So the Swartland Revolution is no more. After six events, this remarkable wine festival has called it a day. It seems sad, but it’s a wise and brave decision. Everything…
Thistledown Thorny Devil Grenache 2014 Barossa, Australia
This wine is made by Giles Cooke and Fergal Tynan of Alliance Wine, in conjunction with Aussie winemaker Peter Leske. It’s a single vineyard, old vine Grenache from the Barossa,…
The remarkable Cortez 2014 from Testalonga
I’ve admired Craig Hawkins’ Testalonga wines for a while now. They are just so brave. And delicious. [See here, here and here for reviews.] This is his Chenin that’s made without…
A really nice Loire Pinot: Eric Louis Sancerre Rouge 2013
I’ve never really been all that interested in Sancerre Rouge before. But when you look at the terroirs, and then consider that it wasn’t all that long ago that this…
Why Social Wine & Tapas is one of my favourite places to eat
On the spur of the moment stopped in for a late Friday lunch at Social Wine & Tapas. This is such a good place to eat. The food is superb:…
Gamay 15, Domaine de Fa Beaujolais en Besset 2014 – from Graillot
A couple of years ago, northern Rhone producer Graillot bought a couple of parcels of vines in Saint Amour, Beaujolais. They made their first wines in 2014, including this wine….
Video: an introduction to English sparkling wine
It’s an exciting time for English sparkling wine. I shot this short segment as an introduction for a blind tasting that was being held in Vancouver, including the first English…
In the Veneto watching grapes dry
I’m in the Veneto, in northern Italy for a couple of days. First stop was Masi. They are specialists in Amarone, and we got to see the grapes – Corvina,…
Cult Cava: Juvé y Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva 2011 Spain
I first encountered Juvé y Camps last year in Barcelona. It’s a sort of ‘cult’ Cava, in that it’s really good, more expensive than regular Cavas, and is a bit…