If you like your Sauvignon Blancs big, aromatic, and in your face, this could be just the wine for you. I was impressed by it. I find South African Sauvignon…
Apremont: a fresh mountain white
This is nice, uncomplicated drinking. Quite delicious actually. Pierre Boniface Les Rocialles Apremont 2009 Vin de Savoie, France 11.5% alcohol. Made from the Jacquere grape, this is a very fresh,…
Impressive Northern Rhône Syrah: Jaboulet’s Thalabert in a new guise
Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet Crozes-Hermitage Nouvelière 2007 Northern Rhône, France This is made from what were the bulk of the Thalabert vineyards, which Philippe and Vincent retained when Jaboulet was…
High alcohol: why it is a problem
I’m listening to some of the reports coming out of Bordeaux with alarm. The 2009 vintage has a dark side: high alcohol. The wine of one famous chateau weighs in…
Following Bordeaux 2009 from a distance
As you can gather from reading my blog, I’m not in Bordeaux this week, unlike many of my colleagues. They’re out there for the Primeurs: the annual event when samples…
Cabernet Franc ambassadors tasting
Very enjoyable day’s work today, judging 103 Cabernet Franc-based reds from the Loire. Sam Harrop has been working with InterLoire for a few years on the Cabernet Franc project, which…
Domaine Jean Baptiste Senat Minervois: another stunner from the Languedoc
It seems I’m having a bit of joy in the Languedoc. I may have to make a visit soon to see what’s going on. This is a beautifully pure, fresh,…
Really interesting cool-climate Chilean Syrah
I’ve just written up the wines from Chilean producer Viña Leyda on the main wineanorak site. They’re all brilliant, but I thought I’d draw readers’ attention to one of the…
Sweet wine season, 11: Turkey Flat Pedro Ximenez
I haven’t finished my sweet wine season yet. Not by any measure. Here’s number 11, and we’re off to Australia’s Barossa Valley for a bit of a rarity: an Australian…