...wine

Well just Saturday actually. Went to the Decanter do which as usual was a heaving mass of people and way too many stands to get through in a day.

I think Bordeaux was well represented and managed to give a good few of them a go.
Burgundy was dismal !! the 2 Louis (Jadot & Latour) were the only examples on offer which is pretty lame for a "Fine wine tasting event" Only the Jadot 1er Montrachet was worth tasting tbf
Italy's line up was supposedly good but I didn't get round to giving it a go.

Entertaining clients meant more talking and not enough tasting (and no notes whatsoever ! )
So this is from the top of my no longer fuzzy head

Unfortunatley I didn't come across any hidden gems
As kind of expected, Palmer , Phelan-Segur, d'Issan & Corbin all were good with 04, 01 & 96 example all approachable.

Dunc, I'm afraid the Giscours 06 didn't compete IMHO and they didn't offer anything from previous vintages

Chateau d'Esclans from Provance had a very impressive rose display with their top end Garrus retailing at £58 (for a rose!! )
However, this was not typical rose with only their entrance rose Whispering Angel (which is £12) not having some of the wine having spent time in barrel.
Blindfolded I would never guess that most of these were rose but they were all very nice

Montana's single vineyard examples taken from 2008 weren't bad altho no really detection of any blackcurrent leaf as prefered but our resident SB lover.
Some tomato leaf in the Festival block but almost a littlesweetness on the finish. Rail bridge was a little more minerally
Their Central Otago PN was better in my opinion that their 2 Marlborough offerings.

Villa Maria's stand wasn't much to rave about
Craggy Range's Te Muna Road was fresh and zippy with good minerality too

Riedel stand was comparing the chianti tasting glasses with glasses for specific wine.
I gave the Chardonnay glass a go. I didn't notice so much on the nose but in the mouth the wider bowl means the wine does actually make it to the sides of the tongue and did actually make a difference.
Could I use it to justify buying specific glasses tho ? I doubt it - at least not at Riedel prices anyway
(BTW, if anyone wanted to buy Riedel glasses, typing DECANTER in the vouchercode online gets you 20% off until 14th Dec)

Thanks for the update Shezza, sounds like an interesting experience.

Great Decanter tasting report Shezza,

I did mention to my client, Simon to drop by the Landmark with his partner, he wasn't that far away, but the chances of finding you and your clients was fairly remote in the crowds.

Affordable Giscours against those illustrious names on better vintages - just couldn't figure - why they turned up with the 2006 to promote their wares !! So you did get to taste Palmer '96 wow. Other than Palmer, was there one that performed significantly ahead of it's standing.

No doubt it was a great success for your clients - since they kept you too busy - for any Notes

When you have a mo, of the Montana terroir series / single estates, which one would you consider buying - for value or novelty interest ? or, You'd rather stay with JE'08 for value and satisfaction at the price.
Having said that - you were 'paletted' out by then, surely.

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Duncan

Dunc,

outside of the Bordeaux offerings mentioned nothing really lept out.
Phelan-Segur's 96 was very good, unfortunately d'Issan didn't bring the 96 quoted in the catelogue (or there was none left by the time I got there)

The Montana's we more of just a change I think. I would still chose the JE 08 over them I'd say. Especially as they were all £10 - £13 price range so better QPR on JE

Saturday 20th Feb at same venue is purely a Bordeaux offering.
I'll try and go again then and might even splash out on a masterclass where they tend to do a verticle from one of the bigger chateaux altho it is usually pricier for the materclass

Shez,

Thanks for the reply, can't respond. I must dash see ya later.

Pleased about the JE being on top QPR at the MSB tasting.

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Duncan