Top wines of the SITT tasting, February 24th 2010 Here’s a selection of some of my favourite wines from today’s SITT (SITT = specialist importers trade tasting). It’s now a…
Two contrasting Rhone-style wines from California and Australia
Two rather different takes on the Rhone here, one tending towards old world elegance; the other, unashamedly ripe and new world in style. They’re both from UK supermarket (or, to…
Wine and sleep
I drink wine most nights. And in reasonable, but not excessive quantities. But on the nights when I go to bed without drinking, my sleep is different. First of all,…
Sweet wine season, 3: De Bortoli Noble One
De Bortoli’s Noble One is now firmly established as an Aussie icon. Since its first vintage in 1982, it has established a strong reputation as a complex botrytised sweet wine…
High-end northern Rhone white: Domaine du Tunnel St Peray
This is quite special, but it could probably do with a couple more years to loosen up. Saint-Peray is one of the forgotten appellations of the northern Rhone, and this…
Sweet wine season, 2: a Canadian Ice Wine
Ice wine, made from crushing frozen grapes, resulting in a must with sugar and acid both hugely concentrated, is an extreme form of sweet wine. The amazing sweetness is usually…
Video: Quinta do Romaneira, a spectacular Douro property
Here’s a film from my visit to Romaneira, a spectacular vineyard in Portugal’s beautiful Douro Valley. Since 2004, a coalition headed by Christian Seely (Quinta do Noval) has revitalized this…
Sweet wine season, 1: Seifried Sweet Agnes Riesling
I’m starting a series on sweet wines. I think they’re neglected. The truth is, as a group they encompass some of the most exciting and complex of all wines. Often,…
More on the loss-leading £4 Southbank Kiwi Sauvignon
A few days ago I posted on the £4 Southbank Estate Marlborough Sauvignon, and how this sort of price cutting was potentially damaging for brand New Zealand, even if it…