Posts by Chris Kelly
September Release Preview 2026: Opus One, Masseto, Solaia & More
The wine world wakes up from its traditional summer slumber in September with a flurry of big-name n...
New Release: The 2025 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, “stately and reserved at first, then totally joyful” (JA)
A huge release from Bordeaux, the 2025 vintage of the mighty First Growth of Chateau Mouton Rothschi...
New Release: 2025 Chateau Pichon Lalande, “a total stunner” (AG)
A superb new release from Bordeaux today, the 2025 vintage of Pauillac’s much-loved second growth, C...
New Release: 2025 La Mission Haut Brion, “One of the wines of the vintage” (AG)
We have a big new set of 2025s released today from one of Bordeaux’s great estates, Chateau La...
New Release: 2025 Chateau Pavie, “Sensational”, 97-99 Points (LPB)
Today sees the release of a Bordeaux big hitter, Chateau Pavie of St Emilion. The 2025 is a fantasti...
New Release: The 2025 Lafite Rothschild, Four Potentially Perfect Scores
“The standout in Pauillac and contender for wine of the vintage is Lafite-Rothschild, which overflow...
The 2025 Cos d’Estournel, 96-99 Pts Antonio Galloni
Cos d’Estournel consistently makes some of Bordeaux’s finest wines. From its famous vantage point in...
2025 Cheval Blanc, 98-100 Pts (WK)
Today sees a huge new release from Bordeaux, one of the most famous wines in the world, Chateau Chev...
2025 Chateau Pontet Canet
“The best 2025s are tremendous, some of the best wines I have ever tasted” – Antonio Galloni on 2025...
Kongsgaard Syrah – A Micro-Production Napa Gem
"These are artisanal wines at their finest." – Robert Parker
We are delighted ...
2015 Salon: New Parcel Of Uber Collectable Magnums
We are delighted to offer a new parcel of the 2015 Salon Le Mesnil in rare and collectable ...
2025 Bordeaux En Primeur Preview
Once again, one of the biggest events in the annual fine wine calendar is upon us, Bordeaux En Prime...
Save the Date: Bordeaux 2025 En Primeur Coming Soon
Next month, the fine wine world will turn its gaze toward the Gironde for the 2025 Bordeaux En Prime...
2016: The Greatest Fine Wine Vintage Ever?
I’m often asked by my non-wine trade friends if I have any inside tips in terms of what they should ...
Coming Soon: The 100 Point 2019 Chateau Latour
Tuesday 17th March sees one of the big fine wine releases of the year, a new vintage of Chateau Lato...
2023 Napa Valley Vintage: A New Superstar?
The 2023 vintage in Napa Valley is quickly earning a reputation for serious quality. We’ll be seeing...
Sassicaia 2023: The Latest Release Of A Tuscan Icon
"Like the legendary 1985, 2023 was a difficult and stressful vintage shaped by a cold winter, yet it...
Solaia Dinner and Tasting (London)
This week we hosted a client dinner to demonstrate the virtues of family Marchesi Antinori’s Super T...
Henri Germain Of Meursault – “These are exemplary wines. You can understand why they have such a loyal following” (NM)
We are delighted to offer a selection of 2023 Henri Germain wines from the excellent, b...
Montrachet & Musigny – Lunch With Joseph Drouhin
Joseph Drouhin Lunch @ Caratere
In November this year, I was invited to attend a spectacular ...
Bollinger Champagne & Pinot Noir: The Perfect Match
On a grey Monday afternoon in October the year I was fortunate to be invited by Bollinger to attend ...
Spottswoode, “The Chateau Margaux of Napa” – Robert Parker
One of the things that made Robert Parker such a great wine critic was his ability to make, what had...
Beyond Bordeaux: September Releases Preview
The fine wine trade springs back to life in September after the traditionally sleepy summer months. ...
State by State: The Australian Chardonnay Renaissance
In June this year, I had the pleasure of attending the “State By State” Australian Chardonnay tastin...
The Villages of the Côte de Nuits: Icons of Burgundy Pinot Noir
The villages of the Côte de Nuits are synonymous with some of the world’s most revered Pinot Noirs. ...
Cos d’Estournel Tasting, June 2025
In June this year, the UK team in London was treated to a back-vintage tasting courtesy of famed St ...
Kinsman Eades – A Napa Valley Wine Cult Collectable
Kinsman Eades is one of the best Napa Valley wineries you’ve (probably) never heard of. Made by one ...
2016 Chateau Latour, Previewing The Highly Anticipated New Release
Has there been a stronger trio of Latour releases since the wine came off the En Primeur system back...
When to pull that cork? The shfting sands of time.
"Just curious....is anyone using the same cell phone as they were 20 years ago?"
Antonio Galloni po...
Is 2021 Barolo The Next Big Thing? We Look At What The Critics Think.
2021 Barolo: As the wines from this eagerly anticipated vintage hit the market, we round up the view...
2022 Sassicaia – A Sneak Peek At The Upcoming New Release
Ahead of the official release on the 14th of February, we profile the iconic Super-Tuscan, Sassicaia...
How To Start A Wine Collection
Collecting wine is a fantastic hobby. Buying special cases or bottles, tucking them away and thinkin...
Salon, “the most sought-after Champagne among connoisseurs”
Salon Champagne: The Best Of The Best
Even in a region renowned for luxury and exclusivity, Salon C...
Krug Grande Cuvée
Krug Grande Cuvee – A Unique Grande Marque Champagne
Krug’s Grande Cuvee is one of the best of all ...
Bryant Estate Tasting
Bryant Family Wines: A Napa Fine Wine Benchmark
I had very little experience with the Bryant Family...
Tasting Louis Latour’s 2022 Burgundies
Lush, Open and Delicious: Louis Latour’s 2022 Burgundies
January traditionally sees the release of ...
Glenrothes: A Distillery Profile
The Glenrothes Distillery is a single malt distillery located in the heart of Speyside in the town o...
The Brora Distillery
The Brora Distillery produces whiskies that capture the essence of the Scottish Highlands.
Brora is...
Littlemill Distillery
The closed Lowland distillery of Littlemill had a rich heritage that dated back to the 18th century ...
Tasting Superstar Bordeaux: Chateau Canon and Chateau Rauzan-Segla
Members of the Vinum UK team recently spent some time with Jean-Basil Roland from Chateau Rauzan-Seg...
Beausejour Duffau Lagarrosse: One of Bordeaux’s Great Terroirs
In November 2023, the London team were treated to a tasting with Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse of St E...
Dominus – Napa Flair With Bordeaux Panache
The release of the 2020 vintage of Dominus prompted us to look at the history and style of this risi...
The Bordeaux First Growths: The Left Bank’s Great Estates
The five Bordeaux First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Haut Brio...
Cristal: Profile Of A Champagne Icon
The flagship cuvée of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne is one of the most prestigious and famous win...
Bunnahabhain Distillery: Distinctive Islay Whiskies
Nestled on the northeastern shores of the famous Isle of Islay in Scotland, Bunnahabhain Distillery ...
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne – The Epitome of Elegance
Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne is easily among the world’s great Champagnes. The epitome of elegan...
Beaulieu Vineyards – Georges de Latour
Beaulieu – A Resurgent Napa Icon
Founded in 1900 by Georges de Latour, Beaulieu was the benchmark f...
Highland Park Whisky – A Distillery Profile
Dating back to 1798, the Highland Park distillery sits amongst the charming and rugged landscape of ...
Casa Dragones Tequila – A Producer Profile
Casa Dragones: ‘The best sipping Tequila in the world’
CNN Travel have called this ‘the best sippin...
Pol Roger Winston Churchill Champagne
Pol Roger Winston Churchill: Statesman-Like Champagne
Since its creation, Pol Roger Winston Church...
Inglenook Rubicon – An Historic Napa, Now Resurgent
In March 2023, a member of the Vinum UK team was fortunate to attend a tasting of the Inglenook Rubi...
The Port Ellen Distillery – A Sleeping Giant
Of all the closed Scottish distilleries, the Port Ellen Distilleryis surely the most revered.
The ...
Karuizawa – An iconic closed distillery
Karuizawa - Japan's Smallest Distillery, Closed in 2000
Founded in 1955, Karuizawa was known as the...
Glenfiddich – Widely credited with creating the modern single malt Scotch whisky
The Glenfiddich distillery sits in the glen of the River Fiddich on the northern edge of Dufftown in...
The Best of The Andes: A Trip to Zuccardi of Argentina and Chadwick of Chile
In February of 2023, a lucky member of the team travelled to South America as a guest of importer Ha...
Ardbeg – Distillery Profile
Ardbeg: A peaty, smokey Scotch Whisky from Islay
Located on the island of Islay. Ardbeg is renowned...
The Abreu 2018s – Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Of The Very Top Tier
In February this year, we were invited to taste the magnificent 2018s from Abreu courtesy of the UK ...
Bowmore – Islay’s Oldest Distillery
Bowmore Whisky: Profound and Collectable Scotch From Islay
The Bowmore whisky distillery is histori...
Yamazaki Whisky – From Japan’s Most Famous Whisky Distillery
Yamazaki is Japan’s most famous whisky distillery.
Located in Shimamoto in Osaka province, just out...
The Best Wines Ever Made? Here Are Some Of The Finest Bottles In Existence
What are the best wines ever made?
A team dinner brought up the question of what are the greatest f...
A Spectacular Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting
Spottswoode’s wines are rightly revered. Among the finest reds made in the Napa Valley, these Cabern...
Glen Grant of Speyside – A Scotch Whisky Profile
Glen Grant is located in the beautiful Speyside town of Rothes. It was founded by brothers John and ...
The View of The Critics on The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vintage
We are starting to see releases of the 2018 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany’s world-renow...
Springbank – A Unique Whisky Distillery
Springbank, a name that evokes memories of the most unforgettable, gently smoky, incredibly complex ...
The Macallan – Profile of a Scotch Whisky Icon
The Macallan is synonymous not just with whisky, but with prestige and luxury across the globe.
Mac...
Dom Perignon – A Champagne Icon
The most famous of Champagnes and one of the most recognisable brands on the planet, Dom Perignon is...
A Tasting of Dal Forno Amarone
A tasting of multiple vintages of Dal Forno's iconic Amarone and Valpolicella.
In November, I was t...
Tasting At Taylors – The Lafite Of Portugal
Sometimes it takes a tasting at a winery, to remined you not just how special they are, but exactly ...