SUBSCRIBER BONUS TASTER - A privileged tasting of 100-point wines gets us thinking about scores, so-called perfection in wine, the risks of premature evaluation and how points for wine...somehow miss the point.

First up - the wines: Cristal 2008, Pichon Lalande 2016, Ornellaia 2013, Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill 2013 and Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Blanco 1986. We report on these and other stellar bottles, all of them recipients of a 'perfect' 100-point score.

But here's the thing. What does '100 points' mean these days? How valid are scores, which seem to be everywhere in wine as endless tasting notes and numbers are churned out on a seemingly constant basis? What are the pros and cons? Is it time for a reset, starting with the 100-point system itself?!

In this discursive episode, we subject not only these supposedly spectacular wines but also scores (and ourselves) to unflinching assessment. Peter gets hot under the collar about Bordeaux En Primeur; Susie has to intervene.

We weigh up scores in a public and personal context. But, lest you fear this is all a bit po-faced, we also touch on the magic of discovery, not entirely serious ‘anti-scoring’ wine rating scales and the importance of wines that make you smile...as indeed some of these bottles definitely did.

NB: This is a short taster of the full episode, which is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to find out more or subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS.

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E24 - Missing the Point? Tasting 40 years of 100-point wines

Instagram: @susieandpeter

August 2025, a torrid Bordeaux summer: cue thunderbolt. Lafleur, one of Bordeaux's most acclaimed wines, sensationally quits the Pomerol and Bordeaux appellations. At the heart of the issue: water.

Truth is, vines need water to survive and produce good wine. Not too much, nor too little. But climate change has thrown a giant spanner into the works - places that used to have just enough rain, now often aren't getting enough. And it's a particular issue in more traditional areas, like Bordeaux, where local appellation rules often forbid irrigation (or other things like mulching, reducing vine density or changing vine varieties). Hence Lafleur's decision.

In this extended episode, we hear the full rationale from Lafleur as they release their 2025 wines, which benefitted from their unique 'soil water correction' technique. With Omri Ram we discuss the reality of climate change, why Lafleur is, 'changing to remain the same', how exactly they're irrigating, the key issue of where the water is coming from, and the future of appellations. The implications are manifold.

We also hear from Olivier Tregoat of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, and share input from Cornelis Van Leeuwen - both acknowledged soil and water experts, and respected Bordeaux insiders.

Finally, we get a different perspective from viticulturist Jaco Engelbrecht in South Africa, where severe drought recently saw Cape Town facing 'Day Zero' (when the water would run out). Jaco works with a stellar client list across both dry-farmed and irrigated vineyards, and shares his expert insights and recommendations.

So what is the future of wine when it comes to water? Are we looking at wine Armageddon, with great Bordeaux a thing of the past? Or can human ingenuity and the vine's famous resilience save the day?

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including some illuminating photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E23 - Drop Stop: Wine's Big Water Issue

To support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.uk

Instagram: @susieandpeter

Meet John Baker, Sydney wine merchant turned Indiana Jones turned author of Stalin's Wine Cellar, one of the most eye-opening wine stories you're likely to hear.

In the first part of this real-life account, John recounted how he'd got a tip-off about a mysterious wine cellar in Tbilisi, Georgia, apparently chock full of the greatest wines in the world, some more than a hundred years old. What's more, the cellar came with an astonishing story of provenance and ownership...

It was, in short, a wine lover's fever dream. So of course John decided to investigate, soon finding himself in the wild west of wine: a world of cash and guns and enforcers and high-speed races through the streets of Tbilisi. Not to mention heart-rending breakages, the odd death threat - and unicorn wines aplenty.

In this second and concluding part of this narrative two-parter, John grapples with Georgian agendas and threats while attempting to investigate the authenticity of the wines, including a trip to Chateau d'Yquem that is memorable for all the wrong reasons. As well as adding extra detail, context and humour, John adds a final piece of exciting news by way of conclusion.

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including some illuminating photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E22 - The Story of Stalin's Wine Cellar PART TWO

To support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access, not to mention subscriber benefits and giveaways, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.uk

Instagram: @susieandpeter