New Aquitaine House

The place is really humming. There's excitement in the air. It always lifts the noise level when sales are good.

And they certainly are. In particular, our little list Smart Guide to Australia and New Zealand has gone off the scale. Very pleased with that - being as some 'experts' have been keen to write off those countries. Just shows the idiocy of lumping together all the wines of a country as if they were all the same.

The advantage of having our own wine hunters on the ground, speaking like the natives - well, being natives, actually. Huge advantage. Laithwaites unquestionably have the best deals to be got in Oz and NZ. And the customers know that.

I joined in a session in the tasting room selecting wines for a presentation we are doing soon. Ruthless selection. Justin's method is we stand in a rough circle, taste, ponder, then hold out a fist.

On the count of three we turn the thumb either up or down. At exactly the same moment is the key. Stops you being influenced by others. It's quick, effective but so ruthless. And sometimes leaves you a bit isolated ... and stupid. Really focusses the palate!

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