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The Journal

September 2 2022

Bordeaux 2018 – Full report from the 2022 Southwold tasting

Bordeaux

Having been interrupted by ‘you know what’ last year, in 2022 the Southwold Tasting returned to its usual January slot.  There…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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January 11 2023

Vintage Report: Burgundy 2021 by Matthew Hemming MW

Burgundy

Chiselled whites with the sort of ‘proper’ structure that’s becoming uncommon in our era of solar vintages. Elegant and fine-boned…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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January 27 2023

Bordeaux 2019 – Full report from the 2023 Southwold tasting

Bordeaux

Bordeaux 2019: the vintage that nearly got away - Matthew Hemming MW The 2019 Bordeaux campaign nearly fell victim to…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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February 25 2023

2019: the first great vintage of Piemonte’s new era

Italy

2019 feels like a must for serious lovers of Barolo and Barbaresco – a worthy follow up to 2016 and…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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April 14 2023

2022 Bordeaux: First Impressions Ahead Of The Upcoming En Primeur Campaign by Matthew Hemming MW

Bordeaux

During the week before Easter Vinum’s Vice Chairman, Lindsay Hamilton, and I spent a couple of days in Bordeaux.  We were…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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May 5 2023

Bordeaux 2022 vintage report

Bordeaux

The cellars of Chateau Montrose house one of the great 2022s. Having spent a week immersed in 2022 barrel samples,…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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July 18 2023

Vinum’s Fete du Bourgogne

Burgundy

Introducing Vinum's Fete du Bourgogne   The eagle-eyed may have spotted a reference to a special series of Burgundy offers…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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July 24 2023

Fete Du Bourgogne: Tasting the 2019 Whites at Burgfest

Burgundy

Earlier this year the Burgfest tasting of 2019 white Burgundy delivered the most exciting, most satisfying and overall best Burgfest…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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August 29 2023

Beyond Bordeaux & back again

Bordeaux

September's suite of fine wine releases from La Place de Bordeaux is now well established in our calendars.  As we…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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September 26 2023

Proper Napa class & a potential 100/100: Spottswoode 2020

California

Spottswoode belongs to an elite group of historic California producers including Ridge Vineyards, Dunn and Philip Togni. These estates craft…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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February 2 2024

Bordeaux 2020: Southwold Tasting Report

Bordeaux

2020 is a remarkably consistent, extremely high quality, year for red Bordeaux.  The wines are much more classical – think…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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February 16 2024

Burgundy 2022 Release Schedule

Burgundy

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a fine and consistent Burgundy vintage on our hands!  Very good wines and plenty of…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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April 1 2024

Vintage report – Barolo 2020

Italy

  The northern Italian region of Piemonte is currently enjoying a golden age and has been blessed with a trio…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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April 19 2024

2023 Bordeaux En Primeur Is Coming

Bordeaux

It’s that time of year again, Bordeaux En Primeur is just around the corner. We expect the first releases of 2023s the week after…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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April 26 2024

2023 Bordeaux First Impressions

Bordeaux

This is a short, overview report so let’s cut straight to the chase: in 20 years of primeurs tasting never have my expectations been so…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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May 2 2024

Bordeaux 2023 – Vintage Report

Bordeaux

Bordeaux 2023 is a vintage born out of an adversity that stretched from the climatic to market conditions and, beyond…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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June 21 2024

Burgfest report: 2020 whites

Burgundy

That we were asking ourselves whether 2020 had provided the best ever white Burgfest tells you all you need to…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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August 6 2024

Chateau Rayas dinner – sometimes lightning does strike twice

Rhone

In June 2023 I remember pinching myself as I sat down to a dinner in Singapore with eight vintages of…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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August 16 2024

Groffier Dinner Report

Burgundy

For some years I have been fascinated by the wines of Domaine Robert Groffier.  At the Burgfest blind tastings I…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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September 11 2024

A sneak peek at Burgundy’s 2023 vintage – Matthew Hemming

Burgundy

Last week, during a rushed couple of days in Burgundy, I managed to steal a couple of afternoons to have…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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September 17 2024

Burgfest report: 2020 Reds

Burgundy

To use a technical term, the Burgfest tasting of 2020 whites was an absolute belter.  I was amazed that such a…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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October 22 2024

Decant / De-can’t, when do you pour yours?

Bordeaux

Pouring wine from a bottle into another serving vessel, to remove sediment or aid oxygenation, should be as simple as…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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November 11 2024

Chateaux Lynch Bages & Pichon Lalande: six vintages, 2005-1966

Bordeaux

This was a recent tasting I led for my local tasting group, the Jeroboam Club, in the UK.  They had…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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November 21 2024

Burgundy 2023 vintage report

Burgundy

The Vinum Team last week with Jean-Michel Chartron at his Monopole "Clos des Chevaliers" Grand Cru. Three and a half…

Written by Matthew Hemming MW

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