Rose tends to be a functional sort of wine. You enjoy it in the right circumstances, but don’t really feel like writing a long essay on it. And I find…
V V Vermentino!
Vermentino is a white grape variety known for making very fresh, bright wines, even in warm climates. It’s Italian by origin, and does well in Sardinia, but has also crossed…
Touraine Sauvignon Blanc seems to rock
Been very impressed with the recent Touraine Sauvignon Blancs I’ve tried. The Loire fights back! Here are three that I’ve enjoyed over the last couple of days. Famille Bougrier Touraine…
Northern Rhone series 4, Jean Luc Colombo Gravieres Crozes Hermitage
I admit to not having been a great fan of Jean-Luc Colombo in the past. His wines have seemed slightly too polished and modern, lacking the raw essence of northern…
Northern Rhone series 3, 1967 Hermitage
So after two white Hermitage wines, we’re heading to Syrah, but sticking with the Hermitage hill. This wine is very interesting. It was a gift from Richard Kelley MW, who’d…
Northern Rhone series 2, Chapoutier Chante Alouette Hermitage Blanc 2007
Continuing my exploration of the Northern Rhone, wine number two is also a white Hermitage. It may seem an odd choice. Shouldn’t I have gone to Syrah? But I want…
Northern Rhone series 1, Cave de Tain Hermitage Blanc Au Coeur des Siecles 2007
I have decided to start a short series of posts on the wines of the northern Rhone, a splendid and unique place for growing wine grapes. Not only is it…
Video: Syrah and Shiraz – northern Rhone and Barossa
Here’s a short film of me tasting two contrasting wines. Both are from the same grape variety, but one is a Syrah (Jean-Luc Columbo Crozes-Hermitage Les Gravieres 2008), the other…
Mirabeau: a Provence rose with social media support
Here’s a great example of how to market wine in the age of social media. Normally, another Provence rose coming onto the market would be treated with a big yawn….