The week in pictures

During a trip to The Ritz to try out the restaurant’s new five course cocktail pairing menu devised by The Ritz Paris’ head barman Colin Field, db was delighted to see the tradition of making crêpes suzette at the table alive and kicking.

Christie Schulz of Turkey Flat swung by db towers this week to tell us the latest developments at the Barossa Valley estate, from experimenting with a skin contact white to refining its much-loved signature rosé.

Sebastian Brack, co-owner of chic new vermouth brand Belsazar, popped in to the db offices this week to tell us the story of the fledgling brand, and how using a quality base wine – Blesazar uses 100% German wine, is the most important factor in making a quality vermouth. The Belsazar range includes a dry, white, rosé and sweet expression, which can either be drunk neat over ice, with tonic or in an array of bitters-based classic cocktails.

Hubert de Boüard, owner of Château Angelus in St Emilion, hosted an insightful vertical tasting of Angelus at Trinity House in Tower Hill this week in collaboration with the Institute of Masters of Wine. During the tasting, he revealed the 2014 Bordeaux will be a vintage for consumers due to its approachable, fruit forward nature.

db stopped by Hixter in Bankside this week to see in the launch of Jameson’s new limited edition St Patrick’s Day bottle, presented by Jameson’s global brand director Daniel Lundberg.

Designed by Dublin-based illustrator Steve Simpson, the bottle’s label took two years to complete and was inspired by his experiences of Dublin.

db was among the first in the world to try the new vintage of Bollinger La Grande Année – 2005 – launched at the Royal Opera House in London this week. The ripeness of the vintage was apparent in the generous wine, which boasted notes of hazelnuts, gingerbread, vanilla and honey.

Mentzendorff’s annual portfolio tasting was held in the stunning Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

As ever, the Austrian annual trade tasting in London combined the Institute of Directors’ elegant setting with perhaps the highest average quality of wine that you’re likely to encounter at any generic tasting event.

db dropped into Bonhams for the launch of its new restaurant, complete with a list of exciting wines from the auction house’s “extensive” cellar. As well as boasting stints at respected eateries Hedone in London and Faviken in Sweden, head chef Tom Kemble’s History of Art degree might also come in handy with the Bonhams clientele.

Champagne Taittinger, official Champagne partner to the British Academy for the 13^th year running, added extra sparkle to the proceedings last weekend, not least through the very elegant attendance of Vitalie Taittinger, marketing director at Champagne Taittinger and daughter of managing director, Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall helped to mark New Zealand’s national day, Waitangi Day, on 6 February – a day that marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which was signed 175 years ago between Maori and the British Crown. The Duchess attended an event hosted by the New Zealand High Commission, together with NZTE London, at Caravan in London’s Kings Cross.

(L-R) Dinah Kinnear, Babich Wines, Julia Trustram-Eve, English Wine Producers Paul Raper, Villa Maria, Roger Marchbank – Deputy Chair, United Kingdom Vineyards Association, Giles James, Mission Estate, Chris Stroud and Sarah Shepherd, New Zealand Winegrowers.

The event showcased the best of modern New Zealand cuisine and the fusion between British and Kiwi produce, served alongside a selection of New Zealand and English wines. Other guests included celebrity chefs Antonio Carluccio and Monica Galetti.

The newly formed Bibendum PLB hosted its first tasting following its merger last year. Hosted in a suite at the Mondrian Hotel in London, the tasting featured the portfolios of Bibendum Wine, PLB, Instil Drinks Co., Walker & Wodehouse and the Wondering Wine Company, which all now come under the umbrella of Bibendum PLB.

The location afforded for a rather unconventional setting for a tasting – a bedroom with great views across the River Thames.

db popped along to the launch of Kettner’s Champagne Club in Soho on Wednesday, where guests were taken through a selection of grower Champagnes. Kettner’s bar now hosts over 100 Champagne houses, many from small growers, with this month marking the launch of its Champagne Club. Members will be invited to take part in regular tasting, a complimentary glass of fizz each month and a 20% discount in the brasserie after each tasting.

We also spent a day in Paris tasting wines for the annual Anivin Vin de France Best Value Selection, where medallists highlighted both the daring side of French drinks packaging and the resolutely traditional (below). A full report will appear in next month’s magazine.

The nets have gone on at Esk Valley’s iconic Terraces Vineyard in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, as harvest day approaches. We received these pictures from Gordon Russell, senior winemaker at Esk Valley, who said conditions are “very good and anticipation is high”.