The Scottish government stands accused today of punishing Scottish consumers and businesses with its proposed Alcohol Bill published today, whilst doing little to tackle the root causes of alcohol misuse.
Geodis Calberson is looking to extend its distribution service to the UK drinks industry with a dedicated Geodis Wine Logistics division.
On-trade customers are being given the chance to buy Vintage Champagne for the price of Non-Vintage in a deal being offered by Matthew Clark.
Read more...Sunday Times
A fear of heights put paid to Bob Tryer's youthful dreams of becoming a paratrooper. So he finds the experience of descending a near-vertical vineyard in the Mosel in a "flimsy, rackety, terrifying" monorail somewhat trying.
But it was almost worth it, he says, to sample Clemens Busch's new-wave German Rieslings.
The Buschs are based in the vinously unfashionable village of Pünderich in the Mosel but produce what Tryer considers to be inspired wines through hard work and "a touch of bio-dynamic mystery".
"His bottles are not cheap, but the aromas of sandalwood and flashes of fennel make these rare, dry, pure, minerally wines something quite out of the ordinary in Britain," says Tryer, who recommends Dr Loosen Urziger Würzgarten 2008 (£12.49) from Waitrose.
The Times
Thinking no one will notice if you empty that dusty old bottle of brandy into your Christmas pudding? Think again, says Jane MacQuitty, who warns "cheapskates" that spirits, including brandies and liqueurs, all discolour with time and lose their flavour.
Rather than a "cheap, fiery, oaky French brandy, with its varnishy flavours that taste even worse once it has been set alight", she suggests Torres 10 Year Old Gran Reserva (Waitrose, £12.99), which has a "heavy yet smooth, raisiny taste" and coconut finish from ageing in American oak.
Or maybe a French cognac such as H by Hine, "with its fine, spicy, floral, silky style (Tanners, £22.80; Waitrose, down to £18.99 from December 2).
Observer
Atkin is heralding the resurrection of Oddbins after what he thinks is its best press tasting for seven years.
He says the company has purged itself of the "backlog of rubbish" from Castel, and replaced them with some "first-rate purchases" among its 400 new wines.
He finds the return of small parcels, from which Oddbins takes its name, and a willingness to list more ambitious and unusual bottles particularly encouraging. And customers are responding, say Atkins, with the average bottle price now up to a "very respectable £7.67".
He recommends trying the "pear and apple fruity" Godello Alma de Blanco Moneterrei 2008 (£8.99), and "fresh, subtle, Burgundian-style" Cono Sur 20 Barrels Chardonnay, Casablanca 2007 (£13.99).
Financial Times
On the upside, a washout 2008 vintage in the Rhône means less savage tannins leave Jancis Robinson's teeth less "disgustingly black" after a tasting. But she's left with little else to wax lyrical about.
The "decidedly muted" wines - a result of a rainy 2008 in both the north and south - even left Robinson thinking some southern producers "just rolled over and let the shortcomings of the vintage wash over them and their wines".
Highlights come from biodynamic producer Chapoutier, who might have found the "magic formula for making unusually dense, healthy, vibrant wines in 2008", says Robinson, while Michel Tardieu of Tardieu-Laurent, based in the Lubéron, made an "uncannily supple" and "completely atypical red Hermitage", which she found lovely.
Her conclusion from the 2008 tasting? Sensible buyers will "stock up on the exceptional 2007s while they wait for the eagerly anticipated 2009s".
Guardian
Victoria Moore is delighting in what she reckons is the best sub-£5 wine she's tasted all year: the "easygoing" Languedocan Les Crouzes Old Vines Carignan Alain Grignon Wines 2008 (£4.99, The Co-op).
But what's tickling her most about this "unboring multitasker" is that it's made from Carignan - a grape she describes as funny and underated, but unfortunately often the base for bad wines made in the south of France from high-yielding, under-ripe fruit.
She says Gringon's wine is different. "It doesn't have the dirt and dust of an old-school Vin de Pays - instead, it treads a middle way. It's a lucid, modern wine with character", with 40-year-old vines helping to add "depth and detail".
Another good one, she thinks, is La Différence Carignan 2008 Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (£5.48, Tesco). "Also a modern incarnation, with an open structure and a spreading, brambly taste reminiscent of primitivo."
Market research organisation Mintel has predicted the US wine market will increase by 2.1% by the end of 2009.
Read more...Scotch single-malt whisky must be bottled in Scotland, while terms such as 'pure malt' and 'vatted malt' are now a thing of the past, thanks to a number of new laws introduced today (Mon 23) by the UK government.
Read more...The Irish Wine Association has called on the country's government to cut excise duty by 20% after official figures showed a 10.9% drop in sales in the year-to-date.
Foster's EMEA is to use the Clothes Show Live consumer fair in a bid to build awareness for its Pink sparkling rosé wine brand among young women.
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Dragons Den entrepreneur, Peter Jones, is looking to attract one million people to his new online wine club and retail site, www.gondola.co.uk in its first year.
First Quench administrator KPMG has announced that a further 381 stores are to close.
Read more...Imbuko Wines from South Africa won the Overall Fairtrade Wine of the Year, sponsored by Harpers Wine & Spirit, at yesterday's Fairtrade Wine Competition in London.
Read more...Scotch whisky adverts and point of sale material are to carry a responsible drinking message which will be seen across the EU.
Read more...New laws governing the production of malt whisky in Scotland will make the industry less competitive and less environmentally friendly, according to Loch Lomond Distillery.
Read more...Morrisons is cutting the cost of some Champagnes to below half price, including Bollinger at £17.95.
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Jane MacQuitty, The Times wine critic, has strongly criticised the standard of a Which? magazine Champagne tasting that voted a Sainsbury's non-vintage own label brand as its runners-up.
Read more...The independent charity, Drinkaware has hit back at recent research that claims alcohol can lower heart disease in men by almost a third.
Tsuru, a Japanese restaurant behind the Tate Modern is to host a tasting of Japanese whisky on Tuesday November 24. Jen Dickson, an expert in Japanese whisky will guide guests through a range of whiskies from world-renowned producers Nikka and Suntory.
Read more...Luca Gardini from Ristorante Cracco, Milan is the winner of The Best European Sommelier Competition 2009- organised by the Worldwide Sommelier Association.
Read more...Lea & Sandeman has become the sixth member to join the The Bunch group of independent wine merchants.
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