"It’s not over until the Gros Mansengs"

It was a l-o-o-o-ng tasting yesterday. Early evening. When your palate is tired. And you begin to forget to spit. So things like the above groan-worthy, wine-buff-type quip can actually seem funny.  

But it was done seriously 'blind' with all the usual visual clues – corks, capsules, etc always used by the unscrupulous wine cheats – painstakingly removed.

Nick had chosen carefully to bamboozle us. And he succeeded. But then most of us had coughs and colds which is always a useful excuse.

The big winners were Tomahawk Shiraz from Red Heads and the Newton Johnson Chardonnay from South Africa, which most thought was a very expensive Burgundy.

Newton Johnson is a young family's brand-new winery just inland from Hermanus, RSA. It has hanging fermenters and a lovely little terrace cafe with a spectacular view. The viticulturalist is also extremely pretty.

I remember Hugh Johnson absolutely insisting on having this wine in his first Collection case. So I'm surprised we still have any left. But we do; and I would grab some were I you.

I was surprised – astonished – at how Tomahawk came out ahead of wines like a £30+ 2009 Classified claret. But there you go. That's wine for you. Always does the unexpected. Tomahawk's  simple, rather unserious label gives no indication of the quality within. It’s Nat McMurtrie's fruit that does it. Come to think of it looking at Nat - in that hat - doesn't really convey the quality within either.

But the wonderful Nat – with his mate Philbo – has just left our place in Bordeaux and flown home to Oz. They've been the stalwarts of our 2012 Vintage Volunteers. You are Great Mates, real thanks.

I've been in the UK writing madly all week. It’s all coming your way! The next catalogue is Huge. And I'm compiling a big new List as well, now. Something we've not done for while.  We have nearly 2000 wines and I'm determined customers should see more of them. Currently we are like the Tate; most of our wines are stored away and never displayed. Crazy.

Went to see Darren Henley at Classic FM. Got the tour. Very snazzy studios in Leicester Square. Missed meeting Simon Callow. But I love his Sunday 'Tasting Notes'. I hope we can evolve the format. Maybe get Simon to Le Chai au Quai. The Chai actually does have a piano recital there this weekend. Concertos in the Cask Hall! The wines will love it. 

Darren took us to the Ivy. We like our food, he and I. 

Tomorrow going to Hampstead Heath to look in on the Affordable Art Fair. Culture! But also those art-lovers seem to be getting through inordinate  amounts of our wine. I want to see this. 

Wine and Art. And Wine and Music, Wine and Books. Wine and Cricket. You begin to see the clever way our young M.D. Glenn is shaping things. All to do with just enjoying life. He's got that right. We all have to work at that.