Nick Hoyle

Wine Advisor

Favourite wine/variety: Tricky! My usual glib answer is “whatever is in my glass” as most wine has its good point somewhere. If forced to narrow it down though, I love Riesling in all its guises. I’m a big fan of Chateau Musar as well and I especially love red Bordeaux. At its best it has a poise, elegance and structure with delicious blackcurrant, plum and graphite characteristics. It can attract special prices but it can be very special indeed.

The best wine of all though is the one you drink with good company in delightful circumstances.

Wine Hero: There are so many! But, if I had to choose just one it would be the late great Serge Hochar of Chateau Musar. Serge really developed Musar into becoming one of the world’s most distinctive wines through hard work in the vineyard, the cellar and unstinting promotion worldwide. A lot of this took place during the Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990 when he made wine in every year but two with tanks rolling through his vineyard and missiles flying overhead! Courage, determination and charm – what a guy!