This is a lovely wine. It’s a varietal Mencia from Galicia, from the Valdeorras appellation, which is quite a bit inland on the river Sil. Some background on the wine…
Champagne Lallier’s new R.012
I was intrigued by this new wine. It’s a non-vintage Champagne from Lallier, but it’s particularly honest about its component parts. Francis Tribaut, the owner/winemaker at Lallier has decided to…
Gamay focus, 8 – Domaine Sérol Les Originelles 2014 Côte Roannaise
Once again, in my pursuit of Gamay, I am stepping outside of Beaujolais, this time to Côte Roannaise in the south of the Loire. I’m also finding this adventure a…
Randall’s grand plan: 10 000 new grape varieties
Randall Grahm is at it again. The Willy Wonka of the wine world has a new plan. No, it’s not global domination. Rather, it’s the creation of 10 000 new…
Does extended maceration obscure terroir?
Does extended maceration, to the extent that occurs in many amphora or orange wines, obscure or trump site and grape variety? This was a really good question that I was…
Gamay focus, 7 – Domaine des Hauts de Chasselay Coteaux du Lyonnais
So, in the next episode of my quest to explore Gamay, I’m heading just south of Beaujolais to the Coteaux du Lyonnais, a small appellation of 370 hectares of vines…
Tasting notes are really bad, aren’t they?
I think I really hate tasting notes. But I write them all the time. Have to. It’s a large part of my job. I don’t think my tasting notes are…
Some lovely reds from Boschkloof
I was so impressed by these three wines, presented to me by Reenen Borman (above), who’s been winemaker here since 2010. Boschkloof is based in the Polkadraai area of Stellenbosch,…
Some 2013 Burgundies from Jane Eyre
So, here are four 2013s from Jane Eyre. I reviewed a couple of her 2012s earlier this year. To recap: she’s an Australian winemaker with an interesting back story. She…