October was a non-stop month, with loads of tastings and MW teaching in London, plus a week spent in southern Rhône tasting the 2017 vintage - which has made a very good first impression. The picture above is of a vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Incredible terroir!

October also saw the launch of series four of A Glass With - the podcast that drinks with the stars! - featuring guests Sting and Trudie, Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw and England cricketer Jake Ball - with more to come.

So far, November is looking similarly busy, but I will endeavour to publish a few more blog posts at least. Here’s everything I wrote in October:

• On JancisRobinson.com:

  • 76 tasting notes on an impressive selection of Cru Bourgeois 2016s from Bordeaux (subscription needed)

  • My Spittoon column considered the spectre of zero-alcohol wine (free to read)

  • 35 tasting notes examining older wines from California, with very varying results (subscription needed)

  • 39 tasting notes on Italy’s answer to champagne, Franciacorta (subscription needed)

  • Two wines of the week with a clever secret (free to read)

• My Living France column featured Château Rayas

• My Drinks Retailing News column was one of the month’s most-read articles on their site, discussing why wine is worth fighting for

• And there were just two posts on the blog.