The Wine Merchant's Blog

Château St. Jacques d’Albas is situated in the Minervois, within the Languedoc region in the South of France.  Nestled in the hills behind the medieval city of Carcassonne. To the North are the Black mountains, to the Southeast the Mediterranean ocean, and the snow peaked Pyrénées rise to the South. St. Jacques’ rich history stretches […]

“I don’t like Chardonnay…do you have any Chablis?” This is a phase that many wine merchants have probably heard a million times or more, and many people are both amazed and puzzled when we inform them that Chablis is, in fact made from Chardonnay. This is not an uncommon occurrence; many people claim to love […]

We are delighted to introduce three exciting new wines from Spain.  These white wines offer an interesting alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.  You may have seen these varietals on your summer holidays and now you can enjoy them at home.   Altos de Torona Albariño 2016 Aged 6 months on lees. A lovely young […]

Often over shadowed by the more well-known grapes, such as Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot Noir, Grenache is a grape that is unjustifiably ignored by many, mostly newer, wine drinkers. This is a real shame, as Grenache makes some phenomenal wines. Also known as Garnacha in Spain (where it likely originated), Grenache is found in Rioja […]

There is much confusion between these two wines. They sound a lot alike but are completely different. Both are white wines from France, but from different regions and made from different grape varieties, one from Sauvignon Blanc and the other from Chardonnay.   Pouilly Fumé (Pooay Foo-may) What is it? It is a white wine […]

It’s natural for us as consumers to look for the highest quality of produce for the best possible price. In our increasingly globalised world it has become easier than ever for us to buy wine from all corners of the globe for little over £5 a bottle, as supermarkets and other retailers compete for our […]

What is a ‘drinking window’? A fine wine will have an optimum period of time when it is judged to be at the peak of maturity and therefore ideal for drinking.  This is known as the wine’s drinking window. What is wrong with drinking a wine outside of this window? Fine wines, particularly the red […]

Pairing Red Wines with Steak When it comes to pairing wine with steak, the two most important things to keep in mind are fat and tannin. The higher the fat content in the steak, the more tannin you need to help break down the protein. If you pair a low tannin red with a fatty […]

What are low alcohol wines? We are seeing a small but growing trend of people seeking wines lower in alcohol. If you are trying to ease off on the alcohol consumption for health reasons, looking for something light to bring to the lunch-time table, or just want to lower the chances of a sore head […]

Nothing enlivens the palate or the soul quite as well as bubbles. A love of fizz is a love of effervescence, both in drinking and in life. We admit that there is something magical about Champagne, a sensation of elegance and indulgence that is a genuine treat. But there is a world of alternatives that […]

Wine has a sense of place and has the ability to transport you to its origin, to the land on which the grapes grew and to the people who harvested the grapes, pressed them and saw the finished product through to its bottle. And then that bottle ends up in your kitchen here in sunny […]

Tokaji is one of those wine styles you learn about on wine courses and read about in books but perhaps have never encountered face to face. Well, now’s your chance as this month’s newest arrival is a Hungarian classic with a modern twist. Up until now the JN taste team have barely ventured further east […]