Stories from Decanter Blog

  1. The Spurriers' Vineyard (part five)

    Decanter Blog &bull Jun 29, 2009

    The work continues over at the Spurriers' vineyard in Dorset. This week Bella Spurrier and her team face the arduous task of bud-rubbing... So that's it for the bud rubbing, job done. And what a job. It took me, Zoe… Full Story »

  2. Stephen Brook - "I scurried through a side wing that led to the kitchen, rigid with anxiety in case I set off alarms" (Vinexpo parties part five - Haut-Bailly)

    Decanter Blog &bull Jun 25, 2009

    Wednesday. Woke up feeling dopey. Can't imagine why: I must be working too hard. The Frey family, lithe and athletic, were at breakfast, and must have been puzzled to see their guest looking so bleary-eyed. Drove through traffic jams to Pomerol to taste some 2008s from the Moueix stable, and a vertical tasting of Chateau Hosanna. Those invited then drove on to Chateau Blair in St Emilion, which Moueix… Full Story »

  3. Stephen Brook - "Perhaps I have been struck off the list and will be marched out to the car park?" (part three - Pichon-Lalande)

    Decanter Blog &bull Jun 23, 2009

    Monday. At Lafite last night I had a chance to ask Philippe Castja whether it was true that Chateau Trottevieille in St Emilion, a first growth owned by his family, had been wiped out by hail this spring. He confirmed that he had lost at least 90% of the crop. This is the nagging story… Full Story »

  4. Stephen Brook - The Vinexpo Parties (part two - Chateau Lafite)

    Decanter Blog &bull Jun 22, 2009

    Sunday morning: I was the only occupant of La Lagune last night, so breakfasted in solitary splendour (apart from the butler and the chef). The sky is a perfect blue and set to remain so all week. No heatwaves for Australians to complain about. I am now off to Vinexpo itself. It would be impolite not to show my face. Vinexpo seems quieter than expected, although the real action… Full Story »

  5. Stephen Brook - The Vinexpo Parties (part one - Haut-Brion)

    Decanter Blog &bull Jun 22, 2009

    Saturday morning and about to leave for the airport. It's been a busy week for my inbox, with at least 150 invitations arriving from stand-holders at Vinexpo, urging me to visit them and taste their wines. What to do? It… Full Story »

  6. Stephen Brook in Bordeaux (part four - Lafite, Ormes de Pez , Latour, Montrose, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Domaine de Chevalier )

    Decanter Blog &bull May 23, 2009

    On Wednesday I drove to Lafite. There was no sign of the journalistes britanniques I was expecting to join, so I walked into the tasting room, greeted winemaking director Charles Chevalier, and tasted. Lafite was both excellent and considerably superior to Carruades. On my way out I spotted my colleagues - Steven Spurrier, Jancis Robinson, et al - huddled in the reception room. I went to their rescue and told them they didn't need to wait around for permission to enter, but could stroll into the ground-floor tasting room without hindrance. Always glad to be of help. I… Full Story »

  7. Margaret Rand in Tokaji

    Decanter Blog &bull Oct 20, 2008

    Judging by the amount of shopping the frres Shan did in Budapest this afternoon, the portions tomorrow won?t be as big as they were tonight. This is good. Dinner tonight ? all of it delicious ? was a large bowl… Full Story »

  8. Margaret Rand at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show - fourth day

    Decanter Blog &bull Oct 2, 2008

    The hard work's over now. Last night was the judges' dinner. Everybody brought bottles, and heavens, what bottles. Y 2005 (Yquem's still white, pronounced 'ygrec') - that's in the new, tidied-up style rather than in the old, weird style. 1983 Hermitage Les Trois Mas, Jaboulet-Isnard; 1998… Full Story »

  9. Margaret Rand at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show - third day

    Decanter Blog &bull Oct 1, 2008

    Lord, I'm tired. It's the end of the third day of judging, and it's been a good day, but we start at about 8.30, I've done 180 wines or so, culminating in a flight of 45 Cabernet Sauvignons with more… Full Story »

  10. Margaret Rand at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show - second day

    Decanter Blog &bull Sep 30, 2008

    Another day, another panel. Yesterday Tim Kirk of Clonakilla was chair of my tasting panel; today it's Tom Carson, who exercises more rigorous control over what we're to look for. In Riesling it's to be purity, purity, purity: no sweaty,… Full Story »

Authenticating User
Loading Global Loud3r Profile