Vin de Plume
@vindeplume.bsky.social
Swirl, sip, spit and write a bit about wine. Wine writer for North London’s Hampstead Village Voice. Wine blogger Capital IWFS https://www.iwfs.capital/blog/categories/mikey-c-s-world-of-wine and Spurs..COYS! #skitouring also a thing🍷🍾⛷️❄️
Pinned
Vin de Plume
@vindeplume.bsky.social
· Oct 19
As daylight dwindles and the gods of Olympus reach for their woollen togas, it’s time to swap bubbles for Bacchus.
Read ‘The Icarius First Eleven’ in The Hampstead Village Voice where Greek tragedy meets modern wines.
Check out my timely reference to Notts Forest FC.
#Hampstead #GreekWine
♥️🍾🍷🇬🇷
Read ‘The Icarius First Eleven’ in The Hampstead Village Voice where Greek tragedy meets modern wines.
Check out my timely reference to Notts Forest FC.
#Hampstead #GreekWine
♥️🍾🍷🇬🇷
Hotter climes fortunately abound for the Vin de Plume tasting bus.
This not ‘the bestest’ aged Carricante is a little caramel toasted but in beautifully liquid volcanic smoke and citrus way. Oof! 💋♥️🇮🇹
This not ‘the bestest’ aged Carricante is a little caramel toasted but in beautifully liquid volcanic smoke and citrus way. Oof! 💋♥️🇮🇹
December 7, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Hotter climes fortunately abound for the Vin de Plume tasting bus.
This not ‘the bestest’ aged Carricante is a little caramel toasted but in beautifully liquid volcanic smoke and citrus way. Oof! 💋♥️🇮🇹
This not ‘the bestest’ aged Carricante is a little caramel toasted but in beautifully liquid volcanic smoke and citrus way. Oof! 💋♥️🇮🇹
Sobering. And yet English/Welsh winemakers throw themselves into the wine throng.
Why? Because some of them know that to make a million from wine you have to start with a bit of a billion.
French wine industry is withering on the vine as drinkers go dry
www.thetimes.com/article/5778...
Why? Because some of them know that to make a million from wine you have to start with a bit of a billion.
French wine industry is withering on the vine as drinkers go dry
www.thetimes.com/article/5778...
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December 6, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Sobering. And yet English/Welsh winemakers throw themselves into the wine throng.
Why? Because some of them know that to make a million from wine you have to start with a bit of a billion.
French wine industry is withering on the vine as drinkers go dry
www.thetimes.com/article/5778...
Why? Because some of them know that to make a million from wine you have to start with a bit of a billion.
French wine industry is withering on the vine as drinkers go dry
www.thetimes.com/article/5778...
Tomorrow night I’m pitching up at my lovely wine educator’s paulée with a jerry of Chateau Sainte-Eulalie ‘La Cantilène’ 2015 - aka ‘The Sensible Decision Eliminator.’
At 14.5%, this monolith isn’t so much a wine as a liquid referendum on dignity.
#PrayForMe #VinDePlume #PauléePerils
At 14.5%, this monolith isn’t so much a wine as a liquid referendum on dignity.
#PrayForMe #VinDePlume #PauléePerils
November 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Tomorrow night I’m pitching up at my lovely wine educator’s paulée with a jerry of Chateau Sainte-Eulalie ‘La Cantilène’ 2015 - aka ‘The Sensible Decision Eliminator.’
At 14.5%, this monolith isn’t so much a wine as a liquid referendum on dignity.
#PrayForMe #VinDePlume #PauléePerils
At 14.5%, this monolith isn’t so much a wine as a liquid referendum on dignity.
#PrayForMe #VinDePlume #PauléePerils
Two new v memorable experiences yesterday evening - my first Thanksgiving Dinner at my lovely American neighbours & a new Italian grape - at least for me.
Anybody know Vespaiola? A taut, citrus-laced white whose volcanic Breganze soils give it a lean mineral edge. Bright & nervy. Deeelish! 👍🏼♥️
Anybody know Vespaiola? A taut, citrus-laced white whose volcanic Breganze soils give it a lean mineral edge. Bright & nervy. Deeelish! 👍🏼♥️
November 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Two new v memorable experiences yesterday evening - my first Thanksgiving Dinner at my lovely American neighbours & a new Italian grape - at least for me.
Anybody know Vespaiola? A taut, citrus-laced white whose volcanic Breganze soils give it a lean mineral edge. Bright & nervy. Deeelish! 👍🏼♥️
Anybody know Vespaiola? A taut, citrus-laced white whose volcanic Breganze soils give it a lean mineral edge. Bright & nervy. Deeelish! 👍🏼♥️
A tale of two Italian reds, two styles that I can’t appreciate:
The first - a brash, youthful 2023 Primitivo - a dark chocolate jam sandwich: loud, sticky and v resistible.
The second, a weary 2018 Bosco del Grillo from Tuscany. Draped in faded fruit and wrapped in milk chocolate melancholy.
🤨
The first - a brash, youthful 2023 Primitivo - a dark chocolate jam sandwich: loud, sticky and v resistible.
The second, a weary 2018 Bosco del Grillo from Tuscany. Draped in faded fruit and wrapped in milk chocolate melancholy.
🤨
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
A tale of two Italian reds, two styles that I can’t appreciate:
The first - a brash, youthful 2023 Primitivo - a dark chocolate jam sandwich: loud, sticky and v resistible.
The second, a weary 2018 Bosco del Grillo from Tuscany. Draped in faded fruit and wrapped in milk chocolate melancholy.
🤨
The first - a brash, youthful 2023 Primitivo - a dark chocolate jam sandwich: loud, sticky and v resistible.
The second, a weary 2018 Bosco del Grillo from Tuscany. Draped in faded fruit and wrapped in milk chocolate melancholy.
🤨
The white wines were the most successful sips of Destination Pacific Northwest at Frameless. Travel writer and somewhat celeb Simon Calder as good as ever. Such a pro. 👍🏼🤩
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The white wines were the most successful sips of Destination Pacific Northwest at Frameless. Travel writer and somewhat celeb Simon Calder as good as ever. Such a pro. 👍🏼🤩
A 2022 Frappato from Sicily. Soft and inviting. Much more delicious than first anticipated. Fully balanced bright red fruits, yellow cherry and ripe pomegranate.
November 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A 2022 Frappato from Sicily. Soft and inviting. Much more delicious than first anticipated. Fully balanced bright red fruits, yellow cherry and ripe pomegranate.
A pleasant lunch at Roast in Borough Market. Beef Wellington was v good.
Corkage however not v good. £42 for still & £48 for sparkling.
Mind you, 2015 Clos de Guettotes SLB was in a good phase for drinking & worth liberating from my cellar.
Fading secondary with enhanced tertiary. Drink now.
Corkage however not v good. £42 for still & £48 for sparkling.
Mind you, 2015 Clos de Guettotes SLB was in a good phase for drinking & worth liberating from my cellar.
Fading secondary with enhanced tertiary. Drink now.
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A pleasant lunch at Roast in Borough Market. Beef Wellington was v good.
Corkage however not v good. £42 for still & £48 for sparkling.
Mind you, 2015 Clos de Guettotes SLB was in a good phase for drinking & worth liberating from my cellar.
Fading secondary with enhanced tertiary. Drink now.
Corkage however not v good. £42 for still & £48 for sparkling.
Mind you, 2015 Clos de Guettotes SLB was in a good phase for drinking & worth liberating from my cellar.
Fading secondary with enhanced tertiary. Drink now.
A glorious night of global Bordeaux blends with IWFS Capital branch at 67 Pall Mall. Lebanon to St. Julien to Napa and beyond - every bottle sang. Bravo to all who brought such wine gems! 🍷✨
www.iwfs.capital/event-detail...
www.iwfs.capital/event-detail...
November 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
A glorious night of global Bordeaux blends with IWFS Capital branch at 67 Pall Mall. Lebanon to St. Julien to Napa and beyond - every bottle sang. Bravo to all who brought such wine gems! 🍷✨
www.iwfs.capital/event-detail...
www.iwfs.capital/event-detail...
Fun times at Vin de Plume Towers. The 2020 Leflaive Les Meix sang; the NV (21-discorg) Chiquet joined in. The Céline PN was Dion-esque (oh do behave…). Wine Soc’s Otago PN showed beautifully. Chavy and Martin’s Lane somewhat youthful but promising. A lovely night. Good night and sweet dreams.
November 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Fun times at Vin de Plume Towers. The 2020 Leflaive Les Meix sang; the NV (21-discorg) Chiquet joined in. The Céline PN was Dion-esque (oh do behave…). Wine Soc’s Otago PN showed beautifully. Chavy and Martin’s Lane somewhat youthful but promising. A lovely night. Good night and sweet dreams.
Hot date with Mrs VdV.
First it was deeply golden aged Cartier NV chez Plume then it was plate smashing at poshish nightclub-esque resto Elysée in Percy St.
Even had a head injury to another diner from extra marital plates.🤕
A smashing time was had by all. London eh?!
First it was deeply golden aged Cartier NV chez Plume then it was plate smashing at poshish nightclub-esque resto Elysée in Percy St.
Even had a head injury to another diner from extra marital plates.🤕
A smashing time was had by all. London eh?!
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Hot date with Mrs VdV.
First it was deeply golden aged Cartier NV chez Plume then it was plate smashing at poshish nightclub-esque resto Elysée in Percy St.
Even had a head injury to another diner from extra marital plates.🤕
A smashing time was had by all. London eh?!
First it was deeply golden aged Cartier NV chez Plume then it was plate smashing at poshish nightclub-esque resto Elysée in Percy St.
Even had a head injury to another diner from extra marital plates.🤕
A smashing time was had by all. London eh?!
It’s been a while since I’ve had a carmenère from Maipo, Chile.
This solid offering from Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh ticked all the right boxes. Ripe black cherry, blackcurrant, cassis with a nice herbal lick of vanilla and toast. Decent value at £37.95.
This solid offering from Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh ticked all the right boxes. Ripe black cherry, blackcurrant, cassis with a nice herbal lick of vanilla and toast. Decent value at £37.95.
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 AM
It’s been a while since I’ve had a carmenère from Maipo, Chile.
This solid offering from Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh ticked all the right boxes. Ripe black cherry, blackcurrant, cassis with a nice herbal lick of vanilla and toast. Decent value at £37.95.
This solid offering from Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh ticked all the right boxes. Ripe black cherry, blackcurrant, cassis with a nice herbal lick of vanilla and toast. Decent value at £37.95.
#RusticWineNight with a 2014 Monastère de Saint-Mont. A big red for a dark and stormy night. And a winey, herby Spag bog.
October 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
#RusticWineNight with a 2014 Monastère de Saint-Mont. A big red for a dark and stormy night. And a winey, herby Spag bog.
Triumph! Huge thanks to all who joined us for ‘South Africa – Through Its Food & Wine’ at Hightimber with IWFS Capital Branch. From vintage cellars to sizzling Saffer cuisine, the evening overflowed with flavour, stories & shared memories. More wow journeys await! #WineLovers #SouthAfrica #IWFS♥️🇿🇦🍷
October 30, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Triumph! Huge thanks to all who joined us for ‘South Africa – Through Its Food & Wine’ at Hightimber with IWFS Capital Branch. From vintage cellars to sizzling Saffer cuisine, the evening overflowed with flavour, stories & shared memories. More wow journeys await! #WineLovers #SouthAfrica #IWFS♥️🇿🇦🍷
Kanonkop Kadette 2017 - an honest wine.
No gloss, no gimmicks, just Stellenbosch soil, sun and graft in a glass.
Plum, red cherry, cassis and a touch of smoke.
Where some wines wear makeup, this one wears calluses and reflects a hard day’s work in a glass or three.
🍷 #VinDePlume #HonestWine
No gloss, no gimmicks, just Stellenbosch soil, sun and graft in a glass.
Plum, red cherry, cassis and a touch of smoke.
Where some wines wear makeup, this one wears calluses and reflects a hard day’s work in a glass or three.
🍷 #VinDePlume #HonestWine
October 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Kanonkop Kadette 2017 - an honest wine.
No gloss, no gimmicks, just Stellenbosch soil, sun and graft in a glass.
Plum, red cherry, cassis and a touch of smoke.
Where some wines wear makeup, this one wears calluses and reflects a hard day’s work in a glass or three.
🍷 #VinDePlume #HonestWine
No gloss, no gimmicks, just Stellenbosch soil, sun and graft in a glass.
Plum, red cherry, cassis and a touch of smoke.
Where some wines wear makeup, this one wears calluses and reflects a hard day’s work in a glass or three.
🍷 #VinDePlume #HonestWine
Down the local Italiano resto. Corkage wines inappropriate and yet.. happy days. 💋
October 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Down the local Italiano resto. Corkage wines inappropriate and yet.. happy days. 💋
Back at the Italian wine trade coal face. Met Doctor Wine. What a nice, hugely knowledgable chap and such a generous flight of wines at the masterclass. Forza!
October 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Back at the Italian wine trade coal face. Met Doctor Wine. What a nice, hugely knowledgable chap and such a generous flight of wines at the masterclass. Forza!
As daylight dwindles and the gods of Olympus reach for their woollen togas, it’s time to swap bubbles for Bacchus.
Read ‘The Icarius First Eleven’ in The Hampstead Village Voice where Greek tragedy meets modern wines.
Check out my timely reference to Notts Forest FC.
#Hampstead #GreekWine
♥️🍾🍷🇬🇷
Read ‘The Icarius First Eleven’ in The Hampstead Village Voice where Greek tragedy meets modern wines.
Check out my timely reference to Notts Forest FC.
#Hampstead #GreekWine
♥️🍾🍷🇬🇷
October 19, 2025 at 8:58 AM
As daylight dwindles and the gods of Olympus reach for their woollen togas, it’s time to swap bubbles for Bacchus.
Read ‘The Icarius First Eleven’ in The Hampstead Village Voice where Greek tragedy meets modern wines.
Check out my timely reference to Notts Forest FC.
#Hampstead #GreekWine
♥️🍾🍷🇬🇷
Read ‘The Icarius First Eleven’ in The Hampstead Village Voice where Greek tragedy meets modern wines.
Check out my timely reference to Notts Forest FC.
#Hampstead #GreekWine
♥️🍾🍷🇬🇷
Welcome to a rather mean still Pinot Noir/Meunier from Essex.
A bit of shame on the producer for releasing it. More fool me for buying it!
Mind you, the label illustrator was spot on!
Yeuch! Avoid like the plague.
A bit of shame on the producer for releasing it. More fool me for buying it!
Mind you, the label illustrator was spot on!
Yeuch! Avoid like the plague.
October 13, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Welcome to a rather mean still Pinot Noir/Meunier from Essex.
A bit of shame on the producer for releasing it. More fool me for buying it!
Mind you, the label illustrator was spot on!
Yeuch! Avoid like the plague.
A bit of shame on the producer for releasing it. More fool me for buying it!
Mind you, the label illustrator was spot on!
Yeuch! Avoid like the plague.
Having just returned from a brief and decidely untrendy tour of a bit of Morocco (Larache and Asilah.. anybody?! 🤷🏼♂️), it felt spot on to dip into my cellar for one of 🇲🇦’s yummy syrahs.
This one is in a great drinking window. 👍🏼
www.cellartracker.com/w?3384912
This one is in a great drinking window. 👍🏼
www.cellartracker.com/w?3384912
October 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Having just returned from a brief and decidely untrendy tour of a bit of Morocco (Larache and Asilah.. anybody?! 🤷🏼♂️), it felt spot on to dip into my cellar for one of 🇲🇦’s yummy syrahs.
This one is in a great drinking window. 👍🏼
www.cellartracker.com/w?3384912
This one is in a great drinking window. 👍🏼
www.cellartracker.com/w?3384912
Two wine hero’s & two A* wines from Swig’s wonderful trade tasting at the Crypt on The Green.
Despite Lenin, Trotsky, Shakespeare & even Sancho Panza not being around anymore.. there is hope for wine. 💪🏼
Thank you Berene Sauls (Tesselaarsdal) & Alex Starey (Keermont) for doing what you do. 👍🏼 💋
Despite Lenin, Trotsky, Shakespeare & even Sancho Panza not being around anymore.. there is hope for wine. 💪🏼
Thank you Berene Sauls (Tesselaarsdal) & Alex Starey (Keermont) for doing what you do. 👍🏼 💋
September 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Two wine hero’s & two A* wines from Swig’s wonderful trade tasting at the Crypt on The Green.
Despite Lenin, Trotsky, Shakespeare & even Sancho Panza not being around anymore.. there is hope for wine. 💪🏼
Thank you Berene Sauls (Tesselaarsdal) & Alex Starey (Keermont) for doing what you do. 👍🏼 💋
Despite Lenin, Trotsky, Shakespeare & even Sancho Panza not being around anymore.. there is hope for wine. 💪🏼
Thank you Berene Sauls (Tesselaarsdal) & Alex Starey (Keermont) for doing what you do. 👍🏼 💋
Not quite sure what Louis Jadot was thinking when he oversaw this vintage from Chorey LB.
Stressed grape juice on a good day? Pinot Noir in pyjamas. 💤
Drinkable but about as thrilling as a dry forest floor - leaves and dust but not much life beneath.
Stressed grape juice on a good day? Pinot Noir in pyjamas. 💤
Drinkable but about as thrilling as a dry forest floor - leaves and dust but not much life beneath.
September 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Not quite sure what Louis Jadot was thinking when he oversaw this vintage from Chorey LB.
Stressed grape juice on a good day? Pinot Noir in pyjamas. 💤
Drinkable but about as thrilling as a dry forest floor - leaves and dust but not much life beneath.
Stressed grape juice on a good day? Pinot Noir in pyjamas. 💤
Drinkable but about as thrilling as a dry forest floor - leaves and dust but not much life beneath.
WWC25 – ABC: Always Bring Chardonnay, by Maria Banson
www.jancisrobinson.com
September 5, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Is it just me that has a bit of soft spot for Savigny-Les-Beaune Pinot Noir?
This 2014 from Decelle Villa is tasting a ok with Mrs VdP’s roast tomato, haloumi tray bake. Oof!
Oh and it also involved some cheeky chorizo. 🍅 🍷👍🏼
This 2014 from Decelle Villa is tasting a ok with Mrs VdP’s roast tomato, haloumi tray bake. Oof!
Oh and it also involved some cheeky chorizo. 🍅 🍷👍🏼
September 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Is it just me that has a bit of soft spot for Savigny-Les-Beaune Pinot Noir?
This 2014 from Decelle Villa is tasting a ok with Mrs VdP’s roast tomato, haloumi tray bake. Oof!
Oh and it also involved some cheeky chorizo. 🍅 🍷👍🏼
This 2014 from Decelle Villa is tasting a ok with Mrs VdP’s roast tomato, haloumi tray bake. Oof!
Oh and it also involved some cheeky chorizo. 🍅 🍷👍🏼