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The Journal

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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September 22 2023

The Bordeaux First Growths: The Left Bank’s Great Estates

Bordeaux

The five Bordeaux First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Haut Brion represent the pinnacle of winemaking on…

Written by Chris Kelly

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September 13 2023

Cristal: Profile Of A Champagne Icon

Champagne

The flagship cuvée of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne is one of the most prestigious and famous wines in the world.…

Written by Chris Kelly

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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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August 17 2023

Bunnahabhain Distillery: Distinctive Islay Whiskies

Whisky

Nestled on the northeastern shores of the famous Isle of Islay in Scotland, Bunnahabhain Distillery is an icon of traditional…

Written by Chris Kelly

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August 8 2023

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne – The Epitome of Elegance

Champagne

Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne is easily among the world’s great Champagnes. The epitome of elegance, and finesse it is the…

Written by Chris Kelly

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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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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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June 28 2023

Beaulieu Vineyards – Georges de Latour

California

Beaulieu  – A Resurgent Napa Icon   Founded in 1900 by Georges de Latour, Beaulieu was the benchmark for mid-twentieth…

Written by Chris Kelly

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June 23 2023

Highland Park Whisky – A Distillery Profile

Whisky

Dating back to 1798, the Highland Park distillery sits amongst the charming and rugged landscape of the Orkney Islands. Located…

Written by Chris Kelly

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May 30 2023

Casa Dragones Tequila – A Producer Profile

Spirits

Casa Dragones: ‘The best sipping Tequila in the world’.   CNN Travel have called this ‘the best sipping Tequila in…

Written by Chris Kelly

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May 25 2023

Pol Roger Winston Churchill Champagne

Champagne

Pol Roger Winston Churchill: Statesman-Like Champagne    Since its creation, Pol Roger Winston Churchill Champagne has garnered widespread acclaim. This…

Written by Chris Kelly

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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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May 4 2023

Kavalan Distillery Profile

Whisky

Since producing its first spirit in 2006, Kavalan distillery in Taiwan has become one of the finest whisky producers in…

Written by Lena Bruning

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April 18 2023

Tasting report: Bordeaux 2000

Bordeaux

A review of 2000 Bordeaux with the Jeroboam Club tasting group in Bristol: Chateau Roc de Cambes 2000:  Absolutely on…

Written by Lena Bruning

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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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April 4 2023

Inglenook Rubicon – An Historic Napa, Now Resurgent

California

  In March 2023, a member of the Vinum UK team was fortunate to attend a tasting of the Inglenook…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 31 2023

The Port Ellen Distillery – A Sleeping Giant

Whisky

Of all the closed Scottish distilleries, the Port Ellen Distilleryis surely the most revered.   The Port Ellen Distillery has…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 21 2023

Karuizawa – An iconic closed distillery

Whisky

Karuizawa - Japan's Smallest Distillery, Closed in 2000 Founded in 1955, Karuizawa was known as the smallest distillery in Japan,…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 17 2023

Glenfiddich – Widely credited with creating the modern single malt Scotch whisky

Whisky

The Glenfiddich distillery sits in the glen of the River Fiddich on the northern edge of Dufftown in Speyside. It…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 16 2023

The Best of The Andes: A Trip to Zuccardi of Argentina and Chadwick of Chile

Argentina

In February of 2023, a lucky member of the team travelled to South America as a guest of importer Hatch…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 10 2023

Ardbeg – Distillery Profile

Whisky

Ardbeg: A peaty, smokey Scotch Whisky from Islay.   Located on the island of Islay. Ardbeg is renowned not just…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 10 2023

The Abreu 2018s – Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Of The Very Top Tier

California

In February this year, we were invited to taste the magnificent 2018s from Abreu courtesy of the UK importer, Pol…

Written by Chris Kelly

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March 8 2023

Launch Tasting: Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015

Champagne

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015 launch tasting with Didier Mariotti:   Very exciting tasting with Didier walking us through tasting…

Written by Lena Bruning

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March 2 2023

Profile On: The Dalmore Distillery

Whisky

The Dalmore Distillery Profile  Dalmore is a Highland distillery founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. In 1867, it was sold…

Written by Lena Bruning

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February 28 2023

Cheval Blanc Tasting

Bordeaux

On Wednesday this week, the Vinum UK team tasted through a range of wines from the Cheval Blanc stable with…

Written by Lena Bruning

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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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February 24 2023

Bowmore – Islay’s Oldest Distillery

Whisky

Bowmore Whisky: Profound and Collectable Scotch From Islay   The Bowmore whisky distillery is historic. It is believed to have…

Written by Chris Kelly

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February 15 2023

Yamazaki Whisky – From Japan’s Most Famous Whisky Distillery

Whisky

Yamazaki is Japan’s most famous whisky distillery. Located in Shimamoto in Osaka province, just outside of Kyoto, Yamazaki is Japan’s…

Written by Chris Kelly

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February 14 2023

The Best Wines Ever Made – A List of Some of the Finest Wines Ever Put Under cork

Wine

What are the best wines ever made? A recent team dinner brought up the question of what are the greatest…

Written by Chris Kelly

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February 13 2023

A Spectacular Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

California

Spottswoode’s wines are rightly revered. Among the finest reds made in the Napa Valley, these Cabernet Sauvignons have achieved cult…

Written by Chris Kelly

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February 7 2023

Glen Grant of Speyside – A Scotch Whisky Profile

Whisky

Glen Grant is located in the beautiful Speyside town of Rothes. It was founded by brothers John and James Grant…

Written by Chris Kelly

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February 6 2023

The View of The Critics on The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vintage

Italy

2018 Brunello di Montalcino. We are starting to see releases of the 2018 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany’s world-renowned…

Written by Chris Kelly

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February 2 2023

Springbank – A Unique Whisky Distillery

Whisky

Springbank, a name that evokes memories of the most unforgettable, gently smoky, incredibly complex drams for many whisky lovers. Located…

Written by Chris Kelly

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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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January 20 2023

The Macallan – Profile of a Scotch Whisky Icon

Whisky

The Macallan is synonymous not just with whisky, but with prestige and luxury across the globe.   Macallan is a…

Written by Chris Kelly

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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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December 22 2022

Dom Perignon – A Champagne Icon

Champagne

The most famous of Champagnes and one of the most recognisable brands on the planet, Dom Perignon is emblematic of…

Written by Chris Kelly

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December 16 2022

A Tasting of Dal Forno Amarone

Amarone

In November, I was treated to a tasting of Dal Forno Amarone and Valpolicella courtesy of the UK importer, Pol…

Written by Chris Kelly

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December 16 2022

Tasting At Taylors – The Lafite Of Portugal

Port

  Sometimes it takes a tasting at a winery, to remined you not just how special they are, but exactly…

Written by Chris Kelly

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November 24 2022

Annual Christmas Team Trip – Porto

Portugal

Day in Douro Valley: We took an early train through the beautiful valley to arrive at our first destination of…

Written by Lena Bruning

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October 14 2022

CVNE Rioja Trip – Chris Kelly

Rioja

Visit 1: CVNE’s Imperial Winery in Haro to Taste Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja Our visit commenced with lunch at CVNE’s…

Written by Lena Bruning

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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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