HUGH JOHNSON'S POCKET WINE BOOK 2024

This 47th edition of the must-have wine bible starts as always with a guide to the abbreviations and symbols that will enable you to choose wine with confidence and even talk about it knowledgeably. The lead article discusses the language of wine, so often parodied, arguing that mention of "cigar-box" aromas should not automatically evoke derision, even though "my rosemary may be your antiseptic, my raspberry your redcurrant". Vintage Report 2022 tells us that quantities in the Douro valley are down following low rainfall, while August rain in Alsace resulted in a yield with high alcohol content. "Ten wines to try in 2024" include an Italian Barolo macerated in Slavonian oak with aromas of peonies, earth and blood, and also a British Bacchus, described as "a grown-up wine of complexity, grace and intelligence". The section on which wines to drink with what food is essential reading, with Beaujolais cru recommended with Boudin Noir (black pudding), and Gewürztraminer with Satay. The list of grapes is always an enjoyable read, for instance Nero d'Avolo has "quality levels from sublime to industrial". Finally the gazetteer runs through the wines associated with major wine-growing countries, starting with France, though Chateaux of Bordeaux have their own chapter, and including the Balkans, North Africa, Mexico and Canada. Appendices on Champagne and Chardonnay conclude. 336pp, maps, decorations. Remainder mark.