The Wine Merchant's Blog

Bodega Monte Pedroso is a small family bodega (winery) set up in 2000 which is dedicated to crafting wines of fine and high quality. The bodega is situated in a village called La Seca, located in the province of Valladolid within the Rueda Controlled Name of Origin. The Rueda name includes terrains spanning the provinces […]

“The 2010 vintage IS an exceptional year for red, and harks back to such great years as 2000, 1990, 1986, 1961, and may be even 1929, but the wines are made with much more precision in the vineyard and cellar giving them a more polished character than historic vintages. The young wines have such beauty […]

Pinot Grigio is a classic Italian white wine. It’s delicate, light and dry and doesn’t have a strong flavour so it’s easy to like. So if you feel like trying something new what about one of these…? Safe Options: Soave E.g. Soave Classico Pra, Gavi E.g. Mauro Sebaste Gavi, Pinot Gris E.g.Forrest Pinot Gris or […]

Château Boutisse 2008, St Émilion Grand Cru The Milhade family acquired Château Boutisse in 1996 but for consumers 2005 is a more important date to remember. This was the year the quality of the wine began distinctly to improve. It was also the year Xavier Milhade took on sole ownership and his son, Marc, the […]

Chardonnay encompasses such a wide variety of styles and flavours that it’s hard to pin down a quintessential ‘Chardonnay-ness’ that you may want to emulate in other wines. The wine speaks of where it was grown – Chardonnay from Chablis is a world away from its Californian cousins but whether it’s the leaner more mineral […]

Probably my favourite thing about working in the wine industry is the people I get to meet. I love meeting winemakers and grape growers and hearing their stories and philosophies and discovering their passion for their craft. For exactly these reasons, it was a treat to meet Johan Reyneke at our Merchant Tasting in March. […]

The JN Taste team are an optimistic bunch. This helps (a lot!) when it comes to the Irish summer season. Whether it be in our own gardens in the sunshine or at outdoor events huddled under an umbrella, one hobby we all partake in is leisurely summer drinking. Due to their popularity last year we […]

James Nicholson Wine Merchant has been highlighted as one of 11 of the best in speciality shops the UK by The Times Shop Local Campaign! Buying food at local, independent stores isn’t a fad. It’s a great way to support your local community, get to know shopkeepers and learn more about the things that you eat. […]

“2010 Bordeaux are very interesting wines, not as opulent and generous as 2009, but more structured and defined. The best display a similar balance of ripe tannins and freshness to the superb wines of 2005. There are many good wines and some great, with price tags to match. However, if you would like to secure […]

Echo de Lynch Bages, Pauillac £295 / €329 per 12 bottles Second wine of Château Lynch Bages“A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 9% CabernetFranc, the Deuxieme Vin of Lynch Bages has blackberry, wild hedgerow and a touch of tobacco on the nose. Good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe, succulent […]

Château Providence, Pomerol £395 / €435 per 6 bottles “Bright crimson. Very rich and sweet – something of the pâtissière on the nose here. Broad and very polished with a savoury meaty undertow. Pretty interesting wine with some intensity but real savour. Muscular sheen to it. A more aerienne Pomerol than many. Long. 17 pts. […]

Château Suduiraut, Sauternes £275 / €315 per 6 bottles £295 / €340 per 12 half bottles “Mid pale gold. Broad and rich and fresh but with very ripe pear juice notes. There is real weight here. Much less citrus peel than most other 2010 Sauternes. Real race. Dangerously delicious now. Long. Super clean. Medium to […]