So where are we up to with soils and wines? We began by exploring the ideas of minerality, and how soils might be having a direct effect on wine quality,…
A day in the Languedoc
I spent today in the Languedoc, doing some work. The work was actually quite enjoyable: I was tasting a selection of 90 of the estate wines from Les Grands Chais…
Vergelegen GVB 2005
I visited Vergelegen back in December 2005. At that time, they were one of the hottest wineries in South Africa. Since then, they have fallen off the radar a bit,…
The mystery of soils and wines, part 4
So, to continue our look at soils and vines, and the making of vines. In part 4, we are going to be focusing on vine roots. Vine roots respond to…
A couple from Greywacke
Kevin Judd’s Greywacke wines are up there with the best from Marlborough, now New Zealand’s biggest wine region, and one that’s beginning to show a number of talents – not…
IWC day three, plus some beer, plus some nice Riojas
Just finished day 3 of the International Wine Challenge at Lords. It is going well, and I’m enjoying tasting with some excellent wine trade colleagues. Everyone seems to be a…
The mystery of soils and wines, part 3
In parts 1 and 2 of this exploration of soils and wines, I looked at the issue of minerality. Do soils influence wines directly by means of root uptake of…
The international wine challenge begins, and some nice beer, too
So the International Wine Challenge has begun. As a panel chair, I’m signed up for all two weeks of judging. I really enjoy it, working with a different panel each…
G Descombes Regnie 2011, a serious Beaujolais
I just love this wine. I know that’s not very profound, but it’s utterly delicious. It’s one of the naturally made new wave Beaujolais wines, and it’s just so good….