Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Saturday, 18 May 2013

Giro d'Italia: an eventful 2nd week




Round up of the second week in the Giro 
Much has happened over the past week as is quite often the case in a grand tour but especially this one that has subjected the riders to much such challenging weather - cold and often torrential rain.

The week has seen Vincenzo Nibali take over and look very comfortable wearing the leader's pink jersey. His closest rivals are now Cadel Evans at 41 seconds and Rigoberto Uran at 2.04 Unless Nibali has a bad day Uran looks to be the best bet for taking the fight to Nibali, while Evans will hang in there though I doubt if he can break Nibali.

Bradley Wiggins gradually slipped from contention undermined initially by nervousness in descending in the wet. Then he failed to take significant time from his rivals in last Saturday's long time trial, though he did show very strongly in the second half. Finally Wiggins' hopes of winning the Giro were KO'ed by a lung infection and withdrew from the race yesterday. Also out is Ryder Hesjedal suffering with a mysterious illness and already way out of contention.

Last Saturday saw a first stage victory for Alex Dowsett, who won the time trial by 10 seconds from Bradley Wiggins. It was also good to see three winners from long breakaways - Alexis M, Adam Hansen, Maxim Belkov and Ramunas Navardauskas. Mark Cavendish has racked up another two stages taking his career total to 101. Certainly impressive but still well behind Eric Zabel's total of over 200. His third stage win came from a great lead out by Gertrude Steegmans, while at the end of yesterday's stage he was left to his own devices, although his team had worked very hard to control and bring back the break.

From now on it is real crunch time with the big mountain stages to come, where we are likely to see to see a significant number of withdrawals from the race. On the evidence so far my guess is that by this time next Saturday Nibali will still be in the lead but then I had Ryder Hesjedal as one of my favourites!

Friday, 17 May 2013

RAW 2013: Mil'Pat arrives@St Katharine Docks

 First sight of the Mil'Pat (Michel Patrick) as she enters final stretch
The boat brought some of the wines for the RAW Fair sailing over from Fécamp

 Michel Patrick surrounded by river traffic heading towards Tower Bridge


Waiting to enter St Katharine Docks

 Some of the passengers on the Michel Patrick waiting to enter the docks: 
Isabelle Legeron MW (red coat), Olivier Cousin (light blue fleece) 


 Michel Patrick entering the docks

More photos to follow 

Thursday, 16 May 2013

RAW Wine Fair: the arrival of Mil'Pat @St Katharine Docks today



‘Given our commitment to proper, clean, sustainable agriculture, this year we decided to go a step further and have teamed up with the innovative TOWT – TransOceanic Wind Transport – a company specialised in sail-powered shipping – proper, sustainable transport.'

Where can you see the Mil'Pat 
The Mil'Pat has sailed over from Brittany with a cargo of 600 bottles of wine and olive oil. It has already docked at Tilbury and should now be headed to St Katharine Docks arriving some time around 2pm-3pm this afternoon. Should be able to see it arrive from either Tower Bridge or St Katharine Docks.   


Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Clacton-on-Sea: more photos and a few apostrophes...

 Rainbow over the pier and helter-skelter


 No shortage of apostrophes in Clacton or equally tattoo parlours


 Enticing prizes on the pier

 Clacton has a proper British pier with all the trimmings 

 What are you waiting for....?

 One decidedly stuffed pigeon or just chilly

 Penalty 'Fare's' for fishermen


Café@the end of the pier offering latt^e

.. or alternatively lattêe

 No insights into the future as Rosalee was sadly closed 

Boxer Round 3

 ... perhaps a tad risqué or an update on traditional British seaside humour?

... at least there is a possibility of redemption!