Articles

DOQ Priorat prepares to approve new varieties

by  |  28-01-2021

News in the grape variety department this week revolved around the final approval given by the French INAO regulatory body approving six new varieties for use in Bordeaux. This has come about due to a... more »

In The Glass: André Clouet Brut Millésimé 2008

by  |  27-01-2021

And now for something different as I don’t really drink much Champagne. I know, I know, it’s horridly sacrilegious as I’ve been told repeatedly by many a colleague in the UK wine trade. But, being... more »

An update on Priorat’s Vall Llach winery destruction

by  |  25-01-2021

As was reported on January 10th, the primary cellar holding nearly all the wines of Vall Llach in Porrera collapsed under the weight of snow from “Storm Filomena”. Due to the ongoing municipal confinement, it... more »

In The Glass: Hay Shed Hill Pitchfork Shiraz 2017

by  |  22-01-2021

So we arrive again to Margaret River. I say “again” as I’ve been here before, writing about the Vasee Felix Cabernet Sauvignon which was simply delightful. Admittedly this wasn’t a terribly huge shock given how... more »
Going your own way means a lot more paperwork

Revisiting the disclosure issue in wine writing

by  |  20-01-2021 ~ 8 Comments

The assault on journalism never stops. Just within the last week I've seen two grave ethical violations of purported "journalism" in wine, and these are but the latest examples... One was an article about Georgian... more »

A book review of “Wine for Normal People”

by  |  18-01-2021

Writing an introductory text on wine is no small feat. A book that takes someone from, “Sure, I like wine, top me off!” to “Lemme breakdown the Médoc for you.” is a journey spanning two... more »

Riedel me this!

by  |  12-01-2021

I have a guilty secret that I’ve been hiding from the wine world. No, it’s not a sneaking admiration for white Zinfandel, it’s far more embarrassing than that. The truth is that I prefer drinking... more »

Historic snowstorm in Priorat destroys majority of emblematic cellar Vall Llach

by  |  10-01-2021

While most Spanish and international news reports have focused on the historically high snow fall in and around Madrid, other parts of the country have been hit hard by snow as well for the last... more »

In The Glass: El Coto – Crianza 2016

by  |  09-01-2021

As has been made very clear, while we may have left 2020 behind us, 2021, the impending “Year of the Ox” on the Chinese calendar, isn’t really going to be that much different, at least... more »

Wine Instagram 2020, a window into drinking widely

by  |  04-01-2021

“Well, it tastes good to me…” I don’t know who I’m borrowing this from as others have said it prior to me in that if you want to learn about wine, drink a different wine,... more »