March 2014

Chénas Les Carrières Domaine 2011 wine

Young bloods challenge our perception of French winemakers

PICTURE French winemakers and what do you see? Veterans. Wisps of white hair blowing in a warm breeze. Soil brushed off gnarled hands and a grape taken firmly but gently between Gauloises-stained fingers. A face the colour of Red Rum’s saddle bags turned upwards to the life-giving sun….  well that’s what I see. And of […]

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Wine review: McGuigan Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2013

McGuigan’s winemakers use grapes from south Australian vineyards for its reserve range. The small print: South Australia – 12% abv – Grape: sauvignon blanc – Buy: Tesco  –  Price:  £9.99  – screwcap – 2013 – Tasted Feb 23 2014 – Drink in 1 year of purchase Food matches Salt and pepper squid, seafood paella, green

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Rosé Royal Pinot Noir Spumante, Giacomo Montresor mother's day wine

Mother’s Day wine: Choices for mum’s special day

SOME people can’t  stand Mother’s Day. I  mean they love their mum,  but they can’t stand leaving the house for the so-called  “treat”. Over-booked  restaurants, under-cooked  food and poor old mum  trying to pretend it’s the  best time she‘s had since the grand final of The X  Factor. The alternative is staying  in –  cook

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My attempt at cooking John Torode's green curry barbecue chicken with matching Mcguigan wines

John Torode launches recipe collection with McGuigan Wines

JOHN TORODE is now one of  this country’s most popular  celebrity chefs. Only last week he  launched his new cookery  programme Australia. But he also comes from a part of  Australia which is the oldest  wine-making region on that vast  continent, the Hunter Valley. So it should come as no surprise  that he has been

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John Torode's green curry barbecue chicken with matching Mcguigan wines.

Celebrity chef John Torode speaks of his love for food and wine

Celebrity chef and Masterchef presenter John  Torode has created an exclusive recipe collection alongside McGuigan Wines, with winemaker Neil McGuigan offering wine pairing suggestions. To mark the collection, John Torode answered some of my questions about wine and food.   The questions and answers ….

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Mirabeau Côtes de ProvenceRosé 2013

Wine Press: Fairtrade Fortnight and a sparkling nod to the Oscars

IT’S Fairtrade Fortnight.  I want to embrace  wines which carry the Fairtrade stamp of approval and are born out of such a worthy cause; but I do so with  mixed results. The Fairtrade Foundation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) explains it has  several missions; “better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and

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