I have been drinking wine for over 45 years..and in the early days I dealt 
with the wine trade in England. My search for older vintages lead me to a
couple of merchants..one being Reid Wines...a few miles south of
Bristol, England. I had lived in Bristol before I moved to Germany...so I
was back there a couple of times a year. I usually ordered the wines...then
picked them on my visits (I drove over). Co-owner was a guy called Bill
Baker. Now..when whoever made us all..decided to build Bill...he didn't
cut corners...and the end product was a one-off! Bill passed away in
January 2008. Now..before you think this 'Memory Lane' is going to be a
sad post. Forget it. Bill Baker probably never knew the meaning. 
The Telegraph obituary report at the time....and I
smiled as I read it...mentioned him taking a few cases of vintage wines
with him when he traveled abroad. I once arranged to meet him at a top
restaurant in Bristol who he supplied wines to. I waited at the bar with
my glass of something. Bill 'rolled' in. As I mentioned..he was
large..but carried it well. Talking about carried..he was carrying a
picnic basket...We sat at the table and he opened it...to reveal 5
bottles!! Now I remember..at least I think I did..only drinking
one...where the other 4 went to...we can only summise. Reid Wines was in
the picturesque village of Hallatrow...in an old converted Mill. If I
called and said I wanted to come over..the answer was..'be here at 11.30
for lunch'. On arriving...a table outside by the stream..some old
oddity of a half-bottle as an apéritif..with some paté de Foie
Gras..then a decent red. Another memory..which I should try to
forget...was driving a few miles (a few more that it should have been)..meeting
him for dinner...and returning by car along misty country roads...would
never do it nowadays...ah..the recklessness of youth! Another memory is
of joining him at the top country house 'Gidleigh Park'..for some
memorable wines. He once visited me in Germany. We had a guest room..and
a normal size bed. He managed. He asked if he could use the
bath...don't ask me!! My wife cooked us dinner...and 'bonvivant'
was had by all. He was 'expressive' about wine and people...and said if
a wine was crap. He maybe annoyed a few..I never had a problem with
him...oh yes I did...trying to keep up with him. On one visit he told me
about a regular meet of all local merchants...once a month I
think..where each one took along something special. He kindly invited me
along..a privilege..and the rest of the group accepted the 'extra'
visitor. Great wines...although my memory goes back to a whisky..which I
never drink...it was a malt..about 40 years old..and as near to a great
Cognac as you can get. The
wine trade is full of 'odd' characters...it must be the liquid. Bill
Baker was the last of a long gone style of
merchant/gourmet/imbibber..call it what you like. They don't make 'em
like that any more. The materials are no longer available!
Telegraph report here
Enjoy the video with Jancis Robinson
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