Retired in 1997 after 40 years in the wine trade drinking every great bottle from every great vintage and eating my way round the world many times. Also wrote a serious treatise of the development of the palate related to age and experience.

Industry sector(s): Viticulture, Winemaking, Journalism, Consultant, Wine judge

Wine styles: Still white, Still red, Still wines

Wine region expertise: France, Bordeaux, Navarra

Market expertise: China, South East Asia, India, France

Specialisms: Wine species, Wine varieties, Clones, Vine propagation, Rootstocks and grafting, Life cycle of the vine, Establishment of vineyards, Factors affecting grape growing, Cultivation of the vine, Maladies of the vine and their control, Structure and composition of grapes, Harvesting of grapes, Processing of grapes, Fermentation, Stabilisation and clarification, Elevage / maturation, Blending, Food and wine pairing, Wine and health, History of wine