Cava is, sadly, not cool. The news that one of the leading producers of Cava, Raventos, is to leave the Cava appellation has shocked a lot of people. [Aside: ‘appellaton’…
Pinot Noir 2013: video and some thoughts in retrospect
Amid excessive travel and a few tight deadlines, I have steadily been writing up my notes from the Pinot Noir 2013 conference in Wellington, New Zealand this January. Over the…
Dinner at Zona in Budapest
Dinner last night was with Agnes Herczeg and Gaia Gaja at Zona in Budapest. It’s a new restaurant that’s only been open four months, and it’s based around the idea…
In Hungary
I’m in Budapest for the VinCE wine conference, where this morning I am giving a talk and conducting a tasting on biodynamic wines. I arrived yesterday afternoon, and spent a…
Oakridge Lusatia Park Chardonnay 2011
I love this wine. It typifies what is happening with high-end Aussie Chardonnay at the moment – the embrace of elegance and freshness over weight and richness – picking earlier…
Some Portuguese wine people
Snapped today at the wonderful wines of Portugal tasting in London, some top Portuguese wine talent. Filipa Pato, who makes great wines from Bairrada, white and red. Pedro Araujo of…
Two from Mas Belles Eaux
Mas Belles Eaux is the Languedoc outpost of AXAs wine empire. Christian Seely was captivated by the potential of the terroirs here, and since 2002 has invested heavily in the…
Learning, the counter to subjectivity in wine appreciation
Like what you like. That’s what we are so often told, in terms of appreciating wine. It’s fair advice. When it comes to wine preferences, no one should tell you…
Two promising Rieslings from Chile
I may be in a minority, but I reckon Chile’s whites are a bit more interesting than reds at the moment. And Riesling, although it’s still quite rare here, could…