Instagram story viewer> @jjdrapersommelier> Posts

JJ Draper

@jjdrapersommelier

304

followers

1207

following

Private Client Manager for MMI/Le Clos in Dubai - studying for WSET Diploma and sharing a love of food and wine
Music @iamjjdraper

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Are you ready for tonight?

Whichever team you’re backing, Le Clos has you covered. Get into the spirit with beautiful bottles, a Le Clos X Odeon hamper, and the game about to kick off.

This is how you watch football.

Buy any 3 bottles from The World Cup Cellar and take home your own Le Clos x Odeon hamper.* Available at Emirates Hills and Al Wasl boutiques only.

A match well paired.

*While stocks last. T&Cs apply.

For predictions, vote below. For bottles, e-maill JJ. He takes match-night very seriously. ⚽JJDraper@exploreleclos.com

#LeClos #ExploreLeClos #AMatchWellPaired #WorldCupCellar #WorldCup2026 FineWine Dubai taken in Emirates Hills by @jjdrapersommelier

64

13

4 months ago

Shoutout to @tappo_enoteca in Notting Hill which was a stylish and friendly wine bar stop after a horrific journey down to London last week. Delicious food, great selection of Italian wines by the glass and overall really nice place to be. by @jjdrapersommelier

44

4

2 years ago

I made many chef colleagues envious with my plans for Monday lunch @josephinebouchon . It did not disappoint.

I’m really not one for taking pictures whilst at a restaurant but I feel obliged now I’m trying to catalogue and share thoughts on meals out - so forgive me, Mr Bosi, for making your restaurant and food look less charming than it was. That said, there’s something pleasingly un-2024 about the food that means it doesn’t scream “film me!”. At no point did a waiter pour dry ice on anything…

From photos online I expected the place to charm my pants off. It did. I didn’t expect that the execution of the food would be so incredibly precise. Maybe because the Big Man Bosi was hawkishly watching every plate from the pass downstairs the chefs had to be on best form, but the standard was phenomenal.

Feather-light, delicious cheese soufflé and tender, moreish frogs legs crowded the table around the showstopper Sauccison Brioché. Now - I’ve seen this last dish on my feed a few times, and was a little sceptical. My God. The sauce cooking (all the sauce cooking, in fact) was miraculous. The perfect deep, slightly sweet jus. The brioche was impossibly light whilst rich in fat and crisp, and a lovely flavoursome sausage in the middle sealed the deal on a truly memorable plate.

Then Lapin a la moutarde (whole, I mean WHOLE, rabbit with a mustard sauce) - almost because I assumed it would disappoint, it seemed a good test. Surely the rabbit would be a little miserly, a little tough, sinew clinging to leg bone… surely the sauce would lack a little lift or be overwhelming…? Nah. Was shockingly good. The rabbit was generous, tender, portioned up so one could greedily grab at the next delicious morsel without much navigating, offal also delicious and the sauce dangerously good - velvety, deep and rich with brightness of expertly measured mustard and little hints of fennel. Side of buttery Vichy carrots that were the size of my head and I was in Heaven.

To finish - an almost not-sweet, unbearably pretty rice pudding topped with rhubarb and pistachio was faultless.

Service was relaxed and fun, prompt without being rushed, and the place oozes class. 10/10 by @jjdrapersommelier

40

2

2 years ago

Trying to do the unnatural and chronicle more of my meals out on here - forgot to bring the camera out for a few courses… sue me. A pretty and delicious rhubarb-fennel-white chocolate pre-dessert is notably absent.

@the_royal_oak_whatcote is the sort of place that, even if the food and drink were bang average, I’d still visit. It’s simply a lovely place to be. Thankfully, though, the food is absolutely excellent and remarkably improved in the last however-long since we were last here (6 month old boy time distortion and memory loss).

First, a cup of deeply flavoured fallow deer consommé came in a decidedly Elizabethan vessel. Rich, fresh and expertly seasoned.

The snacks then set the tone - 3 delicious canapés which delighted with perfectly revealed, structured flavour- summing up what Richard’s cooking is all about - locality, seasonality and real finesse.

There is a cleanliness to the presentation and a deftness of touch that, again, has been elevated in the past year beyond their already high standards.

A small selection of characterful, elegant wines show Solanche’s passion, good sense and lack of pretence and prove appropriate companions to the delightful menu. A surprise favourite was the Assyrtiko which, despite its haziness filling me with natural-wine dread, proved magnetic - white peach, thyme, orange peel and yoghurt with ample freshness.

Raviolo of sweetbread followed, with minted white asparagus, with the herb bringing out the “lamb” in the sweetbread with satisfying subtlety. A lovely Pollock dish next with morel mousse and a jersey royal velouté - here a real gentle touch on seasoning meant the sauce had adequate lift and energy whilst allowing that tender fish to sing on its own. Local hogget for main with wild garlic, faultless glossy jus, beetroot and moreish ewes curd enjoyed with “The Cigar” Coonawarra Cab Sauv.

After some amazing cheese with a Banbury cake (an Eccles cake but more Christmassy) and the aforementioned pre-dessert, an absolute KNOCKOUT blood orange savarin left us reeling - imagine a vanishingly light donut - with crème diplomat and blood orange liquor so, so good. Thanks @a_rural_cook 👌 by @jjdrapersommelier

37

5

3 years ago

I did not have any fun in Dubai and was purely on a fact-finding mission… in the last photo I’m not wavy from a wine flight

The investment in hospitality and the visual overload of the city is insane. The most attractive, incredible restaurant and hotel interior/exteriors I’ve ever seen - has a dreamlike/high budget movie feel that is hard to describe.

My favourite was possibly the more serene One and Only, The Palm, but there’s so much incredible work going on there.

A deeply surreal place, but a nice atmosphere in the city and certainly somewhere hospitality is thriving. Great people, too.

Made me reflective about the incredibly tough environment that UK pubs/restaurants/hotels are existing in. We have to value these places

#dubai #mott32dubai #tascadubai #atlantistheroyal #lingling taken in Dubai, UAE by @jjdrapersommelier

51

1

3 years ago

Not necessarily the wine I ordered, but was never gonna send back this 2009 @breaky_bottom - (the significant “family cuvée” is in the fridge!).

Really interesting savoury nose with strong wafts of parmigiano and almost Camembert with toast, alongside earthy mushroom and truffle. On the palate a delight, lovely weight of body and vibrant mousse very satisfying, pronounced lemon peel and green apple lasting very long in the mouth. Great acidity and character.

Honestly the closest thing I’ve tried to this recently was @maisonchampagnesalon… which I hope is an enormous compliment. Have to try this one day with @cristian.rimoldi 👍

Delicious by @jjdrapersommelier

47

3

3 years ago

When a booking note reads “a guest has asked about bringing their own wine”, you dream of a lineup like this - especially when the generous guest INSISTS you try alongside them and chat about it all night!

A 1990 Dom Perignon in absolutely pristine condition - impeccable. Amber-gold, still vibrant mousse with rich brioche, marzipan and dried apricots with beautiful long citrus finish. Amazing

The guests needed a stop gap so I was very happy to supply some @albertsounit Montagny 1er Cru alongside our lobster dish, always goes down a hit with guests and this was no exception - such satisfying ripeness, weight of body and poise.

Then one of my favourites in a rare Methuselah/Imperial format - @ridgevineyards Montebello 2006. Aside from a great back workout wielding the thing, this wine was showing beautifully as ever. Just starting to hint at those menthol/eucalyptus notes I remember from a ‘97 bottle, this had long and voluptuous fruit alongside some lovely oaky notes of cedar and vanilla. A beautiful wine for hours of fun - all 6 litres of it!

And finally a really rare treat - 1997 Recioto Della Valpolicella from the iconic Quintarelli. What a wonderful opportunity to experience this genius winemaker’s work - this was fresh as a daisy and unbelievably delicious with prunes, caramel, cacao and hints of coffee and spice.
Spectacular.

Many thanks for a great night. Join us in Mo soon!

@dormyhouse @chefskypeters @martin_burge1 by @jjdrapersommelier

48

5

3 years ago

Been doing a lot of tasting (poor me) so thought I’d do a little catch up on some standouts

Was pointed in the direction of @thefeatherednestinn by @paulfosterchef and, as well as a lovely location and good food, this place boasts a great list with some very tempting prices… we LOVED this vaguely obscene @orinswift Papillon - huge alcohol, immensely long and delicious ripe fruit with pudding-y figs, dates, chocolate… a real beauty and unique.

Another trip to Torino and our favourite @ristoranteconsorzio had me thinking “when in Piemonte” so blew the budget on this 2015 Mascarello Barolo. I’ve always found Nebbiolo perplexing, and this was no different. Although undeniably fragrant and aromatic, I felt slightly underwhelmed until I had some (insanely good) Agnolotti Gobbi - fresh pasta stuffed with 3 different slow cooked meat stuffings - when the wine really came into life. Italian wine is made for food.. sounds cliche, but it’s true. Wonderful.

Finally tasted @breaky_bottom (@lilysophiadraper ‘s Grandfather did the labelling) and it didn’t disappoint. Another amazing English Sparkling.

And finally, again @thefeatherednestinn a surprise favourite. A field blend from Languedoc @domaineofthebee . This was… absolutely amazing. A blend of red and white native grapes and just so beautifully balanced with a lovely medium-full body, great acidity & plenty of aroma to get ya going. A corker.

Cheers! by @jjdrapersommelier

47

5

3 years ago

A wonderful day with @wsetglobal Diploma students touring and tasting @gusbourne_wine the other week. That 2018 Blanc de Blancs reigns supreme with a bonkers level of balance and poise. Delicious. What a beautiful day to roam around a Kent vineyard. Thanks to the great team there! by @jjdrapersommelier

34

0

3 years ago