I’m in Mendoza, Argentina. I just arrived, so the picture above is from my last visit, showing Catena’s high-altitude Adrianna vineyard. Today started around 5 pm yesterday when I left…
Chandon Brut, serious fizz from Argentina
Chandon have just launched their Argentine sparkling wines in the UK. They are really impressive, made in a rich but balanced style. Retail price is around £16, which is expensive…
Cheval des Andes vertical tasting
It was in March 2008 that I visited Cheval des Andes, a vineyard owned by LVMH in a joint venture with Pierre Lurton of Cheval Blanc, based in the Las…
The 2013 Polish Hill and Springvale Rieslings from Jeffrey Grosset
Jeffrey Grosset is widely regarded to be Australia’s top Riesling producer. Based in the Clare Valley, in South Australia, he makes two premium Rieslings from different sites, and they are…
Some picture highlights from the Beautiful South tasting
I went to the Beautiful South tasting at Olympia, London, today. It was brilliant. Three countries – South Africa, Argentina and Chile – combined to put on quite a show,…
Five eclectic wines at the DIAM Rioja conference
Today I gave a talk on social media and the wine industry at a conference in Logrono (Rioja) organized by DIAM, the closure company. Also speaking was José Penin, author…
A brilliant, but rather different, Argentine Malbec
I’ve been following this wine over the course of a couple of days. It’s an Argentine Malbec, but not as you know it. It is made by Vincent Wallard, a…
A brilliant red for under £6
I’m always delighted to be able to find a wine that ROCKS for very little money. And here is one such wine. I tried a sample on Thursday, and returned…
A brilliant unoaked Malbec at the Gaucho
Met up with my buddy and co-author Sam Harrop today for lunch. We were at Gaucho in Richmond, sitting outside as the swollen Thames flowed by in dappled sunlight, plotting…