I always like Emile Peynaud’s quote about how expensive wines tasted blind frequently disappoint. Along similar lines, there’s the well known scientific experiment where subjects had their brains scanned while…
Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris 2013, a Victorian gem
Neil Prentice’s Holly’s Garden wines are made from biodynamically tended vines grown in Whitlands, Victoria, at 750 m altitude. Normally, the prospect of drinking Australian Pinot Gris doesn’t thrill me,…
Cambridge Road Syrah from Martinborough, New Zealand
From a small biodynamically managed vineyard in New Zealand’s Martinborough wine region, we have this, a supremely elegant and drinkable Syrah with the poise of a ripe Pinot Noir and…
Success is an enemy
Whether you are a winemaker, a winery, a wine brand or a wine writer, one of the biggest threats can be success itself. It’s made more dangerous by the fact…
Caves d’Auvergne Gamay 2012
This is a sensational wine for the price, if – like me – you have a fascination with lighter, more elegant red wines. I’ve written about its sibling Pinot Noir…
Why I love working in wine – some unrestrained positivity
I love working in wine. For lots of reasons. Here’s some unrestrained positivity about the wine community, and why it’s a good place to earn a living. I have such…
Sager and Wilde and the London Wine Sessions, with some great wine
Such a great afternoon. I was speaking with Doug Wregg of Les Caves de Pyrene at the London Wine Sessions in Hackney. We arrived early so headed up the road…
Video: Arnaud Aucoeur Beaujolais Villages Vieilles Vignes 2012
Just loved this Beaujolais Villages. Here’s my tasting note, and a video of me tasting it. Cracking value. Arnaud Aucoeur Beaujolais Villages Selection de Vieilles Vignes 2012 Beaujolais, France 12.5%…
Vin de Constance, one of the world’s great sweet wines
Yesterday I had the chance to taste, for I think the third time, the 2008 Vin de Constance. I didn’t spit my sample. This is one of the world’s great…