Notes on a Cellar Book

Résumé : Much of the wine writing of the early 20th century might be characterized as one particular writer’s take on the beverages they had enjoyed—or not. Books were strongly opinionated and, though they might be limited in scope, they offered thoughtful insight, charisma, and, often, a touch of humor. Chief among those of that caliber was George Saintsbury’s (1845–1933) reflection on his personal cellars, Notes on a Cellar-Book. Writing at the age of 75, Saintsbury draws inspiration from a lifetime, much of it lived with a refreshing libation in hand, and does not fail to draw us in with his stories. Not surprisingly, we find a good number of literary references throughout, giving a real sense of culture and intellect to otherwise sundry anecdotes.