Equipo Navazos make mindblowing Sherries. I’m drinking one at the moment, and it’s a life-enhancing experience. It’s Manzanilla No 16 – powerful, intense with nuts, herbs, minerals, citrus notes and…
A good, affordable Tasmanian Pinot Noir
I’ve struggled a bit with some Tasmanian wines in the past, which show a bit of unripeness. But this affordable example (£10 is cheap for Pinot Noir, remember) is really…
Video: Mount Difficulty, Central Otago, NZ
I have just written up the report of my visit to Central Otago producer Mount Difficulty, which you can find here. Below is a short film from the visit. Among other…
A day in Vila Nova de Gaia
I spent today in Vila Nova de Gaia with Sogevenius, a Port and wine company who own the brands Calem, Barros, Burmester and Kopke. The two winemakers, Francisco Goncalves (table…
A Portuguese dinner, with tripo and knuckles
Had a great dinner last night with the crew from Vinideas, the other speakers from the conference, and Joao Brito e Cunha (winemaker with Churchill, his family property Sao Jose…
Update from the infowine forum
I’m sitting in the infowine forum here in Vila Real, Portugal. Steve Charters (pictured) is talking – he’s discussing marketing wine to generation Y. It’s really interesting: these are the…
Brothers in Arms: big, bold and lovely
Really like this wine, despite its monstrous alcohol level (15.5% alcohol). It’s really well put together from some very decent fruit. Brothers in Arms No 6 Shiraz Cabernet 2005 Langhorne…
In Portugal, again
A quick post from the road. I am back in Portugal, for the infowine forum, where later today I will be delivering a talk on the prospects for Portuguese wines…
Jean-Claude Mas is a genius
I’m just so impressed by the wines of Jean-Claude Mas, from France’s Languedoc. Five of his wines were in yesterday’s Asda Press tasting, and they were all brilliant – he…