Here is a handy post (from someone else's blog), a map of fine wine shops in London. I was pleased I knew them all.

For some reason (not, I hope, being paranoid schizophrenic) I have come to the conclusion that 2002 is going to be the next proper Champagne vintage after 1996. I didn't like the 1997s, the 1998s didn't do it for me (even Pol!) and whilst Bolly 1999 was reasonably good it was hardly a thrill. So what caused this idea? I am not sure, I am yet to have a 2002 Champagne until about... now!

Champagne Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru 'Fleuron' 2002, Pierre Gimonnet
Quite a nice nose of ripe fruit, but it is not particularly sophisticated or thrilling. I suppose there is a nice stoniness to the fruit on the nose. The palate has some good fruit, but is a bit harsh and rough. It is freaking acidic too and really quite short and light. This is merely a reasonable drink, it by no means justifies my faith in the vintage. Whilst not sub-interested I have to say I don't really like it very much. Bums.

The quantity of Gaviscon I've had to neck to deal with the pain caused by this wine is quite amazing.

I'm out of the bin, wehay!

A tasting note will follow later tonight.

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the first time I tried to slash my wrists in the bath. An odd thing to remember, you may think. But, I have survived. It has been close, very close, at times, and I am a bit pissed off that I am still in the bin, but here I still am, swilling fine wine and chortling my way around the restaurants of the world. Things need to improve, but being here is a good start.

I've been locked up in the horrible, horrible Woolwich nut-house; things were just getting too fraught. Obviously, this means no tasting notes until I get out. Many apologies.

Thing is, for these past few weeks I've been really rather ill. This has led to me thinking I don't deserve wine. This is quite upsetting, as wine is one of my favourite things.

However, I saw the doctor earlier and I am now quite heavily medicated, and this is making life a lot easier to deal with. Maybe, after a few days, especially if I can manage some sleep, I will feel I deserve wine again and the tasting notes will flow once more.

Many apologies for the hiatus, I feel remarkably bad that I am not providing my regular reader with plenty of drivel to read to help them fritter their days in the office away.

On New Year's Eve we opened three bottles of Champagne. They were all completely ruined. This was particularly annoying when one of them was Salon 1990 and another was Salon 1988. I knew the other would be shagged out. It was a gift from my mother, a remainder from the stash she purchased in 1999. It had been kept in a wine rack in her kitchen since then. I felt bad every time I saw it.

Last year was a bumper bonanza year for wine.elitistreview.com. For viewed traffic (as opposed to bots, crawlers, spiders and the like) this year I have had 8100 unique visitors who visited 21477 times to display 63673 pages. These numbers are up from the previous year's 6516 visitors coming here 18207 times.

I still haven't earned enough from Google click-through ads to actually be paid. Maybe in a few months' time that will happen.