Archive for November, 2011:

Cool climate Australia – tasting notes from around Melbourne.


Published on November 30th, 2011
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When Wine Australia held a tasting in London during November of wines from Victoria that are available in the UK, I focused on pinot noir and chardonnay to explore cool climate expressions.

Olivier Humbrecht on minerality – part two


Published on November 26th, 2011
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In London earlier this month, Olivier Humbrecht, of Alsatian Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, discussed minerality in wine.

Olivier Humbrecht on minerality – part one


Published on November 22nd, 2011
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In London earlier this month, Olivier Humbrecht, of Alsatian Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, discussed minerality in wine. His presentation was part of a tasting of biodynamic wines from members of Biodyvin Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Biodynamique), the organisation of which Humbrecht is president, though his discussion was not uniquely about minerality in biodynamic wines.

German pinot noir reveals itself


Published on November 18th, 2011
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Germany has long kept secret its world class pinot noirs, or spätburgunder, though over the past few years has been slowly letting in the rest of the world on these wonderful wines.

Reasons to choose stoppers


Published on November 14th, 2011
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There are many reasons why producers select particular types of closures, and while quality is always high up the list in the mix of reasons, it’s not always the one that holds sway in the final reckoning.

Recycling cork stoppers


Published on November 13th, 2011
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Recycling cork stoppers for use in the manufacture of non-stopper products, or for re-use in other programmes is beginning to get off the ground in a potentially meaningful way.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cork stoppers


Published on November 12th, 2011
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The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been certifying Mediterranean cork forests since 2005. Certification means cork oak growers can supply to cork stopper manufacturers traceable cork planks from forests certified to adopt landscape-sustainable practices.

Caviste revisited


Published on November 10th, 2011
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Caviste changed hands earlier this year, and its new managing director is Ben Llewelyn, invited me to their Overton shop for a tasting.

Loire sauvignon blanc – not Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé


Published on November 6th, 2011
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If you’re into sauvignon blanc then Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are the names to conjure with, but France’s Loire valley offers many other opportunities to drink wines from this bright and zesty grape variety.

Rioja and North West Spain


Published on November 2nd, 2011
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It’s not the snappiest of book titles, but it does do what it says on the tin. It’s the fifth book (Bordeaux, California, Champagne, Tuscany) in a series of similarly titled tomes from the team at magazine “the world of fine wine”, this one written by respected experts on Spanish wines.

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