It has been a relatively quiet spring as regards events, but commencing in October we expect to announce a series of tastings and dinners to be held over the winter months.

I will be travelling to Europe for much of July to taste and hopefully purchase a number of new wines, focusing on Austria and Bordeaux. As we will be short staffed for this period I have decided to CLOSE for retail orders from 27th June to 3rd August and therefore if you desperately need your favourite wine over the next month I would suggest ordering immediately. Otherwise many of the wines are available at Miles Market.

Travels this year took me to California where we visited Deerfield Ranch, Merry Edwards and a new house, Walter Hansel Winery. The latter, based in the Russian River Valley, produces some lovely pinot noir and chardonnay and I will be bringing in some of their 2005 and 2006 wines later in the year.

Merry Edwards has just completed construction of a new winery and is going from strength to strength, with her last two vintages of sauvignon blanc getting 92 points (2005) and 93 points (2006) respectively from the Wine Spectator. We carry the 2006 in both full and half bottles.

Robert and PJ at Deerfield Ranch were also on good form. The winery and caves are now finished and they are about to open to the public. Their Cabernet Sauvignon and more of the brilliant 2002 ‘Ladi’ Syrah will be available next month.

The price list online should be updated any day now. You will notice some price increases, mainly caused by higher shipping costs and the weak dollar. For great value I would suggest looking at the range of Loire reds which will provide wonderful drinking, slightly chilled, over the summer months.

The focus of my buying will be on more elegant wines and grape varieties as I find the heaviness and increased alcohol of some of today’s examples very tiresome.

So enjoy your summer and we will look forward to an interesting autumn and winter season of events.

John M. Sharpe
June 2008