Most introduction to wine books are deeply unsatisfying. Why? It’s because when people try to take the role of educator, they forget that many of their readers are actually quite…
Epic Pouilly-Fuissés from Domaine du Roc des Boutires
Domaine du Roc des Boutires is a new discovery for me. This is high-end Pouilly-Fuissé, and the vineyards, which total 4.2 hecatres, are ideally situated in the shadow of Roche…
Champagne Ruinart Blanc de Blancs
Very impressed with this, the current release of the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. It’s immediately accessible, and obviously delicious, but it also has a serious side to it. Very skilful…
New York State (8) Fox Run Vineyards, Finger Lakes
Fox Run Vineyards is one of the leading wineries in the Finger Lakes. Originally a dairy farm on Seneca Lake, the first vineyards were planted here in 1984. The current…
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (6) Paritua
Paritua is an impressive property, with a state-of-the-art winery and a sizeable 54 hectares of vineyards surrounding it, based in the Bridge Pa district of Hawke’s Bay. The vineyard…
My journey into wine
How do people discover wine? What proportion of non-involved consumers end up morphing into involved consumers? And how do people make this transition? These are all very interesting questions. The…
Gamay 44, Jean Foillard Morgon 2016
Last night in New Zealand, so it’s time to head to Scotch. A quiet Saturday night there, and a very relaxed vibe. Two very good wines, including this deliciously focused,…
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (5) Sileni and their Pinot Noirs
It’s all change at Sileni, which has just been bought by New Zealand financial service company Booster. Booster have also recently purchased Waimea Estate (Nelson) and Bannockbrae (Central Otago), and…
New York State (7) Anthony Road, Finger Lakes
Anthony Road Vineyard was planted on Seneca Lake in 1973 by the Martini family. The winery as it is now owes its existence to two events. First, John Martini worked…