How Mr Wheeler’s ‘damn good autumn wines’ derailed my sober October

It’s been something of a liver-challenging few days for the lushes of Spectator Towers. A fascinating volumetric tasting of 2013 Château Angludet (served to 60 readers during lunch from halves, bottles, magnums, double magnums and an imperial) was followed by the first day of term at the Spectator Wine School and by a memorable Spectator Wine Club lunch with Henry Jeffreys presenting his excellent new book on the pioneers behind the English wine revolution, Vines in a Cold Climate, alongside some appropriately fine English vino.

When I tell you that I then dashed home to taste 18 wines for this offer, courtesy of Mr Wheeler, you’ll probably understand why my supposed Sober October has been such a washout.

But, heck, these were great occasions, hugely enjoyable, and I reckon that this selection of bestsellers and what Mr W’s Johnny Wheeler calls ‘damn good autumn wines’ is pretty fine too.