Dan Keeling shares a glass or three with Ridley Scott, the iconic director responsible for some of the greatest movies of all time – from Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise to Alien and Gladiator (the latter two of which Noble Rot pays tribute to with this issue’s special dual covers by Gary Taxoli). Scott is also a wine lover who owns vineyards in Provence and has a maverick perspective on everything from cooking the perfect scrambled eggs to how AI is changing the world. And while on the subject of AI, sommeliers may like to hear that they’ve got little to fear from it stealing their jobs – at least if Hannah Crosbie’s conversation with ChatGPT after asking it to mimic a quick-witted Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit St somm is anything to go by (‘I Drink, Therefore I Am’). Also in this issue: …Noble Rot welcomes back Britain’s doyenne of home cooking, Delia Smith, who tries to choose between a visit to Auberge de la Môle and a Simon Hopkinson truffle extravaganza as her ‘Greatest Meal’. ...Alice Feiring speaks to The Four Horsemen’s James Murphy and Justin Chearno about a decade of their adored Brooklyn restaurant. Tragically, since the interview, the much-loved Justin has passed away and will be hugely missed by everybody who knew him. …Kermit Lynch tells us about his eye-opening encounter in a Paris wine shop; A visit to the late, legendary Italian wine and food writer Luigi Veronelli’s mythical Bergamo cellar; and stories about Chartreuse, great Languedoc growers, BYO in restaurants, and much more. The Book: Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti? Pre-order Now (shipping from 11th November) “Dan Keeling’s new book, Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti? is a no-holds-barred voyage of discovery, from sourcing good cheap vino to drinking its most unattainable and holiest of grails – Romanée-Conti – and the universe of interstellar wines that lie in-between.” Noble Rot From new-school Burgundy, Barolo and Champagne to Tenerife, Corsica and Chianti, Dan Keeling visits some of the world’s most renowned vignerons and vineyards on a quest to find out why some wines matter – and why many others don’t. Throughout the book he details the complex aspects of traditionalist wine culture, offering insights into subjects such as sulphur in winemaking, building a cellar, and many personal recommendations on what to buy for every pocket. We’ve had the pleasure of reading an advance-release copy of the book; it deserves every ounce of the praise you can read below. Another unmissable read from the Noble Rot foundry.