Author Archives: Dimitri
Buy organic wine: Lidl
Lidl is currently increasing their presence and we see more and more stores opening up. In addition to that, they started to promote their wine range, which is currently divided into the usual wines (I saw a few priced at below £5) and their so-called Wine Cellar. After reading a few positive reviews from reputable…
Buy organic wine: Ocado
Ocado is another brand that does not need much introduction. Many consumers still believe that it is a spin-off on Waitrose, but it is not true – they offer basic Waitrose range, yet much more on top. What I love from that extra range is that you get much more organic brands and produce to…
What to buy or avoid – September 2015
Are you ready to say farewell to this summer? I have started wondering about the end of BBQ season and switching refreshments to a more comforting and warming selection of full-bodied reds. Let’s say ‘No’ and trick this first days of autumn with a few organic wines that are red, but crisp, refreshing and perfect for…
Gnano Toscana 2011 organic
Gnano Maremma Toscana 2011 was definitely a big surprise for me. For starters, I am not a big fan of majority of Italian wines – I find them overly acidic and sharp (comparing to south of France or Spain), but also a bit one dimensional with their cherry-violets combination so typical for your Sangiovese based…
Buy organic wine: Laithwaites Wine
Laithwaite’s Wine is one of the biggest online wine retailers (or, as some used to say in the past, mail order). Their flagship store is still located on the South Bank in London, so you can browse through and check out the bottles in real and not just online. Laithwaite’s Wine was already featured on…
About Unmet Expectations
It has been a long time since I have been thinking about how your expectations influence your perception of a particular wine. Is it obvious that when it is cold we look for more full bodied and comforting reds or naked whites, but when it is finally warm we turn to crisp rose wines and refreshing…
Buy organic wine: Oddbins
Oddbins is definitely a new or no-name store. Having had a few ups and downs lately, some of the shops consolidated their efforts and you can see a shift to provide a better service, but also an interesting choice of wines and craft beers. I have been visiting a shop in Clapham several times and…
What’s the best thing to do when you feel the summer’s over?
It is not yet September and you feel like it is autumn already. This year is not generous on a prolonged summer days, but as it is still relatively warm, there is no excuse not to go out, have some al-fresco dinners or a simple picnic and enjoy ourselves. I was thinking of tasting three…
Buy organic wine: Humble Grape
It was a sunny afternoon in South West London when me and my partner needed to walk our dog a bit; on our way to Clapham Common we have encountered an independent wine shop / bar, which I’ve never been to yet. Shocking experience, knowing that we live 15 minutes away! Humble Grape is located…
Are amphorae getting a comeback to winemaking?
It has ben a bit weird as I bumped into the topic of maturing wine in the old amphorae quite a few times recently. First of all, it is close to my heart as I grew up near an ancient Greek city of Khersonessus (its ruins are located in Crimea, Ukraine) and its museum contains…
New organic wines 2015
How would one know which organic wines are new? Apart from meticulously checking all retail outlets, inlcuding online ones, (if that even possible!) you can visit a trade show like London Wine Fair and check out these new bottles which were imported to the UK recently or simply seeking their entrance to the lucrative UK…
Priorat product not for oral use
During my organic wine tour to Priorat, I have indeed tasted dozens of wines, they were provided during professional wine tastings and tasted awesome. Yet this time this short review is not about wine! Imagine you get a some crushed grapes that were not used in the winemaking. What would you do with it? When visiting…
Wine Tours: experience unexpected in Catalunya, Spain
I have been reviewing wines after my glorious tour in Priorat, one of the two greatest DOQ regions in Spain, yet this time it is to tell you more about the tour experience itself. It started with truly breathtaking views I cannot describe by just putting some words together. Mountainous area with narrowly laid roads…
Ohau Gravels – an exciting duo of sustainable wines
It is sometimes not very clear whether a particular wine is organic, biodynamic or made at the sustainable winery. Some companies, especially on a smaller scale, simply do not bother themselves with the certificates (I have met people from Sao del Coster in Priorat who said they simply do not like the paperwork), do not…
What to buy or avoid – August 2015
This new edition of ‘What to buy or avoid’ comes with a summery theme as I have decided to dedicate it to our planet’s Southern hemisphere or you can call it New World. Yet all the wines that are reviewed below are organic, so please shop away and taste the ones you find more attractive. The following…
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