Inside Bordeaux - Book Review by Amanda Skinner

My newsletters often cover a wine related book review and on this occasion I invited my sister-in-law Amanda Skinner from Private Cellars to recommend her favourite book.  Since she's written such a comprehensive and superb piece I thought it was definitely worthy of a blog post. I was delighted to be invited by my sister in law to write a review of my favourite wine book. It was a really tough choice as there have been so many great publications over the past two years but I have settled upon Jane Anson’s Inside Bordeaux which, for me, is the ultimate and definitive work on the wines of Bordeaux. I have been working in the world of fine wine for over 35 years and the Bordeaux region, its wines and the families who make them have played a major role in my career and hold a special place in my heart. Bordeaux can claim over 1,000 years of winemaking and trading and enjoys a fascinating history dating from 56 BC with the occupation of The Romans over a 300 year period with over 20,000 people living there at the peak of their powers, establishing vineyards and embracing some of the viticultural practices which are used to this day. Our association with Bordeaux was then established in the 12th Century with the marriage of Henry Plantaganet to Eleanor of Aquitaine and remains as strong today. I agree with Jane in her assertion that Bordeaux’s geography, history, economics, politics, egos and the glory of taste all combine to make its wines so extraordinary. Jane lives in Bordeaux and has for nearly twenty years and is married to Francis, who is a negociant as the Bordeaux wine merchants are called. This gives her an unique insight into the place, the wines and the people. She is a brilliant taster with an excellent lexicon which makes her tasting notes particularly informative. She is highly respected and much liked, which gives her access to all the personalities of Bordeaux and an ability to tease out information from them – this invaluable access make Inside Bordeaux such a brilliant book. Inside Bordeaux gives you an in depth synopsis on every Chateaux that it worth knowing about, it gives you an understanding of the terroir, topography and soils with some of the best maps that I have ever seen. A bit geeky for some, I am sure, but a brilliant reference and Jane’s writing is very clear and explanatory. There is a great index of vintages with overviews and quality assessments. All in all, this is a book which has been brought to life through a great respect and love for the people and wines of Bordeaux, it is a book that suits all levels of interest from the wine professional to the interested amateur and I recommend it most highly. Inside Bordeaux retails for £60 and is available from Berry Brothers & Rudd by clicking here.

About Amanda Skinner

Amanda Skinner has spent her working life in the world of fine wine. Her interest was ignited during the summer vacation of 1984 by a two week temporary assignment working for John Armit, who at that time was consulting for The Queen’s Wine Merchants, Corney & Barrow, typing up and editing his notes for their annual wine list and listening to his accounts of some of the world’s great wine characters.

Work in Paris followed and then her decision to pursue a career in wine was made in the vineyards of Champagne, working as a jeune fille at Moët & Chandon’s Château de Saran. During that time she met great wine makers, critics and collectors from all over the world and her mind was made up to make a career in this fascinating world. On her return to London she joined H Allen Smith, Ehrmanns & Viniberia, which gave her an insight into the private client, wholesale and supermarket worlds. After a year she had made up her mind which market interested her most and she jumped at the chance when John invited her to join him full time in his business, John Armit Wine Investments. Initially managing portfolios for large private investors and collectors, the company soon expanded its range and activity to include the full gamut of top wines from around the world and added hotels and restaurants, other wine merchants, nationally and internationally, and prestigious wine departments such as Selfridge’s, Harvey Nichols and Harrods to their private client customer base. During her eighteen years with John Armit, starting as Girl Friday and ending up Managing Director, Amanda had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s greatest wine markers – taking a particular interest in their wine making philosophy and wanting to act as a bridge from vineyard to glass. Her passion for wine and the desire to communicate and educate led her to formulate a wine education programme for women in London; having worked in a male dominated industry she understood the need for other professional women to learn about wine and feel more confident about choosing and talking about wine. Amanda has also consulted for Waitrose on their en primeur wine offering, contributed to various publications and newsletters as well as written a monthly wine column for Suffolk Magazine and continues to lecture and present on wine as much as possible. Moving with her family from London to Norfolk in 2005, she spent two years at wine merchant Lay & Wheeler working with the family on the re-organisation of the business prior to its sale and, in January 2008 she joined Private Cellar as a Director. Over the past thirteen years she has continued to develop her client base, lecture on and present wines, work closely with a number of charities, advising on their wine requirements for fundraising dinners and events, assist the top Oxford and Cambridge Colleges on their wine collections for events and investment and run a very popular service for Godparents wishing to establish wine collections for their godchildren. From 2009 – 2014 she worked on the establishment of a fine wine business in Hong Kong, curating their range and visiting regularly to give tutored tastings and dinners and assist the HK-based team with customer development. Private Cellar, in spite of its relatively youth, is recognised as one of the UK’s top merchants and this was recognised when they were runner up in Jancis Robinson’s competition to find the best independent merchant in the world.