One of the highlights of judging the Canadian Wine Awards a couple of weeks ago was hanging out with the fellow judges. One of them was sommelier Brad Royale, who…
A classy natural South African – JM Meyer’s Ivory White
I don’t know a great deal about this wine, other than it’s a naturally made my Johan Meyer, who makes the wines of Mount Abora and Meerhof. Johan is based…
Talking of natural wine, I’m in love with Racines Blanc 2011 from Claude Courtois
This is just lovely. It’s a natural wine (in that it is made with no additions at all in the winery, from organically grown grapes in a farm that’s practising…
I love natural wine, but…
I love natural wine, but I worry that the natural wine movement (whatever that is), is becoming a subculture that’s self-contained, self-referential, and living in its own bubble. Let me…
The diversity of wine
Wine is unusual among drinks on many levels. And one of the most remarkable things about wine is its diversity. It’s a function of the fact that wine quality is…
Two 1996 Bordeaux wines: right and left
Had a splendid afternoon with extended family today. Brother-in-law Beavington was kind enough to open two clarets (three bottles, we got through two of the VCC) from the 1996 vintage….
Terra Lemnia, a lovely pair of Greek wines from Limnos
Terra Limnia is a new producer making impressive wines from local varieties grown on the island of Limnos. They’re made by Vicky Samaras (ex-pat Greek) and Jonas Newman of Hinterland…
Domaine Saparale ‘Le Saparale’ 2012, a lovely Corsican red
I’ve had a few really impressive Corsican reds of late. This is a lovely wine, a blend of 80% Sciacarello and 20% Nieulluccio, which spends 6 months in oak. Domaine…
Some thoughts on GM technology
So yesterday I took part in a careers session for the brightest and best undergraduates in plant sciences at the Gatsby summer school. Held at the lovely Hawkhills centre near…