This was a remarkable Albariño, made from a one-hectare plot of vines that’s over 200 years old. It’s made by Gerardo Méndez of Do Ferreiro, who farms 10 hectares, split into…
Does 100 point thinking poison the mind?
I remember when I started getting interested in wine. This was in the early 1990s, before the internet. A friend had a copy of one of the early editions of…
Site-specific Chenin Blanc from Mullineux – Quartz and Schist
As you all know, Chenin Blanc is officially one of the two coolest white grape varieties, along with Riesling. Chenin’s attributes are its good acidity, its structure, its ageability, its…
A brilliant, affordable Syrah from the Ardèche
This is one of the best affordable wines I’ve had in a long time. It’s a Syrah from the Ardèche, and it’s just so brilliantly drinkable. Made by Cave Saint…
How to succeed as a wine writer by writing boring wine articles
Most wine writing in wine magazines is boring and formulaic. What does that tell us? A logical conclusion to draw is that if you want to be a successful published…
In the Ahr Valley, Germany, home to some great Pinot Noir
I’ve spent the last day and a half in the Ahr Valley in northern Germany. It’s my first visit here. This is a small, compact region that’s a tight valley…
Two lovely whites: Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec 2013 and Ganevat Grusse en Billat 2012
I have just been in the Netherlands, presenting a talk and tasting to wine professionals here over two days, with the same 10 wines both days. I met some really…
The effect of herbicides on soil structure
I’m just preparing a presentation I’m giving in the Netherlands tomorrow, and I came across two pictures I took in the vineyards at Waterkloof in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The first…
Wine writers ripping off wineries, a disturbing trend
A rant. I don’t rant often, but I’m driven to do it today. As a wine writer, I’m alarmed by the recent trend for other wine writers to behave parasitically…