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Arden Fine Wines presents the BANNED 1993 Mouton label – UNEXPURGATED!  Decisions decisions… For its 1978 vintage – one of the better years of a bumpy decade for Bordeaux wine producers – Château Mouton Rothschild commissioned Montreal-born Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923-2002) … Continue reading

On 11th May 1853, Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild (1812-1870) – a member of the English branch of the family – signed the contract that made him proprietor of Château Brane-Mouton, together with 188 acres of vines in the parish of … Continue reading

“In my ongoing experience, 1963 Ports are unfailingly excellent  (assuming good condition and that a bottle hasn’t been stored next to an Aga for the past 50+ years…)” Like many Port wine producers, Mackenzie’s had Scottish origins. It was founded in … Continue reading

It was reported recently that rough sleeping is soaring in London, with over 1,700 more people on the streets than last year – a 21% rise, according to figures from the Greater London Authority (GLA). With resources so tight in these … Continue reading

The best Mouton between 1986 and 1995…?  After the difficult trio of 1991-1992-1993, the Bordelais winemakers were desperate for a successful vintage. Because of heavy frosts in April, the amount of grapes available to be harvested in 1994 was small. … Continue reading

Vega-Sicilia was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves at Valbuena de Duero, about 15 miles east of Valladolid in northwest Spain, and only a few hundred metres from the Duero river, which – if you head west for … Continue reading

“Hi Stuart, A slightly longer than usual newsletter. This reflects a busy third quarter to the project year. Much of which evolved around the September kit collections followed by the sorting and packing of an extraordinary amount of donated kit. … Continue reading

The 1985 Bordeaux winemaking year began with an exceptionally cold January, which (unlike 1956) didn’t damage the vineyards much (because the vines were dormant). Many château gardens were not so lucky. It was the driest September on record and hotter … Continue reading

The most distinguished of Mouton’s artist labels…? 🍷 It was a hot, dry year in Bordeaux’s wine regions in 1973. A lot of fermented grape juice was made: only 1979 produced more wine overall in the ’70s. The red wines … Continue reading

From my friend Vic Mills: “Hi Stuart, I reluctantly (bear with me on this) swap cricket for Copperfield and deep fine leg for Dickens with the following quote from Mr Wilkins Micawber: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds … Continue reading