I’ve collected here some of the stuff I’ve written for other (print) publications, alongside new writings exclusively for the Wine Wisdom site.
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.
Reducing the drip, drip, drip
Water is one of our most precious resources, and irrigation is vital to much vineyard growth around the world, but how are growers reducing its use?
Marks and Spencer Toscana Bianco 2012
For £6, this was my best value for flavour wine of the M&S press tasting.
New Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A new, top tier – Gran Selezione – of Chianti Classico is to be added above Chianti Classico Riserva and Chianti Classico ‘straight’.
Château le Grand Vostock
Château le Grand Vostock was established in 2003 by a Franco-Russian team. It is in Russia’s Krasnodar region, some 18km, as the crow flies, inland from the Black Sea. Or 45km by roads to the resort of Anapa.
Aromatic whites from New Zealand
The kiwis have created a category of white wines they call the aromatics. All of them too niche to garner much attention on their own, but together they are gathering a bit of a following. Well maybe soon.
IMW debate English Sparkling Wine
The UK is more recognised than ever before for the quality of its sparkling wines. More fruit is now channelled to sparkling production than still wine, but with new plantings continuing, is the UK at risk of making more sparkling wine than it can sell? Is the country heading for an inevitable bust?
St Chinian – “crème de la crème”?
In trying to build the reputation of the appellation the Saint Chinian syndicate has made a marketing campaign around easy-drinking, everyday wines and terroir wines from the appellation.
