Rod Smith

Some answers (Irrigation, various canopy management measures)

Difficult to know what the AoC prohibits which they want to do, or what it demands which they do not.

Yes indeed. There was some machine harvesting in Pomerol last year, but difficult to imagine Lafleur needing or wanting to do that, or even whether it’s outwith the rules. Irrigation perhaps? Frost netting maybe (although frost doesn’t appear to have been an issue in 2025 to my knowledge).

Interesting news from Bordeaux.

It was brilliant John Finnemore manages Reductio ad Absurdum better than any other writer ever has I reckon. Clever, witty but warm and human glorious comedy.

a slightly grumpy looking tuxedo kitty, lounging in a wood tray filled with straw, with a medal round his neck.

The Dickin Medal is the highest award that can be issued to animals in British military service. Bearing the words "We Also Serve" it has been awarded 75 times since its creation in 1943.

Only one cat has ever received the award.

This is the story of Able Seacat Simon, of HMS Amethyst. 🧵 1/25

A Giro d’Italia in 32 excellently chosen and delicious wines, courtesy of WineWise Benelux.

Diploma D3 Italy - done!

My Bordeaux 2024 Report is published and available to buy and download from Tim Atkin's site.

timatkin.com/product/bord...

Please help spread the word if you can!

#GrandsCrus #Bordeaux #2024 #EnPrimeur

3,218 kms. €384 petrol, €192 motorway tolls, 15 days away from home, 3 weeks. 581 wines.

Yum!

Some times old wine just hits the spot.

Dusky and still fruity with prune, leather and lots of mild sweet spices. Completely evolved tannins, and fine fruity balsamic-edged acidity. Cooked morello cherries on a long expansive finish..

I Sodi di S. Niccolo Castellare 1994.

@CastellareWine

Master Sommelier vs. Master of Wine - What's The Difference? Insights from IMW Chairman Rod Smith MW - Vint Marketplace In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, we speak with Rod Smith MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, about the journey to becoming a Master of Wine, the evolving role of deep wine knowl...

You can hear me talk about the difference between MW and MS (risky territory, but I think I managed not to insult anyone!), wine marathons, and other stuff!

vintmarketplace.com/master-somme...

It’s half an hour you won’t get back, but never mind…

I try to stay away from politics but this crab eating a grape is very important.

The Captain of Monte Carlo.

You know things are bad when an oil tanker and a ship full of cyanide colliding becomes the good news story.

Very many of them great words though!!

YouTube video by Receitas na hora certa The Rachel Maddow Show [9PM] 2/28/2025 | 🅼🆂🅽🅱️🅲 BREAKING NEWS Today February 28, 2025

youtu.be/0NTVdRAHyyQ?...

Still trying to visualise a portable table that can seat 1600 of course…

Really enjoyed the King Arthur episode which accompanied me on a run along the seafront in Thessaloniki.
The obvious chemistry between you, Mary and Mike was super-compelling. Great fun and I learnt a lot. Thanks!

Excellent to have Loïc Pasquet of Liber Pater come and share his amazing philosophy and his also amazing wines, with us this afternoon in Bordeaux.

I decided to escape and spend the day walking on my own.

And a plan came to fruition…

Not every day you get to share a stage with Jancis Robinson, presenting her with the Lifetime Achievement award for James Halliday.

An honour.

#WineParis, #InstituteofMastersofWine, #Vinexposium, #TheDrinksBusiness

Happy birthday! (I think, unless I misheard early morning BBC R4)

Mixed up vindaloo and rice for the old master. (8-2-5)

I quite like it that fully a quarter of a “Traditional Danish Lunch” is spirit alcohol.

Onwards! I’m going to Denmark. Yay! 🇩🇰

So, I am wearing my Greenland 🇬🇱 t-shirt.

Because Greenland 🇬🇱 is part of Denmark 🇩🇰.

So, it is appropriate - in the way that absolutely nothing is appropriate about Donald Trump.

Al magt til Danmark!
Ned med orange mini-hjerne!

The last time the cheesy wotsit jellyhead was president (good grief), he took credit for there having been no air crashes.

So, by “OrangeMiniBrain-O-Matic” logic, this one’s entirely his fault.

Lock him up.

The last time the cheesy wotsit jellyhead was president (good grief), he took credit for there having been no air crashes.

So, by “OrangeMiniBrain-O-Matic” logic, this one’s entirely his fault.

Lock him up.

Guess who went off on his own, chasing heavens-knows-what fauna, for an hour, as ‘part’ of his afternoon walk.

Dead-beat, thirsty and hungry, but thankfully no evidence of having picked a fight with a bigger boy/boar…

I might be tempted, but - by the most astonishing coincidence - ninety-two grand a month is *exactly* the amount I don’t have to spend on renting an apartment in Monaco.