Continuing the summing up of 2017 in pictures, July saw some cross-Atlantic action. First of all, Niagara, Canada, for the international cool climate chardonnay conference, 14C. This was my second…
2017 in pictures (2)
Carrying on the review of my year in Pictures, we’re beginning part 2 in late March: And late March is Prowein time. It’s a hectic but fun few days in…
Champagne Dom Pérignon: the extreme years, with Richard Geoffroy
Richard Geoffroy introduces Dom Pérignon vintages 2003, 2006 and 2009, underlines why each is an extreme wine, tells us which is his favourite vintage ever, and explains why vision is…
2017 in pictures (1)
Time to take a look back on 2017. Quite a year. I’ll do this in chunks, beginning with January to mid-March. After a quiet early January it was off to…
Some Kiwi Pinot: Seresin, Astrolabe, Saint Clair, The Elder
I’ve been drinking a fair bit of Kiwi Pinot Noir of late. Here are a few notes of good bottles consumed. The Elder Pinot Noir 2014 Martinborough, New Zealand 14%…
Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal 2006
It’s so nice when legends live up to expectations. I had six bottles of this, as payment for judging the Roederer awards a few years ago. But my teenage kids…
New releases from star Marlborough producer Dog Point
I tried these new releases from Dog Point, another of the leading wineries in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, where I’m staying for a while. They are such characterful…
The wines of Te Whare Ra, Marlborough, New Zealand
Last week, I popped into Te Whare Ra to taste the new releases. This is one of the most interesting producers in Marlborough. When the vineyard was originally planted by…
Gamay 36, Mount Edward Muirkirk Vineyard Gamay 2017
Had this last night at Scotch Bar in Blenheim. It’s a new wine from Mount Edward, and it’s a Gamay with no additions at all, including sulphites. And it’s utterly…