Scratch below the surface and there’s lots of interesting stuff going on in Marlborough. Here’s an example. Will and Rachel Hoare have just launched their new label, Novum, which focuses…
Recently drunk: five impressive Kiwi Pinots
While I’m here in New Zealand, as well as tasting wine I’m making an effort to drink some too. The challenge for writers and critics is to be relevant to…
Burgundy 2016: the full line-up from Drouhin (47 wines)
In late November I popped over to Burgundy for a few days to taste the 2016 vintage in situ. One of the best tastings was at Maison Joseph Drouhin, both…
A vertical of the single-vineyard wines from Giesen, a forward-thinking Marlborough producer
The next stage in my exploration of interesting developments in Marlborough, New Zealand’s key wine region, was visiting Giesen. Giesen are a sizeable producer in Marlborough, but over the last…
The wines of Folium, Marlborough, with Takaki Okada
While I’ve been in Marlborough, one of my goals has been to dig a bit deeper under the skin of this, New Zealand’s largest wine region, to find the interesting…
López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva Blanco 2004
There’s something about López de Heredia, the ultra-traditional Rioja bodega. These are not easy wines, and require time. They are made in quite an oxidative way, and there’s no emphasis on…
Where preference fails, and why giving people what they want can be elitist
It’s common to see market research on wine where people are given samples and asked which they prefer. The common implication of these studies is that the wine trade should…
Two superb Kiwi Chardonnays: Black Estate Home and Tony Bish Golden Egg
Just been for a short break in Akaroa, and tried a couple of very nice Chardonnays. One was from Tony Bish, long-time Hawke’s Bay winemaker with Sacred Hill who has…
2017 in pictures (4)
October saw the New Wave South Africa tasting in London. It was a brilliant event with lots of energy, and some great folk in attendance. Eben Sadie looked smarter than…