Had a brilliant dinner at Brat last night. It was my first time, and it was one of the meals of the year. Our theme was Loire, and we brought…
Libiamo Amphora Chenin Blanc 2017 Gisborne, New Zealand
This is quite special. It’s an amphora-fermented Chenin Blanc with a dash of Marsanne, that’s on its skins for 222 days, and then pressed and bottled unfiltered with minimal SO2…
Cape Wine (5) more highlights, including Craven, Alheit, Savage, Testalonga, JH Meyer
Some more stunners from Cape Wine. Craven The Firs Vineyard Syrah 2017 Devon Valley, South Africa 12.5% alcohol. From a heavy clay outcrop: the clay gives some black fruit bass…
Impressive new releases from Franco Lourens, a new South African star
Franco Lourens is assistant winemaker with Chris Alheit, and also makes his own wines in the Alheit cellar in Hemel-en-Aarde. I tasted through the latest releases of the Lourens Family…
Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec 2015
I visited Vincent Carême a year ago, and loved his wines, as well as Vouvray, which makes some of the most compelling Chenin Blancs you could hope for (as well…
Winemaking at Gabrielskloof: pressing Chenin Blanc and sorting Pinot Noir
My first day in the cellar at Gabrielskloof was a busy one. This cellar is shared by Peter-Allan Finlayson (who makes Crystallum wines, and also Gabrielskloof, his wife Nicolene’s family…
Some lovely South African whites: Crystallum, Gabrielskloof, Momento, Thorne and Daughters
My first night in South Africa began well. I’m staying here 11 days, working vintage in the cellar at Gabrielskloof, a space shared by four of South Africa’s most interesting…
Off to South Africa, drinking a Chenin in the lounge
I’m in the BA lounge, on the way to South Africa. Tried through the wines, and this was the pick of a rather underwhelming bunch. I’m quite tired: I’ve only…
Sebastien Brunet Les Pentes de la Folie Vouvray
Another find at Scotch wine bar in Blenheim. So much Vouvray is disappointing, but this domaine, which Sébastien took over from his father in 2006, is making the most of…