There are few more distinctive properties in the Sauternes and Barsac appellations than Climens.

Having spent paragraph after paragraph and page after page exploring the Tuscan wine universe, covering everything from Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino through to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the wines of the Tuscan Coast, most of which feature Sangiovese in one form or another, we might be forgiven for thinking that – apart from a few Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines planted around Bolgheri – there is absolutely nothing to Tuscany beyond Sangiovese. On the one hand this is not entirely untrue; there is no denying the fact that this variety is totally dominant here; within the whole of Italy it accounts for more than 10% of all vineyards, and many of these vines lie within Tuscany’s borders, where the variety goes not just by its own name but also a number of pseudonyms including Brunello, Prugnolo Gentile and Morellino.

The history of Château Coutet dates back to the 13th century, hundreds of years before anyone even dreamt of planting vines on the then-marshy, now-prosperous Médoc. Some parts of the château (pictured below) date from that period, as is obvious from even the briefest examination of the property; these parts have thick walls of stone, towers and defensive castellations. Out among the northern plots of the vineyard sits a dovecot which towers above the vines (pictured further down the page), also obviously ancient, dating from the same era

After months of last-minute victories and dramatic meltdowns, the Super Bowl is finally here. Hopefully you placed your order for spicy wings and pizza so long ago the Bills were still contenders, but what are you going to drink during the big game

Nobody who read my blog post last Friday concerning The New Sancerre will be surprised to see the latest selection for my Wine of the Week is from what might be the Loire Valley’s most famous appellation.

It is somewhat strange that although it was Sancerre that first drew me to the Loire, these days the wines of this most famous of all Loire vineyards hardly ever pass my lips. I can’t recall which domaines I was drinking in those very early days, more than twenty years ago, although I am certain that the wines of the Vacheron family had a place in my cellar; I visited their domaine for the first time in 1992, and carried the bottles back to the UK with me.

Nothing could have prepared me better for my future career as a bartender and restaurateur than growing up in a big family—with all generations present at most meals and wine and spirits consumed in true old-world fashion.

The past week or two has seen plenty of buzz about Burgundy 2010; early January is when Burgundy descends on London in an orgy of tasting sufficiently intense and prolonged to tire even the most hardened of wine critics. In one week there were close to 30 tastings dedicated solely to Burgundy, in most cases hosted by the many merchants which would now very much like to sell you these wines.