by Caspar Bowes

The view from the Park Hyatt, ShinjukuMy Virgin Atlantic flight dropped into Tokyo's Narita airport under bright blue skies making a very pleasant change from Wiltshire, where it feels as though it's rained almost non-stop for months.Checking into my hotel, I made a few calls and, further to one of…

Global damping's been in full effect today, slowing my progress up the M4 to London; even worse on the way home, giving band after band of medium to very heavy showers. I utter a prayer of thanks on my return that our house is on a hill. Will all the people living in the valley below want to come an…

I have been holding off this post, awaiting as I was definitive news about menus and wine lists enjoyed during a recent visit to the Borders. This has become an annual event: a yearly coming together of the John Buchan Food and Wine Society. This sounds as though there might be a literature theme. T…

This morning's dawn and the beginning of a distinctly spring-like dayIt's always informative to retaste, after a period of years, a wine that one sampled in its extreme youth, especially if that wine is one that has appeared on a Bowes Wine offering in the past.Here I sit, looking out of the window…

Lascombes's cellars looking ice cool under the blue lightsUnder yet more grey skies I crossed the Pont d'Aquitaine and followed the wrong signs, approaching St Emilion via central Libourne. The town's nice enough, but it wasn't the route I had anticipated. Nevertheless (a word as pleasant to say in …