It’s amazing how much bravery a little hope can inspire. But take away hope – make someone feel trapped and hopeless – and they then become cautious and fearful. Many…
The wines of Envinate, one of Spain’s most exciting producers
Envinate is a really exciting project from Spain, focusing on making terroir-transparent wines from mainly Atlantic-influenced regions. It began in 2008 with four friends who’d studied enology together in Alicante:…
Clos Cibonne: geeky, iconic Provence rosé from the Tibouren grape
Clos Cibonne is alternative Provence. Now I’m a big fan of Provence Rosé, which is one of the wine world’s great success stories. But it’s not really a geek wine,…
Time for a new passport
I’ve just applied for a new passport. I’m going to miss the old one: it has been a constant companion on my travels, but even though it has plenty of…
Some new English sparkling wines: Jenkyn Place, Ashling Park, Leckford, Westwell and South Ridge
Some notes on five very good English sparkling wines recently tasted. Jenkyn Place Classic Cuvée Brut 2013 Hampshire, England Jenkyn Place is a 12 acre vineyard on the south facing…
Daterra Viticultores, stunning wines from Laura Lorenzo in Ribeira Sacra
One of my discoveries of the 2018 edition of Simplesmente Vinho was the wines of Laura Lorenzo. Previously working with Dominio de Bibei, in 2014 she set out on her…
Terroir: when soils trump climate
I’ve been embroiled in endless discussions about terroir in the past. And I mean endless. They quickly become unfocused, ideological and circular, with people talking at cross purposes. But it’s…
Wine writer buys wine! Shock! But which ones?
I had a case of wine delivered today. One that I paid for! Yes, occasionally we wine writers buy wine. Well, at least I do. Apart from anything else, a…
Video: the Nagano wine region, Japan
Here’s a brief video of my trip round the Nagano wine region: Overview: Japan’s wine scene Part 1, Kido Winery Part 2, Domaine Nakajima Part 3, Hyashi Nouen Part 4,…