Cali highlights from the London Wine Fair
I spent last week manning the California Pavilion at London Wine Fair and had an absolute blast!
We were lucky enough to host a fantastic mix of sommeliers, writers, and wine buyers who really brought the energy. The tasting glasses got a proper workout.
A few pouring stand standouts:
Fess Parker Pinot Noir £42.50 @amathusdrinks – pomegranate, red cherry, baking spice
Daou Cabernet £28.00 @bibendumwine – super pretty, clove spice, red plum fruit, great value
Tablas Creek Patelin Rouge £23.00 @thewinesociety1874 – best value Cali red around. Dark raspberry, plum fruit, juicy – the ultimate picnic/ BBQ wine
Eden Rift Lonsdale Slope Pinot Noir £60.00 @goedhuiswaddesdon – super serious yet beautifully integrated Pinot, ripe dark & red plum fruit, cola spice, violet
Two Zinfandels which I WOULD LOVE to have in the UK. Wine Buyers get on it:
Perlegos’ incredible 100yr old Zinfandel – dried raspberry fruit intensity, baking spice, rosemary – a soulful delight!
McPrice Myer’s Pound for Pound Zinfandel – this made everyone smile. Bold fruits of the forest, cinnamon spice, succulent acidity.
I also adored the Daou chardonnay reserve – an opulent cali chard for discerning hedonists £44.00 @bibendumwine, Tablas Creek’s intoxicating Roussanne and Kazumi winery’s sparkling Koshu. I wish the latter was in the UK and it was such a fun surprise to introduce to the wine trade! The US’s first Koshu wine!
Thank you so much @london_wine_fair for an awesome three days. California showed up. And so did the crowd.