Bordeaux Legends – the 1855 first growth wines, by Jane Anson
I so want to imagine that copious amounts of tasting the first growths was a vital and necessary part of the research for this book.
Reduction – winemaker or closure?
It’s been a long time since the original 1999 AWRI study started identifying reduced (volatile sulphur) notes of rubber, flint, struck match under bottles closed with screwcap. Understanding of sulphide chemistry has come a way since then, so can we really justify the perpetuation of the idea that screwcaps cause reduction?
Escarpment, The Edge Pinot Noir 2012
This is a really tasty, pretty much entry level, New Zealand pinot noir, from the bottom of North Island.
Crus de Loire
The Loire valley has begun to break with its long tradition of a single-ranking, single-level appellation system. In 2011 it started to evolve a cru system of appellations.
Hattingley Valley
New English sparkling wine brand Hattingley Valley will be released onto the market at the end of August.
Camel Valley, Pinot Noir Brut 2010
This was my pick of the pops (ark, ark) from the annual English tasting in May.
Advantage Tasmania
With increasing demand for cool climate wines and wines that are fresh and refreshing, Tasmania is truly on song.
In the schist
France and Spain each have an appellation – Faugères and Priorat – based on schist that produces some extraordinary, bold, yet fine-textured red wines, with suppleness and surprising fragrance to the fruit for warm regions.
Minervois versus Corbières
I thought it about time I try to get to grips a little with the difference between these two adjacent Languedoc appellations. For too long I’ve not accorded them their individual identities.
Luis Felipe Edwards, Signature Series Syrah Reserva, 2012
For £6 and just over, on promo, this was my best value for flavour wine of the Majestic press tasting.
