1. The first wine
What was it?
A blend of jug wines, Shiraz, Grenache, and possibly Mataro.
Where did you drink it?
In my home in Perth, Western Australia.
Was it a good or a bad experience?
My Dad made the blend in a clay jug I had made for him. It was good.
Related
2. The finest wine
What was the wine?
1945 Château d’Yquem.
Where did you drink it?
Pemberton. With my family, when I was 60, on the occasion of my wife’s birthday.
Content from our partners
What made it so memorable?
A wine made in the last year of the second big one and it was a sublime experience.
3. The last wine
What was the wine?
Château Lafleur-Gazin, Pomerol 2000.
Where did you drink it?
In my kitchen with my family.
Was it a good or bad experience?
Excellent. A tasty, structured, and decent wine.
4. Dessert island wine
If you were forced to drink a single wine region/country/style for the rest of your life, what would it be – and why?
I revel in diversity, so that is a very tough question. If that question morphed into what would I take for a last bottle, the answer is a malt whisky, one of the rich fruitcake ones, Talisker, Glenmorangie, or Clynlish to name a few.
5. Wine 101
If you were forced to get rid of a single wine region/country in the world, what would it be – and why?
That’s a tough call. Possibly New Zealand — they are far too successful.
6. Wine book
What book should no wine library be without?
Vines, Grapes, and Wines, by Jancis Robinson MW.
7. Wine hangout
What’s your favorite place for wine drinking?
My kitchen. They all know my name and some of them are quite tolerant.
8. Dream wine
If you were given unlimited funds, what single wine would you buy?
I would take the money first and buy my son a decent car and with what’s left I would buy a very good bottle of wine for no more than £25 from a high street retailer.
9. House wine
What’s your house wine, your everyday drinking standby?
A Grenache made from 30-year-old vines on our Burnside vineyard. It is very dangerous to drink your own wine regularly but at my age I can live dangerously.
10. New wine
What’s your favorite recent discovery?
Good Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux that is affordable.
11. Winemaker
Who is your favorite winemaker?
I do not have a favorite. Maybe my daughter Freya?
12. Wine place
What’s your favorite wine region to visit?
Margaret River, it’s where I live.
