WARMER CLIMATE BRINGS TOP VINTAGES

All is not doom and gloom on the climate front. There are some superb wines coming up as a result of weather conditions in Penfolds South Australian vineyards in 2004, said to be providing some exceptional vintages.

Above-average winter rainfall, and mild conditions followed by warmer weather in Spring 2004 led to “arguably the finest vintage since the stellar ‘90, ‘96 and ’98 vintages,” said Peter Gago, Penfolds chief winemaker.

As anyone knows, there are many fine wines to be had from the New World, as it is still called in the wine world. And launched at the beginning of May was Penfolds 2009 Luxury and Icon wine range, featuring wines from the Magill, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale vineyards, where the grapes for Penfolds Grange are grown and which benefited from the 2004 weather conditions.

Included in this range are: Grange 2004 to retail around £170, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 around £60, RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz 2006 around £50, Yattarna Chardonnay 2006 around £40, Magill Estate Shiraz 2006 around £40, St Henri Shiraz 2005 around £30 and Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2007 around £28.

They will be ready for drinking from 2012, and reach their peak between 2015 and 2050.

In the meantime, if you can’t wait that long, look for Penfolds fine Chardonnays now in the shops -  Bin 311 2006, retailing at £17.99, their Yattarna Chardonnay 2005, at £30, and the Thomas Hyland Chardonnay 2007, just £9.99.

A fine wine will be enjoyed all the better if the drinker has dressed for the occasion. This grandly frogged evening jacket from Gieves & Hawkes also features some detailing on the back, to emphasise its shape.

RARE WHISKY TROVE FOUND IN JAPAN

Finding a long-lost treasure trove of rare malt whisky in Japan is almost as unlikely as discovering casks of fine sake in Glasgow – little sake having made its way to Glasgow, but much water of life flowing in the opposite direction, where it is much appreciated.

The rare Highland Park single malt was discovered languishing in a Japanese warehouse of a previous distributor. It is a bicentenary 1977 vintage, launched in 1998 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this Orkney distillery. A significant amount of it was sent to Japan, where there is a long established and discerning malt whisky market.  Just how this batch came to remain untouched is not known but Highland Park decided to repatriate it, for malt enthusiasts to enjoy back home.

“This is a very special expression of Highland Park and one which we thought had sold out and been consumed long ago,” said Jason Craig of Highland Park. It was such a success when launched that the bottling sold out almost immediately, and fast became a collectors’ item. 

Just 694 bottles of the Bicentenary 1977 Vintage are being  released onto the market and strong demand is expected from collectors, particularly as the first release of this edition sold for £69.99 and can now fetch £300 and upwards at specialist whisky auctions.

Each bottle comes in a bespoke wooden presentation box embossed with intricate Japanese inspired design by Glaswegian artist Andy Bowman.  It is available from the Highland Park distillery shop and online at www.highlandpark.co.uk, priced £250.

KENTUCKY BOURBON OFFICIAL TIPPLE AT TWO DERBYS

For the second year running, Woodford Reserve has been designated official bourbon whiskey of the Epsom Derby.

This Kentucky whiskey (note the 'e') has long been official tipple of the Kentucky Derby, both in straight form and in its Mint Julep concoction. As a premium, small-batch brand, it has been making inroads into the UK market over recent years and its connection with the racing world has obviously helped.

LATEST WHISKY FROM JAPAN

THE WORLD LAUNCH of Japan's HIBIKI 12 year old blended whisky took place in London in May, at a grand event at the Metropolitan Hotel, Park Lane. From the famous Suntory distillery, it joins the 17, 21 and 30 year old blends in this stable, of which the 30 year old was voted World's Best Blend Whisky in a recent poll. It is a measure of Japan's appreciate of the Scottish water of life that they are now producing fine whiskies themselves.