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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Wildfire currently in the woods above Couchey, but with a southerly wind pushing it towards Marsannay….. Photos taken from Fixin and Gevrey-Chambertin this afternoon. Truly terrifying.🤞🤞🤞 #wine

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

We enjoyed a walk along the Thames today. Accompanied by Nobel hunting dog. A study in elegance, focus and poised athleticism…… The irises were nice though. #labrador

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Georgian wine anyone? About £15. A strange, but not unlikeable, mixture of hedgerow berrries and just enough acid to keep things interesting. I need to try more wine from that part of the world. Am hoping that Wine Fair London will help me out there? Paul

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

In praise of £30 Claret. Drinking perfectly with the Easter roast! I’ve only ever tried this along side its bigger sibling, so has been rather overshadowed. I’d be less keen at £45, but at £30, happy days.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Petit Verdot from Chile anyone? No? This one was news to me. “Like sucking on a Sloe Berry (bitter and a bit leafy)” was my 17 yo offspring’s opinion. “fruit, but bitter AsF was no 1 daughter’s take on things. For £12 I was very happy.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

An an ex wine retailer, I like a nicely “faced up” display, but deep down I can really vibe with this French merchant’s approach to displaying his products…. PS. His only concession to the non French wine word were several excellent bottles of Port. #Wine🍷🍷

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The dog insisted that we swing by the local pub for a snack after her walk…. A couple of pint later and I’m chucking risotto together for the kids with a passable £20 supermarket Barolo! Have got the day off tomorrow too😁

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

By way of an update. After a couple of hours open, this was seriously good wine. Plenty going on. Concentrated, but not too overpowering. Have got a case incoming along with 6 of its big brother and 6 of their regular Nebbiolo (both untasted🤞🤞). These should provide good drinking for a few years.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

First visit to a Vagabond since Majestic jumped in. Monday night in Birmingham and busy. 100 wines on self service. Tapasy food not dreadful. The rent on this place must be crippling, but hope that they are here to stay. Off to the Shakespeare now for a proper pint!

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Result! Thank you Waitrose. 1/3 off! The Barolo is a bit of a shot in the dark, but the other two are solid performers. Demonstrating admirable restraint, only five bottles were purchased. Thus atoning for last night’s guilty 3am Brunello shopping……

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Brunello and festive mince pies. A food/wine pairing forged in hell.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Am in the Metropolis after a couple of glasses of wine and find myself on Jermyn Street. I used to buy all of my work clobber here. WTF! Prices! I used to buy Loake’s because cheaper than Church’s. Now £600 a for standard Oxfords! If were to spend £600 on shoes… @dieworkwear.bsky.social

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Rule number 2. Do not open e’mails from favourite wine merchant after impromptu pub visit… It could have been worse. I had promised “no more Claret”. Failed 😞 . Cellar is way too French. But, lovely wine at a very tidy price. What is a chap to do? Thanks to @Tom.Mann

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

I’m doing my lone dinner/pint over Decanter magazine. Always a great read. However, the ball has been dropped. The excellent article on up & coming NZ wine makers, opened with a 1/2 page pic of Donald & dog (MokoHills). 7 pages and we didn’t even learn the name of the dog! Wine looks great though 👍🏻

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

I normally quite like the Uk. But, it’s cold and grey. Storms due. Nights are drawing in. And I got charged £7 for a pint yesterday. Time to head south for the winter…… Meanwhile, back in reality, a full in-box awaits and rain for the next 6 months.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I’m looking forward to this one. Nebbiolo from the far north. Made like an Amarone! A wine loving friend brought me 3 bottles back from his travels with the “don’t touch it for 3 years” instruction. Am I that strong enough? Has anyone tried it?

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Naked Wines.. Ocado like logistics 👍🏻 Quality of product 🥱 Should be a great model. But, their products remove all joy from drinking wine. Elevator music in a glass! I’m used to being mildly bored by their competently made wine. But, this was bad. “Astringent” as the 1st word on the tasting note FFS.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Are some smaller seller Bordeaux En-Primeur offers just sellers gambling on the secondary market? Or, do they really not get their allocation until nearly a year after the bigger players? 22’s bought EP(?) still not in the country; but same wine delivered 9 months ago from a bigger supplier… #wine

Image from website of one of the merchants concerned (happy to credit if they don’t like me using their generic image)

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Reposted by Paul-WBwine

TeePee Cider @teepeecider.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

For bubbles champagne needs nucleation points overcome surface tension. These were glass faults however the better the glass the less imperfections! So makers etch them in - up to 20 points creating a ring at the base which produces columns of rising bubbles. #champagne #method #cider

Bubbles in a flute and nucleation points Photo credit Gérard Liger-Belair Collection CIVC/Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne)

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

£20 claret? A lesson in letting an open bottle develop. First tasting was overwhelming back currents with a mineral streak. 24 hours open. Different story. Much more together with some tidy flavours coming through. Am conflicted as to when to attempt the rest off the case…

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

I got a horrible shock during the weekly supermarket shop….. empty shelves where once was wine! After a couple of minutes wandering the isles in a state of distressed befuddlement, I found a temporary wine section in the opposite corner of the shop. Emergency over. #wine #waitrose

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Autumn is officially here. Mega fungi in the woods (60lbs Labrador for scale)!!!!!

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Who said the Nebbiolo has to be pricy and have places beginning with “B” on the label. Once given a bit of air this was vibrant and enjoyable. Bitter fruits, ok length, clean and zippy. Not particularly complex, but for less than £25, let’s not be too picky. #wine #winesky 🍷

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Reposted by Paul-WBwine

Paranoid Android Films @pafilms.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

We’ve created something beautiful. Available exclusively at www.paranoidandroidfilms.com #vhs #horrorcollectors

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

For lovers of the desert, Cederberg SA is on hell of a place. The standard Syrah is tidy good value (£12-£13). The version has a bit more body. I’d have guessed Penfolds Bin 22 if tasted blind. Happily only half the price from Waitrose (£17 ish). Will be getting more. #wine #cederberg

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Lunch today. A big Sea Bass caught off the jetty last night by youngest son. It was his first ever catch, fed five of us and tasted fantastic. Big wins all round! The punchy £10 Rosé mash up from Aldi helped things along too.🍷#wine

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Ok. Own up. Who could name all seven without pausing? 🤥 Sadly. Not me…. Would love to try an Arbane forward version if they exist.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Summer jobs. Shelling beans if a thankless task; which was helped along with a cheap rose that actually packed a bit of a punch. Aldi £10 (thank you Tom Gilbey)!

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Food/Wine Pairing in Decanter - Enjoyed an eloquent article on the aforementioned by @vinography.com and @fibeckett.bsky.social. Thanks for being such good sports. My old boss (1995 ish) took great pleasure in recommending different sherries with every food / wine pairing enquiry. Hero!

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

No reds worth drinking at less than 10 years old? No Brunello less than 20 years?? No Barolo this century and only 3 vintages??? I must be missing some context. Anyone else think this is a bit odd?

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

This has killed my cooking and bank balance. Pre argon, I’d hesitate to open nice wine as it is rare that I am at home and up for a glass two days running. Now - Open nice wine. Quick squirt of £££ gas. “Oooo. That is nice”. Suddenly. Bottle gone….. Nothing left for cooking with either. 😡

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

£20 from a French supermarket last winter. I now regret only buying three. Staggeringly good value 😁

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Suddenly I want to learn a new skill! Must have a hundred books with cheap tatty covers that I don’t want to bin and look rubbish on the shelf.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

An eclectic sweaty week of wine; in which I found a Rosé that I really liked! Tuesday’s 2024 claret frenzy wasn’t too shabby either. Fascinating variation between villages (in a good way). Will be curious to see how/if they age. Time will tell. Will leave the Cali chard for another day….

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

With the current heat dome (might be the same as the single good weather week in the uk for 2025); I’m attempting to recreate Tuscany in my back garden. Going v well so far. An amazing modern take on Sangiovese! Only a couple of ‘16s left now. 19’s waiting patiently in the wings and 21’s incoming😁

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

It’s co not often that I am so completely surprised by a tasting. A big thank you to Betty (Alzbeta) from bohemiawine.co.uk/about/. A true eye opener. Quality wine for a fair price. Not cheap, but well within the acceptable range for weekend drinking!

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

WTF!!! A glass of NdT in one of the better popular pizza chains. They could get away with it if it was cheap, local and a bit rough. They managed one of the three. I’m in city centre Cardiff….. #wine

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Are these the prettiest wine bottles out there? I may be very swayed by the contents…. I bloody love this wine… Thinking that the ‘16 might be ready. Last tried Jan ‘24 and was just hitting its stride.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Barking wine descriptor of the day - “Cookie Cutter Wine” Tastes like a sharp piece of metal? Or, tastes like cookies? A tasting note from Emma Jenkins MW (Oct 24 Decanter). Generally, her writing is expressive and I can nearly taste the wine on reading. This one raised a smile 😁. #wine

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

A bit of a treat for a school night? No problem with my new birthday Coravin. Best wine gadget ever. The wine? A PN lover’s PN! Given 30mins in the glass this was banging (my children’s term for good/going for it…). Plenty of acid, piercing fruit, savoury edge. Big big smile here. Great for the ££.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Big Thank You to Matt Walls for his Rhone Roots tasting. Great venue. Great producers. Really liked the southern hemisphere guys. Alkina (Barossa) was my star producer. Looks like I’ll have to get excited about Australia as for vibrant interesting wine; rather than banging on about SA!

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Morning all. Douro Valley (Portugal) tasting / visit recommendations? Am sitting on the boat from Tangier, about to head up through Portugal. Never been to the Douro valley before. Any wine / eating suggestions?

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Today, the sun came out over the downs.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

A few that caught my eye from Thursday. My sort of tasting! Interesting people too. 😁. Might have to invest in some of the Brovia. Was very into their energy and style. Can’t get close to affording the spectacular Roberto Voerzio offerings…….

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Sun is out spring is here! Definitely a CNdP day… Not my normal stomping ground, but am thoroughly enjoying this one. The ‘19 is not too bombastic. Also. Am secretly really enjoying 1/2 bottles for school night drinking.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Barolo ‘21. Spent a happy afternoon tasting the new vintage, courtesy of a long standing St James’ wine seller (still J&B???Missed have missed the rebrand). Takeaways: 1:/ 2018 is turning out better than I thought. 2: Dolcetto is great 3: Barolo is in rude health. 4: Am about to be v poor again.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Evening prep. Have got a eulogy to deliver tomorrow so needed some “working” wine (father). Tomorrow’s wake wine will be exceptional. He got me into wine. This one is great value but can’t see the stellar scores that the ‘20 achieved for that wine.

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Paul-WBwine @wbwine.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Anybody had a look at this? Was flicking though a copy of Decanter. Came across the “Books etc.” section. This was sort of recommended, but on reading that it sort of compares to Hugh J’s History of Wine, my interest was piqued. Any thoughts?

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