Greg's Tasting Diary

Welcome to where you can keep track of my tasting schedule from around the wine drinking world.

October 2006

My first harvest with an exciting up and coming producer, Domaine Dublere in Burgundy. Swimming in a vat of Charmes Chambertin 2006.

Wines of South Africa annual tasting, 250th anniversary of the demarcation of the Douro Port tasting, Union of Grand Crus Bordeaux 2004 tasting, Domaine Georges Roumier vertical tasting, Bodegas Montecillo Rioja vertical tasting, Single Quinta Port masterclass with David Guimarens, 146th Hospices de Beaune Pre-Sale Wine Tasting.

September 2006

Highlights include a 7 day trip to the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer and Rheingau. Attend the VDP auctions to taste the great 2005 vintage.

Visit the great producers of Mosel, Saar and Rheingau. Extensive tastings at Ernst Loosens in Bernkastel, Sophia Thanisch in Kues and Georg Breur in Rudesheim. Visit Geltz-Zilliken, Peter Lauer, Mueller-Scharzhof, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Schloss Saarstein, St. Urbanshof, Von Hoevel, Van Othegraven and Van Volxem in the Saar.

Visit Ehnen Wine museum in Luxembourg to taste 20 Riesling producers. Trade tastings in London of Rioja, Napa annual tasting, South African Cape Wine makers Guild, Annual Wines of Chile tasting, Annual Wines of Argentina tasting and various portfolio tastings.

July 2006

27 July: I host a tasting for 320 guests at Australia House, London. We taste twelve fine wines from France and Australia, to explore what these great wine regions have in common, as well as their differences. Wines tasted:

Larmandier-Bernier “ Terre Vertus” Non dose Champagne
Domaine Chandon: Green point ZD (Zero Dosage) 2002

Grosset: Polish Hill Riesling 2005
Maison Trimbach Riesling Cuvee "Frederic Emile" 2003

Leeuwin Estate: Art Series Chardonnay 2001
Patrick Javillier Meursault "Tete de Murgers" 2000

Chateau Cos-d'Estournel St Estephe 2eme Cru Classe 1995
Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth 2001

Domaine Michel Ogier Cote-Rotie 2000
Clonakilla: Canberra District Shiraz/Viognier 2004

Chateau Coutet 1er cru Barsac 1997
De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon "Noble One" 1996

June 2006

14 June: 19th Riesling Wine Tasting of GROSSER RING VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.

20 June: 8th Annual Definitive Italian Wine Tasting.

May 2006

3 May: Consorzio del Brunello, Great Brunello Tasting.

5 May: 7 Continents tasting with Hugh Cuthbertson.

9 May: Cave de Pyrenes Italian tasting.

10 May: The New Douro. A tasting of Douro 2004 table wines and Vintage Port.

16-18 May: London International Wine and Spirit Fair. Phil Williamson wins the Louis Roederer award for best annual wine book " Wine behind the Label".

23 May:" Italy Today, Italy Tomorrow" conference.

25 May: Stone, Vine & Sun- Press Tasting.

April 2006

3 April-7 April: Bordeaux 2005 En Primeur tastings.

3 April: Charles Metcalfe and Derek Smedley meet me at St Emilion Station. UGCB press tasting of 28 Sauternes and Barsac tasted blind at Chateau Coutet. Next stop is Ch.Yquem, where I enjoy 2 glasses. We drive onto Ch. Climens to meet Robert Joseph for an amazing barrel selection tour of the 11 lots that will make up Climens 2005. Climens vertical follows with the 2001 being out of this world.

4 April: Thunevin mega tasting in Saint Emillion. Good chat with Jean Luc Thunevin about Valandraud. Supper in Libourne.

5 April: Ch Brane Cantenac for excellent UGCB Margaux tasting. Next stop is Ch Haut Bages Liber al for the UGCB St Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estephe tastings. Chateau Lafite Rothschild with Charles Metcalfe and Derek Smedley. Calon-Segur in Saint Estephe. Cru Bourgeois group tasting at “Biturica” hosted at Chateau Cambon La Pelouse.

6 April: 8 am: Liborne Quay on a crisp blue sky morning. I go in and am greeted warmly by Christian Mouiex and his team. I start on the 16 wine line up as Charles, Derek and Robert Joseph arrive as well as Anthony Rose, Jancis et al. The great highlight is the Petrus 2005 which is a 100 point phenomenon. Trotanoy at 98 is total flamboyance. A great tasting. 9.30-10.15 Cheval Blanc-with Pierre Lurton. 10.45: UGCB Saint Emilion trade tasting at Ch. Grand Mayne. 3.15 Clos Eglise tasting; 3.45 for Eglise Clinet; 16.15- Le Pin with Fiona Morrison; 16.45-Vieux Ch Certan; 17.00 UGCB Pomerol tasting at Chateau Gazin, 17.50 Chateau Pavie group tasting, 18.30 La Grappe at Ch. Rol Valentine for Stephane Derononcourt wines. Crawl back to Bordeaux at 9pm.

7 April: 9 am-Chateau Haut-Brion. One of the greatest and most enjoyable tastings of my life.Both La Mission Haut Brion and Haut Brion 2005 are staggering wines. UGCB Press tasting Graves and Pessac-Leognan with Charles and Derek at L’arrivet Haut Brion. TGV to Toulouse and fly to London.

17-26 April: Vancouver and Las Vegas. Private tastings.

March 2006

1 March: Specialist Importers Trade Tastings.

2 March: The Wines of Gaja and Sassicaia, Italian Embassy, London.

6 March: OW Loeb-Spring Portfolio and Rhone 2004 tasting.

7 March: Fields, Morris & Verdin-Grand Burgundy Tasting; Hungarian Annual Wine Tasting.

8 March: 17th Annual Wines from Spain Trade Fair

14 March: Wines of Portugal-Annual Trade Tasting; GH Mumm 2005 Vins Clair Champagne tasting with Dominique Demarvelle.

15 March: Champagne Information Bureau annual tasting.

16 March: The Merano Wine Festival in London at La Doca Vita.

19 March: Travel to Beaune in Burgundy for " Les Grand jours de Bourgogne" 20-25 March.

20 March: • Les Portes D’or-Chablis at BIVB Maisons des Vins, Petit Pontigny, 1 Rue de Chichee 89800 Chablis. Tasting of en Primeur 2005 William Fevre entire Chablis range. Dinner and tasting at Restaurant Les Grand Crus, Chablis.

21 March: • 9-11 Carrefour de Dionysus Degustation professionelle at “Cellier Dioynsis” 21220 Morey-Saint-Denis. • 11-12.30 “Degustation des Grands Crus Morey Saint Denis” Restaurant du Castel des Tres Girard.• 13.00-17.30 Vosne Millesime-Noblesse des Clos Vougeot at Cellier du Chateau de Clos Vougeot. 21640 Vougeot. • 20.00 “Bourgognes et Saveurs du Monde” at Chateau de Savigny les Beaune.

22 March: • Symphonie Maconnaise at Nouvelles Caves des Hospices de Beaune, Avenue des Stades, 21200 Beaune. 130 wines tasted. En Primeur tasting of 2005 Bouchard Pere et Fils range at Savigny. Dinner at Bouchard Pere cellars.

23 March: 9.30-3 pm: Grands Jours de DIVA , hosted at Maison Champy, Beaune. 3 pm-Tasting of Blair Pethels Domaine Dublere wines at Premeaux; 7 pm: Grand Maisons Grand Cru dinner at Chateau des Clos Vougeot. 150th anniversary celebration of Syndicat des Negociants en vins de Bourgogne. Blind tasting of 80 Grand Cru white and red Burgundies from 2003 and 1996.Grand Cru Burgundy served with dinner from 1996, 1986, 1976 and 1966.

24 March: 10-2.pm“Terroirs de Corton” 4 different caves at 21550, Ladoix Serrigny. 2 pm-4pm: “Volnay elegance" in Volnay. 5pm-drive to Eric Forest's cellar in Pouilly-Fuisse to taste his amazing wines.

25 March: "Trinquee de Mersault", Cuverie du Domaine JACQUES PRIEUR, 21190 Mersault. Up to Nuits Saint George for Vente de Vin wine fair. Dinner at “L’auberge du Vieux Vignerons” in Corpeau near Puligny-Montrachet.

28 March: Perrier Joet “Belle Epoque” 1998 new vintage tasting-Floral hall, Royal Opera House, London.

February 2006

1 February: Wines of Australia

2 February: Spain "New Wave Wines" with Alvario Palacios.

7 February: Enotria Winecellars annual tasting.

9 February: Austrian Annual Trade Tasting.

15 February: Wines of Portugal 50 Great Value Wines; M. Chapoutier Sélections Parcellaires 2004 Masterclass.

21 February: Italy‘s Alto Adige-Presentation & Tasting; Great Western Wine Rhone 2004 Tasting.

28 February: Mentzendorff-Portfolio tasting including Loire Valley Chenin Blanc masterclass. Louis Latour annual tasting.

January 2006

9 January: Howard Ripley Burgundy 2004 tasting-67 wines tasted.

10 January: 139 wines tasted. O.W. Loeb & Company - 2004 Burgundy Tasting-51 wines; Tanners Wines Ltd - Bunch Tasting -11 wines tasted, Haynes Hanson and Clarke-40 wines tasted, Berry Bros and Rudd-34 wines tasted.

11 January: 147 wines tasted. Charles Taylor Wines - 2004 Burgundy Tasting-74 wines; John E Fells & Sons Ltd-33 wines; Justerini and Brooks Burgundy 2004 tasting-40 wines.

12 January: 78 wines tasted. Sopexa UK- Bourgogne Institute BIVB Trade Tasting 2004 vintage-35 wines. Lay and Wheeler 2004 Burgundy tasting-43 wines.

16 January: Louis Jadot 2004 En Primeur Tasting-37 wines.

17 January: New Zealand Annual Trade Tasting-64 wines.

18 January: Richards Walford Portfolio Tasting-61 wines.

19 January: Michael Druitt/ Hallgarten Wines Portfolio Tasting-37 wines. Mayfair cellars January trade tasting-26 wines.

23 January: Bibendum Wines Annual Tasting.

31 January: Hayman Barwell Jones Ltd-Wine Fair.

2005 Tasting highlights

November 2005

Charles Heidsieck & Piper-Heidsieck Champagnes with Winemaker Régis Camus. First Great Friuli Wine Tasting.

October 2005

John Armit Wines-Annual trade tasting; Armagnac Showcase; Wines of South Africa-Annual tasting; Goedhuis & Company Portfolio tasting; Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2004 tasting;

September 2005

The New Douro - A Tasting of table wines and Vintage Ports from 2003; Corney & Barrow Agency Tasting 2005, Napa Valley Vintners Trade & Media Tasting; Wines of South Africa Cape Winemakers Guild Tasting at South Africa House; O.W. Loeb & Company Ltd Autumn Portfolio Tasting; Alliance Wine Annual Portfolio Tasting; Wines of Chile Annual Trade Tasting; Liberty Wines trade tasting; Coonawarra Road Show; Wines of Argentina.

May 2005

Australian Wine Bureau RSVP Australia; "Winebarrels" Champagne tasting; London International Wine and Spirit Fair.

April 2005

7-11 April "Vinitaly", Verona, Italy. Highlight is attending "Summa 2005" at Alois Lageder's medieval castle in Magre, Alto Adige. Meet the cream of Italian, Germany and Austrian wine making in one venue. An incredible tasting and great dining. Hilarious night at Bottega del Vigne in Verona. Various tastings and dinners in Piedmont.

Castilla La Mancha - The New Face of Spain; Wines from Spain Importers Fair; Justerini & Brooks Fine Italian Tasting; Charles Taylor Wines Ltd 2004 Bordeaux En Primeur.

March 2005

Louis Latour‘s Spring Tasting of Portfolio Wines; Wines from Spain Exporters Fair 2005; Hungarian Food & Wine Bureau tasting, Federation of Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Producers; Famous Five Burgundy Tasting; Wine Institute of California-Annual California Wine Tasting; Champagne Information Bureau-2005 Annual Champagne Tasting; Loire Wines “the great & the good"; Wines of Chile retailers fair.

February 2005

Australia day tastings, Sardinian wine tasting; Bibendum Annual tasting; Annual tasting of Austrian wines; Languedoc Roussilion tasting.

January 2005

Haynes Hanson and Clark 2003 Burgundy tasting; Bibendum 2003 Burgundy tasting; Charles Taylor 2003 Burgundy tasting; Justerini and Brooks 2003 Burgundy tasting; Howard Ripley 2003 Burgundy tasting, BIVB 2003 Burgundy tasting; New Zealand annual trade tasting; Richards Walford Portfolio tasting; OW Loeb 2003 Burgundy tasting; HBJ Annual trade tasting.