeot, arranged by the ‘Union des Maisons de Vins de Bourgogne’ which is a trade body of the Burgundy négoce that celebrated it’s 150th anniversary in 2006. Thirty-seven grand crus were presented ‘half-blind’ – you knew it was… Read More

At the core of the white-wine-centric Côte de Beaune are Meursault & Puligny-Montrachet. Sadly for Chassagne-Montrachet and St.Aubin, and despite the quality of their wines – the former’s grand crus included – those two villages are often relegated to the afterthoughts of consumers. Meursault was, for generations, the most sought-after… Read More

What’s in a name? The l’Arlot is a small stream. It runs mainly underground, sourced from the hills above Premeaux-Prissey. The hills of this area were a prime source of stone for the region’s construction. Some quarries are still very much in operation, producing not just building stone but also… Read More

No slurping and spitting; these wines were really drunk and predominantly at home with food and friends between March 2005 and June 2005. I have the feeling that I’ve had too many corked wines recently but the figures are not that much higher than normal – maybe it was… Read More

No slurping or spitting! Only the wines tasted in bottle appear here, for barrel samples you need to refer to the original articles:Corkwatch: 1 from 63 = 1.6% REGIONAL WINES 1993 Maison Leroy, Bourgogne Rouge Despite the abuse – as I pressed down my Screwpull, there was a… Read More