Its been 21 years since Alison Buchanan chaired her first Autumn Tasting at the Turnberry Hotel in Ayrshire and much has changed with the fabric of the hotel but the service, food and the quality of our exclusive producers remains top notch.

Yesterday saw 150 guests taste wine from some of our top producers, such as Tenuta di Trinoro, Benjamin Romeo, Château de Lamarque and Schloss Schönborn to name a few and the wines were very well received and the mood in the room was one of high spirits.

Perhaps the most interesting wine of the day was sitting unassumingly at Marcel von den Benken’s table, a rare 1961 Spatlese from his library stocks. It was bright, with youthful acidity and a rich nose of prunes and Christmas cake. It reminded us of PX but this was old Riesling at its best. Apparently his estate has bottles going back to 1735, so I think a visit could be on the cards.

This morning was a real treat and the last two hours have been spent in tutored tastings for the team with Lamarque, Trinoro and Benjamin Romeo. All wines of the highest quality.

Just about to start pouring L’Arlot red and white Burgundy at 3pm for the next tutored tasting so we will report back later today or tomorrow on todays highlights.