The rise in screwcap use in Australia since 2000 has been remarkable. Now they are by far the majority closure, for fine wines as well as more commercial ones. But…
The remarkable Penfolds recorking clinic comes to London
Since 1991, celebrated Australian producer Penfolds have been running a series of recorking clinics for owners of bottles of their wines that are over 15 years old. ‘We’ve recorked/certified over…
A tale of two wine guides
Oz Clarke Pocket Wine Book 2014 (Anova Books) Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2014 (Octopus Books) There are two leading pocket wine guides on the market, so I thought it…
Canada’s finest? Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Norman Hardie
On my recent trip to Canada, one of my favourite experiences (of many good ones) was visiting Norman Hardie in Prince Edward County. He’s making some brilliant Pinot Noir and…
A wine manifesto
So, here is my wine manifesto. The idea for putting together this document came to me while I was sitting in Bar t’at in Ilkley on Wednesday, and I finished…
Three lovely, great value South African wines
So much fun to be had with South African wine right now. Here are three wine that are full of interest, and massively over-deliver for the price. They are available…
Champagne Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru
Some more Champagne action. And another grower Champagne. Eric Rodez has 6.1 hectares of the second largest Grand Cru of all, Ambonnay. He uses 75% old oak for this particular…
Champagne Savart L’Accomplie
Love this. It’s from Champagne Savart, a small grower with 4 hectares of vines, in two communes: Ecueil and Villers-aux-Noeuds. These 4 hectares are made from 50 separate plots, all premier…
Interviews and copyright, a grey area?
A travel writer, Mike Gerrard, is in potential legal trouble with Bill Bryson. Mike interviewed Bill a few years ago, and recently released this interview as an ebook. Bryson’s publishers…