Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Sunday 8 January 2017

Two fine bottles – 12 YO Oloroso + 2011 Saumur Champigny

 Williams & Humbert Collection Oloroso 12 YO



The Willliams & Humbert is a fine and complex oloroso – the half bottle sells for £8.99 in Waitrose. If I have a criticism it is that it lacks the austerity in the finish that I enjoy in a good dry Oloroso. However, this is easily outweighed by the pleasure of seeing good and interesting Sherries stocked in supermarkets. The half bottle proved to be an ideal size providing an apéro for three people.

 2011 Saumur-Champigny, La Folie, Château Yvonne 


Due to a near catastrophic failure in the provision's department this is the first Loire red we have enjoyed in 2017. Anyway the 2011 La Folie from Château Yvonne is a decidedly good start, having the softness and ready to drink character of the 2011s allied to a good concentration of black fruits. The 2011 highlights the fine work that Matthieu Vallée is doing at Yvonne. 

  Matthieu Vallée

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