Raymond Blake

wine writer

Raymond Blake

wine writer

Raymond Blake

wine writer

Raymond Blake

wine writer

Tasty Trio



Sometimes you hit a winning streak, when a succession of bottles, drunk over the course of a week or two, all deliver complete satisfaction. Such was my luck in recent days and here are three that were particularly memorable. Read More...
Comments

At Liberty


Discovering a new wine, something never encountered before, is always a bit of fun, especially if it has a good ‘back story’. Such was the case at yesterday’s Liberty Wines tasting in Dublin when Gregory Patriat of JC Boisset poured me a sample of his Mâcon-Igé, Château London 2009. Read More...
Comments

Classy Bubbles



“Is champagne wine?” I am asked again and again. Of course it is and the good stuff is the result of one of the most painstaking and labour intensive production processes anywhere in the wine world.

Read More...
Comments

Domaine Leflaive



An offer, received today from Corney & Barrow in London, for a mouthwatering array of white burgundies straight from the cellar of Domaine Leflaive prompted an indulgent bout of wishful thinking and brought back some memories too. Read More...
Comments

Volnay Visit



Obtaining an entrée to the cellars of top winemakers in Burgundy is notoriously difficult. Many of them operate on a tiny scale and simply are not set up to receive visitors. Others simply like playing the cussed curmudgeon and, anyway, “We have no wine to sell.” Read More...
Comments

A Rare Treat

Thanks to the generosity of a friend I was delighted to taste two remarkable wines recently: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Richebourg 1969 and Château Margaux 1961, the former made in the year when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and the latter when John F Kennedy took office in the White House. Both were excellent. Read More...
Comments

Showing Its Age: Part 2 Landmark Australia



The 2010 displayed the off-putting cosmetic character that is the hallmark of very young Riesling and which mercifully fades after a year or so, like an adolescent losing puppy fat. If I were a winemaker I would never present a Riesling for tasting at this stage of its development. Read More...
Comments

Gourmet Abu Dhabi: 2nd-17th February

If the words ‘Gourmet’ and ‘Abu Dhabi’ don’t exactly fit together in your mind then think again. I was the same myself until my first visit late last year. The first evening I dined on a splendid rib eye steak, accompanied by a tasty Erath Pinot Noir 2007 from Oregon, in Marco Pierre White’s recently opened restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel. Not every restaurant is as good, but this Emirate is certainly a place on the move in culinary terms. Beware the wine prices, though, they will bring your credit card to its knees. Read More...
Comments

Welcome
blog comments powered by Disqus