JF Mugnier Chambolle Musigny 2003 Burgundy, France Ripe and sweet with bold, textured sweet cherry fruit backed up by spicy warmth. Rich and broad with nice silkiness and good structure….
Our Fathers Barossa Shiraz 2014
Our Fathers is a small production Barossa Shiraz made by Giles Cooke MW of Alliance wine. The inspiration for this wine was that Giles wanted to give something back. In…
Hold the front page: Taittinger’s Comtes 2006 is pretty good
I know this is a bit boring to report, but the Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006 is actually pretty good. Stunning really. The 2005 is currently drinking brilliantly (and…
On writing about wine
It’s generally a good rule for wine writers never to write about writing about wine. It’s something we find interesting (after all, it’s our career), but which is terribly boring…
Wine Country Causal, it’s a thing
I’m off to California today. To Napa, for the Wine Writers’ Symposium, which is held at the rather grand Meadowood resort. There’s a dress code which I haven’t come across…
Cantina Giardino Fino ‘Gaia’ 2010 Campania, Italy
I love this wine. I was rummaging around various piles of bottles trying to find something to drink, and I came across this. It was a total surprise: vital, complex,…
Bibi Graetz Testamatta: superb Tuscan Sangiovese
Bibi Gratetz is an arts graduate (he does his own label art) with Norweigan/Israeli parentage. His family owned Castello di Vincigliata in Tuscany, in Fiesole, just north of Florence, and…
Older New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: can it age? Should we cellar it?
While I was in New Zealand I got to try quite a few older New Zealand Sauvignons. Of course, most punters want the latest vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and…
Tolpuddle Vineyard 2014 Pinot and 2013 Chardonnay
I wrote up the first releases of these wines – the 2012s – just over two years ago. Now it’s time to look at some more recent releases. Seriously impressive…