Dard & Ribo are one of the top producers of the Northern Rhône, but unless you hang in natural wine circles you probably won’t have heard of them. The hallmark…
Cape Wine (6) exploring Italian grape varieties in South Africa
What is it with Italy’s grape varieties? They are really interesting in Italy, but seldom travel well. Still, they attract their devotees, and they are planted in a range of…
Tasting 2015 Barbarescos and 2014 Barolos with Gaia Gaja
The articulate Gaia Gaja was in town to showcase her 2015 single vineyard Barbaresco releases, as well as the 2014 Barolos. Perhaps Gaja’s greatest achievement as a producer has been…
A Sherry seminar: eight epic biologically aged Sherries
Yesterday I did a seminar on biological ageing and the importance of vineyard site in Sherry. It involved eight different, and rather beautifully aged biologically aged Sherries. These are sherries…
Cape Wine (5) more highlights, including Craven, Alheit, Savage, Testalonga, JH Meyer
Some more stunners from Cape Wine. Craven The Firs Vineyard Syrah 2017 Devon Valley, South Africa 12.5% alcohol. From a heavy clay outcrop: the clay gives some black fruit bass…
Cape Wine (4) some more very exciting wines: Rall, Leeu Passant, Loggerenberg, Kanonkop, Badenhorst
Some more thrilling wines tasted at Cape Wine. For me, these are very high ratings indeed! Leeu Passant Chardonnay 2016 Stellenbosch, South Africa Andrea Mullineux is trying to make this…
Cape Wine (3) some highlights: Hogan, Savage, Blackwater
So many good wines tasted over the last few days! I’m going to write up notes on some of my favourites, but really it seems unfair just to pick out…
Cape Wine (2): an astonishing tasting of old reds from the 1950s and 1960s
Put on by The Whole Bunch crew (a newly formed association of some of the Cape’s most exciting producers), this was a remarkable and thrilling tasting. The wines come from…
Cape Wine (1) Some stunning old vine South African whites
Cape Wine began for many of us with a tasting of wines from the Old Vines Project. These wines were all made from vineyards aged 35 or over. It’s worth…