For a cheapo wine I thought Dominique Guyon's Hautes Cotes de Nuits "Les Dames de Vergy" 2019 quite pleasant. Fresh and fruity, slightly plummy p'raps, nice concentration then pivoting seamlessly to a fine but slightly hot tannic finish. Lovely moon tonight.

Is it just me who finds all the talk about "eco wine packaging" a bizarre distraction from the elephant in the room that so much wine consumed in the UK is shipped half way across the world (largely because it's cheap)? Crazy when we have France (and the UK!) on our doorstep!

2017 Gevrey Chambertin "En Pallud" from Marchand Tawse. I liked this, quite soft, fine tannins, nice structure. Nose took a little while to open up but eventually some sweet floral/perfume notes. Very drinkable.

Rather a lot of really quite nice Burgundy arrived today. I was particularly delighted to find a case of 2011 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin: the vintage which first made me fall in love with that producer's beautiful, ethereal wines.

Serving temperature is an odd beast. I'm sure conventional wine wisdom would suggest this shouldn't be this chilled, but I drank René Bouvier's Gevrey Chambertin "La Justice" 2017 in an ambient temperature of around 2°C and it was divine: pure, focused, silky and concentrated.

Spotted this morning on #HampsteadHeath. Not mine, I hasten to add.

Still a surprising amount of snow left on Hampstead Heath since Monday, but the chilly ambient temperature is no detriment to this Bertrand Amboise Nuits St Georges 2017 which is refined yet fruity, lovely soft mouth feel then just a hint of tannic warmth to finish.

Vosne Romanée, The Chap Magazine, and a wintery Hampstead Heath.

Not on the heath this evening, but schlepped down to Deptford in grim weather which was far more of an ordeal. My last bottle of Philippe Gavignet's Nuits St Georges 2017; divine as ever: outstanding fruit purity. The Wotsits "Flamin' Hot", however, were vile but oddly moreish.

Champagne does nothing for me any more, would far rather be drinking English sparkling if I'm in the mood for something in that style. For still reds, on the other hand, Burgundy is absolutely still king (in my personal opinion, obviously not everyone will agree).

Have to admit I'd rather lost interest in this Twitter account of late (really, what is the point?)... but for old time's sake here's a one off Breaky Bottom 2013 Cuvée Cornelis Hendriksen which is showing appealing lime notes today, very fine bubbles and a mouthwatering finish.

Quick roundup of January 2023 park bench drinking highlights - that Claude Dugat 2017 #GevreyChambertin was best in show: floral, perfumed, very elegant, gentle tannins, exactly my sort of thing (thanks Tuggy Meyer). The Coillot GevCham a very solid runner up, an F&M bargain.

Also while I'm recapping January, for Burns Night I popped up to Scotland for some beautiful Laphroaig Whisky on the beautiful Scottish coast. In that setting the batch 015 cask strength was heavenly, euphoric: bonfire toffee made in a peat kiln by the sea.

A real treat today, Domaine Fourrier #GevreyChambertin 2011. Colour browning a tad. Nose intense/perfumed but also delicate: rose/cherry. Palate has great concentration but sublime elegance and surprising hints of freshness and fruit. Just an odd tingle slightly detracting.

Recently another case of Gavignet from Tom Innes. This the bargain Bourgogne HCdN 2019 "Clos des Dames Huguette", just above Nuits St Georges. Beautiful fragrant fruit on the nose, lean, cool and silky body. Dry towards finish but tannins just a whisper. Great in a holly bush.

Had to try a total of 5 shops in NW5 to find any ESW, what's with that? Eventually found this "Grand Duchess" 2019 from Hattingley. Seemed suspiciously cheap at £24 and the reason is it's a Bacchus/Pinot Gris blend. Drinkable, but Bacchus really doesn't deliver on sophistication.