AmazingWine

What : Something Very Special - SGC Wines Frédéric Anton 2009 Would you believe this is my 300th post? It seemed only appropriate to open something very special indeed.  You may not have heard of SGC and their mission, but believe me they will be on your radar soon enough. A little bit of background first - in short, they are ambitiously looking to build a new 1st growth in Bordeaux. How, I hear you ask. Start by spending 8 years sourcing independently owned vineyards with the same terroir as those of the 1st growths. Next recruit a crack team of wine professionals for the viticulture. Hire a wine hero (Gerard Basset, OBE, MW, MBA, World Champion Sommelier, Decanter Man of the year, WSET president…) and then produce just 40k bottles. Then you need to appointed to join the club to be eligible to buy a bottle and approved by the board. So, exclusive as it comes... The wines aren’t cheap. This was as tasted sourced at £209 ($320) per bottle, but I’m told the secondary values are considerably more at present. Fortunately for me, this was a very generous award at a presentation. So, without further ado, onto the tasting. Bottle is lavishly finished. Great weight and texture to the labelling with details. Colour in the decanter is a dark cassis with intensely focused colours. Nose was cabernet dominated - hints of blueberry and blackcurrant. Body is opulent, layered and textured. A lot of tannin and well structured to age from here. Finish is powerful and long in duration. Young, but deeply impressive. I couldn’t put it better than Jancis herself, who rated it better than a Latour 2006 tasted at the same time... Hope you all are enjoying these little updates, and cheers to the next 300! Best, Andrew aka Mr Tipple. #TryTipple  (at Belgrave Road)

#PrayForParis. From a recent trip to Burgundy. Our hopes and prayers are with the families.

What: Hamilton Russell Chardonnay & Meerlust 2013 Pinot Noir Where: The Wine Gallery, Brinkley's Very pleased to say that in six weeks I will be touring around the wine region in the Western Cape! As I’ve just been confirmed to visit Hamilton Russell, I thought it was the perfect time to put it head to head with one of my favourite houses, Meerlust. Hamilton Russell is located just a couple of kilometres from the Atlantic and the sea breezes keep the grapes cooler than inland. Grown on clay rich shale slopes Anthony Hamilton Russell has done a pretty amazing job, and this was the legendary Hannes Storm’s last vintage. It’s complex, rich, full of gravelly savoury goodness. Think corton-charlemagne and you’re not far wrong. Excellent wine indeed.. and I can’t wait to visit. As for the Meerlust? Bright jammy fruits in the glass. Clean ruby tinge. Hint of tertiary flavours at the back of the palate. Grippy tannins but not over-powering. Very accomplished. Call it the excitement, but HR takes this one for me. Cheers! (at Brinkley's Restaurants)

What : Meerlust Red 2012 & Querciavalle 2010 DOCG Chianti Classico Where : Cross Keys Pub, Chelsea Hosted an impromptu blind tasting with Tipple. Which red do you prefer? And most importantly.. Why? The Meerlust shone through this evening- the weight and power of the Cabernet shone through versus the Sangiovese and despite the older, cheaper Italian, the audience chose the Meerlust. My pick for best value on the wine list 👍 #TryTipple (at The Cross Keys Pub)

What : Bernard Pertois Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Where : Wiltshire Time to share a little secret with you. I recently had the privilege to meet the lovely owners of a champagne importers who (after much persuasion) surrendered their top pick amongst grower champagnes. This is it. £34 a bottle and I kid you not, it is the site next to a bottle you may have heard of, ending in '...Clos de Mesnil'. Krug for this price would be scandalous - this is isn't Krug, but it's a superb David next to a Goliath in champagne. It's breath taking and I'm in love. #TryTipple (at Pewsey)

Time to start Saturday in style, first stop, Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut #trytipple (at London, United Kingdom)

What : My first Gaja! The Sito Moresco 2013 Where : Senses Hotel rooftop, Sofia Imagine the scene.. A serene evening in Sofia, rooftop bar and a bottle of Gaja. Nebbiolo, Cabernet and merlot - I was bouncing off the walls to open. Decanted for 15 mins, there was a pearlescent ruby tinge in the glass with a great depth and sheen. Nose was spicy - tobacco and rose. Body was medium to full - silky but ever present tannins. It may not be their signature, or their oldest, but oh my it hit the spot.. (at Sense Rooftop Bar)

What : Perrier-Jouët Where : Senses Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria Ok so here's to the All Blacks. Great game of rugby, cheers from here! See you in Japan 2019.. Best team ever I'm just debating at the bar... Thoughts? #TryTipple #RWC #RWC2015 (at Sofia, Bulgaria)

What : Taittinger Brut NV Where : Senses Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria Well this all got a little arty didn't it! I'm a fan of the Taittinger brut.. I adore their Comtes first and foremost but for those everyday luxuries you can't beat the house blend for consistency and pleasure. Good luck in the Rugby World Cup final guys 👍 #TryTipple #RWC #RWC2015 (at Sense Hotel)

Here's to the weekend, happy Friday everyone #trytipple (at Sense Hotel)

What : Dom Pérignon 1995 Time to revisit the very first vintage I tried of this celebrated marque. 1995 was by no means a 'celebrity' vintage, but, it is often unnecessarily over-looked compared with its big brother the 1996. The colour is a deep lustred gold. Brushed, not polished. The aromas are complex and take a little time to really express themselves. Classic expressions of yeasty flavours first to the party - toasted French bread was my first note, then it evolved into butter melting on said bread (it's an unorthodox tasting note but hey, there you go). What makes it personal for me was resisting the wine first tried when I was 18 and saved up for with my weekend job as a celebration of graduating. Here's to wine memories! #TryTipple 

What : Beaune & Pommard 1er cru Tasting with James Handford MW Himself! Where : Handford Wines, London  We tasted: Beaune:  Lafarge Greves 2003 Joseph Drouhin Clos Mouches Blanc 2010 Pommard:  Lafarge Pezerolles 2004, three vintages from Comte Armand Clos des Epeneaux, Hubert de Montille  Pezorolles 2010  &  Rugiens 1995 & 2010 (at Handford Wines)

Picking a favourite champagne is like picking a favourite child. That being said, I think the bubbles from Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger have to rate as some of the absolute best. This fine example I tried at the cave au fromage in Covent Garden. Soft matte golden lustre in the glass, rich creamy nose with hints of butterscotch and camomile. Beautiful. #trytipple (at Champagne+Fromage: Covent Garden)

What : Joseph Drouhin “Clos des Mouches” 2011 Had the privilege to open one of my all time favourite white burgundies, the Clos Des Mouches from Drohuin.  Deep golden colour in the glass suggests an age and complexity beyond its years. The mouches in the name is owed to the site being used historically by bee keepers, and without torturing the analogy, the taste was like a perfumed set honey. Rich top floral notes and white flowers, underneath a jasmine and soft white stone fruit.  The body was thick but primed with acidity. Finish was crisp and dry, but with a length that never ceases to astound. If you get the chance, you simply must try it. #TryTipple  (at London, United Kingdom)

Embarrassed to admit this is my first Hamilton Russell and oh wow, what a beautifully made wine.. Composure, delicacy and depth. Beautiful. #TryTipple (at London, United Kingdom)

What : Château Lynch-Bages 1987 Magnum Where : Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley Hotel So.. Served in magnum in pristine condition. Cork immaculate and healthy amount of sediment on the shoulder. Decanted prior to service and initially served blind, and wow, what a bottle it was.  Initial nose was perfect pauillac. Graphite, flint, slate. Underneath was dense red berry fruit, definitely felt more Cabernet in there. Aromas unwound themselves beautifully in the glass like a slow motion unfurling of weaved aromas.  Mouthfeel was opulent and rich. Tannins softened and a healthy amount of acidity to keep it fresh. Finish was long, oh so very long.  I adored this wine and whilst '87 was no hero vintage, I'd struggle to think of a better example. Simply stunning. What an amazing wine. #TryTipple (at Marcus Wareing)

A dinner to remember.. Bindi Chardonnay blew me away.. White truffles, first time tasting Tschida... Wow. #trytipple (at Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley)