The week in pictures

db‘s week got off to an excellent start at the Quality Chop House in London, which has just introduced a “One offs” section to its list. Sourced from private collectors, the idea is that you’re unlikely to find these wines anywhere else in the UK. Each Monday the restaurant opens one of these to serve by the glass – this week it was Au Bon Climat Dennison Vineyard 1998.

In the depths of western Crete, Alexandra Manousakis has taken the reins of her family wine business. Under the Nostos brand, the focus here lies particularly on Rhône varieties, including a particularly delicious Roussanne.

Francois Rautenbach bids on behalf of the Singita Game Reserve, which emerged as the top buyer in the 2013 Nederberg Auction. Having tightened its wine selection criteria this year, the event saw an average price per litre of R354.6 – nearly double that of 2012 – and achieved a total sales value of R4,358,860 (£278,148). The highest price of the auction was R22,000 (£1,404), paid by Next International of Nigeria for three 750ml bottles of Zonnebloem Cabernet 1973.

Greene King’s new innovation brewhouse takes delivery of its new brewing vessels at its base in Bury St Edmunds. The new brewhouse will enable the brewery to “explore into more craft beer styles.”

Laurent d’Harcourt awards a signed magnum of Pol Roger’s newly launched Brut Vintage 2004 to the winner of the Best Turned Out prize at this year’s Concours of Elegance awards at St James’s Palace.

Candy floss was just one of many unusual cocktail ingredients used by the team from Evans & Peel as part of a masterclass series organised by Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Benares. Tandoori smoked gel, wine tannins and clarified coconut milk successfully blurred the line between bartender and chef.

This new Scandinavian knitwear sleeve for Black Tower went straight to the top of db‘s Christmas wish list. It represents just one element in a series of packaging and stylistic innovations which is helping the brand climb back towards the sales figures of its ’80s hey day.

Alison Fleming MW, export sales director for Reh Kendermann, enjoyed a touristy moment in London as Tower Bridge opened up for the Black Tower team.

db’s editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt got behind the wheel of one of Pol Roger’s Jaguar F-types. The Pol team were, as usual, whizzing around town in style to drop off the 2004 vintage.

Downside School’s Old Gregorians went up against the Old Amplefordians in Regent’s Park last weekend. Sadly the OGs were not victorious but had by far the better sponsors in Laurent Perrier. For post-match drinks the teams and their supporters decamped to Iberica which had kindly cleared its ground floor for the occasion and had sangria, wine and tapas in plentiful supply.

Jascots founder Jack Scott (right) and Miles MacInnes stand proudly beside their recently bestowed Drinks Business award for on-trade supplier of the year at a Jascots tasting at the Royal Society of Chemistry in Piccadilly.

Double trouble – Cono Sur’s chief winemaker Adolfo Hurtado (right) and export manager Ricardo Orchard are introduced to the delights of palo cortado at specialist Sherry bar Capote y Toros on Old Brompton Road in London.

Larger than life South African winemaker Bruwer Raats of Raats Family Wines shows off his Chenins at The Beautiful South tasting in Earls Court.

South African winemaker Bruce Jack of Flagstone presents his new flagship Pinotage at High Timber restaurant

Michel Janneau of Louis Roederer speaking at the Wine Writers’ Awards at the Royal Academy of Art at the beginning of the week. Staff writers Lucy Shaw and Rupert Millar were shortlisted in the Emerging Wine Writer category and regular contributors Margaret Rand and Micheal Edwards were both nominated in the Feature Writers category for work in db among others.

And finally…Spotted in the mens’ loos of the Royal Academy of Art on Tuesday night during the Louis Roederer Awards. Artist unknown but displays traces of surrealist wit. For particulars of sale apply:- Mssrs Latrine, Cubicle & Co Loos.