Had a lovely morning with Johan Reyneke at is Stellenbosch farm. Duncan Savage and I swung by for a spot of breakfast, and we had a lengthy chat about how…
Judging the Top 100 South African Wines competition
For the last couple of days I have been judging the Top 100 South African Wines competition. This is the sixth year this competition has been run. Along with Richard…
In South Africa: new releases from Craven, Intellego and Hogan
Caught the end of yesterday’s Ex Animo trade tasting in Cape Town, after a long day’s judging wine. And in the short time available, managed to try new releases from…
In Cape Town, the first evening: Meerlust, Villiera, Mossop and Nuy
I’m in Cape Town. I’ve come to judge the Top 100 South African wines competition, which is now in its sixth year. This year, for the first time, we’re not…
Video: reviewing Torres Sangre de Toro, a good honest cheapie
I have a soft spot for Torres. They’re a big company, but they make honest wines. The cheap stuff – the Vina Sol, Vina Esmerelda and the Sangre de Toro…
Benoît Gouez introduces Moët et Chandon MCIII, the new prestige cuvée
On Wednesday, I met with Benoît Gouez, chef de cave of Champagne Moët et Chandon, to try their recently introduced prestige cuvée, MCIII. ‘Since the mid-1990s we’ve been thinking of…
Video: filling bag-in-box wine on a bottling line
Bag-in-box wine is an important segment of the wine market, and in countries such as Sweden, it is responsible for around half the wine sold. Also known as the wine…
UGC: the real reason that wine writers are an endangered species
The wine writer as a species is endangered. This has been discussed quite a bit within the wine media community. I remember at a bloggers conference in Ismir, Turkey, back…
Champagne under £8? I review Tesco’s Pol Aimé Champagne NV on camera
Tesco are currently running a 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine. This offer includes their Pol Aimé Champagne, which is currently listed at £9.95. So with the multi-bottle…