Hot on the heels of the news of Reynolds' receivership comes news that one of the young Australian winemakers I have admired most, Larry Cherubino, has just resigned as chief winemaker at Houghton, the Western Australian flagship of BRL Hardy, Australia's dominant wine company, now part of the American-owned Constellation Brands. He has been responsible for such wines as the famed Jack Mann Bordeaux blend and the full range of Hardys' WA output, including the Pemberton Sauvignon I raved about recently.
My spy Peter Forrestal tells me he has no plans at present but intends taking a few months off...