News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The Daily Mail

Published: 23 July, 2008

'This week's WOW' from MATTHEW JUKES is 2005 Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape (5.99; Asda, Oddbins, Sainsbury's) - 'a wickedly refreshing wine'.

The Sunday Telegraph

Published: 23 July, 2008

If you're looking for a wine to go with bruschetta of red pepper and goat's cheese, GILES KIME says you can't go far wrong with 2005 Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc (7.99; Majestic).

RICHARD EHRLICH pays a visit to the retail giants and comes away with a festive medley from each. A good white from Marks & Spencer is 2004 Pouilly-Fuiss (9.99), while one of Ehrlich's favourite reds from Tesco is 2001 Chteau Martin (6.99, down from 9.99).

The Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

JANE MacQUITTY goes up a price bracket into the 'under-12' range and recommends her Christmas selection.

The Sunday Express

Published: 23 July, 2008

JAMIE GOODE gets friendly with the environment, saying, 'The number of organic wines, made by people who care about the diversity of life in their vineyards, is on the up.' His 'clear-conscience' tipples include 2004 Carmen Nativa Chardonnay, Maipo (7.99; Oddbins, Booths) and 2004 Chapoutier Ctes du Rhne (6.49; Waitrose).

The Sunday Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

You might be able to take Christmas out of Port, but

The Daily Mail

Published: 23 July, 2008

MATTHEW JUKES's wine of the week is 2004 Zamora Zinfandel, Lodi, California (6.99; M&S). He also recommends 2005 Stormhoek Pinot Grigio, South Africa (5.99; Harrogate Fine Wine), 2003 Seghesio Barbera, North Coast, California (19.45; George Hill of Loughborough, Liberty Wines, Valvona & Crolla of Edinburgh), 2004 The Storm, Reserve Sangiovese/

Financial Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

'Australia is alone in how seriously it takes wine marketing,' says JANCIS ROBINSON MW. The University of Adelaide has 600 students in its wine business and marketing school, compared to 10 students in the MBA course run by the University of Bordeaux, she reports. But while the clever Australians have 'seen their global market share zoom skywards over the past decade', there's no longer enough jobs for the growing multitude of wine-marketing graduates. Robinson talks to one such graduate, Jennifer Lynch, who has brought her skills to Britain, 'where there is a desperate need for more marketing expertise in the wine business'. When asked what could be done for French wines, Lynch suggests: 'De-mystify! Adding things like back labels and better labelling in general will help them enormously.'

The Daily Telegraph

Published: 23 July, 2008

JONATHAN RAY is really struggling: 'I've almost run out of goodwill to all men and we're not even there yet.'

The Guardian

Published: 23 July, 2008

With the party season in full swing, VICTORIA MOORE picks out some festive winners, pointing out that 'you can get a very decent bottle of still wine for the price of the cheapest bubbly'. Among her suggestions are 2005 Knappstein Hand Picked Riesling (6.99, or 5.99 when you buy two; Majestic) and 2004 La Serrana Tempranillo, Vino de la Tierra Castilla y Leon (2.99; Majestic). Or if you must stick to sparkling, a 'ridiculously good deal' is Duval-Leroy Premier Cru Fleur de Champagne (13.99, down from 20.99 until 8 January 2006; Waitrose).

The Independent

Published: 23 July, 2008

It's tradition versus science for ANTHONY ROSE this week, as he reports on events from the recent harvest. Technology is

The Observer

Published: 23 July, 2008

'I taste a lot of rubbish so that you don't have to,' says TIM ATKIN MW. Out of the 10,000 wines he tastes per year, Atkin reckons that only 500 are worth a second look. And although there might be a couple of good ones that slip through the net, Atkin maintains his customary modesty: 'I am generally a

The Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

GILES KIME suggests a few food-and-wine matches, such as 2004 Cono Sur Pinot Noir (4.99; Sainsbury's) with teriyaki salmon and sesame noodles.

The Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

JANE MacQUITTY selects her choice of the best 25 wines for under 8, including 2004 Mcon Ig, La Crepillionne Chardonnay, Domaine Fichet (6.95; Stone, Vine & Sun) and 2003 Icardi Barbera d'Asti, Tabaren, Cave Pierino (7.99; Oddbins).

The Observer

Published: 23 July, 2008

NIGEL SLATER admits that he finds 'some, if not most, pontificating on wine and food "marriages" somewhat unconvincing'. He gives TIM ATKIN MW one lunchtime to change his mind. The savoury highlight is baked red mullet with preserved lemons, served with 2005 Kaituna Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Malborough (6.79; Marks & Spencer). While the sweetest sweet thing is mincemeat and apple tart with 2003 Mission Hill

The Sunday Express

Published: 23 July, 2008

JAMIE GOODE is well aware that 'brandy suffers from a somewhat fusty reputation these days'. But he's keen to buck the trend and

Financial Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

'I hate tasting wine in public,' confesses JANCIS ROBINSON MW, following the seventh annual Pol Roger Business School Alumni Blind Wine Tasting Challenge. One of the offending wines was a 'red Champy 2003 Pernand Vergelesses that I for one would have taken for a particularly exuberant Rioja'. The factual quiz was just as taxing as the tasting for those who didn't know that Winston Churchill is likely to have had around 42,000 bottles of Pol Roger opened for him between 1908 and 1965. 'Pol Roger is now branching out and clearly hoping to establish itself as the leader in the field of blind wine tasting sponsorship,' notes Robinson.

The Sunday Times

Published: 23 July, 2008

For good or bad, 'Italian red wines have gradually become riper, softer, fruitier and more New World in style', says JOANNA SIMON. For an example from Chianti, try 2003 Badia a Coltibuono (9.99; Tesco). Simon's wine of the moment, however, is 2003 Tortoise Hill Red, South Africa: 'an unusual but delicious blend' of Zinfandel, Shiraz, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Moving on to spirits, her top choice is Reyka Vodka (15.99-19.99; Harvey Nichols, Peckham's).

The Independent

Published: 23 July, 2008

ANTHONY ROSE also has Australia on the brain: 'Australian wine is squaring up to French at every level,' he asserts. He predicts that 'over the coming year, Shiraz is likely to remain the dominant force in Australian wine', while 'Cabernet from Margaret River and Coonawarra should stage a comeback'. Rose's top weekend wine to 'splash out' on is 2003 Hewitson Old Garden Mourvdre, Barossa Valley (16.95, or 15.25 each bought as a case; Berry Bros & Rudd).

The Daily Mail

Published: 23 July, 2008

MATTHEW JUKES goes red and gets serious with his own take on a few good-value winter warmers. Among his favourites are 2003 Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Shiraz (6.49; Sainsbury's) and 2005 Diemersfontein Pinotage (7.99; Waitrose). Although,