Rex Mundi are wines as striking as their label. The flagship is a blend of Shiraz and Grenache from the Languedoc-Roussillon, where the Mediterranean climate is extremely favourable for wine production. Rex Mundi is not, as you might expect, yet another Hollywood celebrity, but Latin for ‘King of the World’. This stems from the Cathar religion, which began in this region of France during the 12th and 14th centuries. This fabled King was in fact some form of Satan who created all matter, thus…

Recently, I had the good fortune to taste a case of wines made by the Laithwaites Vineyard Partners thanks to their generosity and, frankly, well-warranted desire to show off how good their partners are. Their direct relationship with these winemakers makes all the difference and has allowed Laithwaites to create phenomenal, exclusive wines that you can help support too. The Laithwaites Wine Club is your opportunity to try popular parcels from their Vineyard partners. Simply sign up through our…

By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr I have a number of longstanding connections with rose' wines, I was involved with the marketing a Mateus Rose' in the 1980's, helped by Princess Margaret who often asked for "that slightly fizzy pink wine in the pretty bottle"! And I was the agent in the Uk for Domaine Ott, then brand leader in Provence rose' and other good wines. So it was with some sadness to see the sales of rose' wines decline as they became so unfashionable in the 1990's, mainly due to…

Christopher Burr, MW reviews: Updated 26/07/2024 The Black Stump range of wines are a premium range from the hugely successful Casella family, who emigrated to South Australia from Sicily in the late 1960's. They had been making wine since the 1820's and have gone on to set up one of the most successful wine businesses in Australia. Now exported all around the World, this wine is a good example of what Australia can produce in skilful hands. I suppose it is not surprising that this wine has the…