The Wine Merchant's Blog

Times wine critic Jane MacQuitty recommends the following wines available at James Nicholson in her list of 50 best white wines for summer (25 June 2011): 2007 Domaine Bott Geyl Riesling, Les Éléments, France Jean-Christophe Bott is the man behind this arrestingly scented Alsace riesling. Made from grapes grown in the two communes of Riquewihrand […]

One of the best holidays I have ever had was a few years ago touring around New Zealand with my best friend in our hired camper van. Brilliant! I lived out there at the time and my friend came to visit so we decided to make the most out of our time and pack as […]

We are proud to say that four of our Australian wines have made it into the “Matthew Juke’s Top 100 Australian Wines 2011 list.” Matthew’s list is the result of extensive tasting over the last twelve months and it represents the finest one hundred Australian wines available on the shelves in the UK this year. […]

Chatting to a wine expert is more or less the same as getting into the back of a taxi – you spend the entire time trying not to ask one of the questions you know the driver has been asked a dozen times already that day. But, inevitably at some point your brain thinks about […]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AnSYHiH8pfU 9th May Arrived in to Beirut airport late where we were met by head of security and within five minutes had our bags and visas and being driven by Sami into town. Beirut is a city that doesn’t sleep so we dumped our bags at our hotel and had a beer in a near […]

Join us at Balloo House on Thursday 30th June and enjoy our celebration of Alsace. Danny Millar our head Chef spent a few years cooking in this area so he is very keen to highlight the culinary styles of the region. We have chosen a fantastic range of wines from James Nicholson’s extensive Alsace collection […]

Sami Ghosn, Massaya Winery 11th May Leisurely start to the day, Ramzi drove us to their other vineyards in Hadath on the way the very efficient and friendly Lebanese army stopped us at one of their numerous checkpoints to search our bags and check our passports. We made a brief stop to a hut on […]

I would love to tour around California in an open top car, visiting beautiful vineyards, tasting delicious wines, eating great food, soaking up the sunshine, camping on the beach and (why not?) having a go at surfing. Sunshine is a marvellous thing. I think it makes people more relaxed, the world appear more beautiful and […]

Jean Christoffe Bott with the welcoming Schnauzer Tuesday April 12th The journey from Zurich airport to Turckheim seems straightforward on the map but a series of ambushes by diversions and roadworks delays our arrival until 11.30pm and the bedraggled group of wine professionals, otherwise known as the JN Taste Team, suffer the indignity of a […]

Zind Humbrecht wines have always ranked high in the favourites list of JN staff, so a day with Olivier Humbrecht has been an eagerly anticipated event. The winery is based in the outskirts of Turckheim. It’s a modern building with lots of glass and class – it’s soon clear that we are in the presence […]

A Misty Morning , Bordeaux Evey year Christian Moueix releases many of his wines early, rather than waiting for the critics’ scores or watching other Chateaux. This year he has released the Chatueax below, some are the best value we have tasted from him. L’Hospitalet De Gazin 2010 Polished nose, almost fragrant and perfumed. A […]

Chateau Bouscaut Part One When I was younger, so much younger than today, I used to buy the latest Beatles album knowing I wouldn’t be disappointed. That’s really a bit like the wines from the2009 vintage in Bordeaux – they will give a lifetime of enjoyment – and having re-tasted quite a few in the […]