Articles

In The Glass: Domaine de Bila-Haut – L’Esquerda 2018

by  |  22-07-2022

My fascination with Roussillon, France isn’t just because it’s the land that was historically Catalunya Nord (Northern Catalunya), but more that it’s neither here nor there. It’s most definitely not Languedoc (to which it is... more »

In The Glass: Sainte Croix – Celèstra 2015

by  |  12-05-2022

One evening I was rummaging about the cellar and stumbled upon this wine from Sainte Croix in the Corbières AOC of Languedoc, France. It admittedly had been there for awhile as I’d come into possession... more »

Scala Dei and la Cartoixa 1974

by  |  25-03-2022

Much praise is rightly given to the group of people who came to Priorat, Catalunya in the 1980s and saw not a remote wine region in serious decline, but a wondrous terroir with great possibility.... more »

A deeper look at DOQ Priorat 2019

by  |  17-03-2022

Whenever I can, I put together special tastings upon request in Priorat. They’re often for those visiting who want to sate a general wine curiosity or for dig deeper into a specific theme. In the... more »
Photo from Tablas Creek

A taste and talk with Tablas Creek

by  |  03-02-2022

The first time I visited Paso Robles was in the early summer of 1994. I’d just graduated rom high school and found myself in possession of a car that was too fast for my age.... more »

In The Glass: Gritelles – Manou 2019

by  |  01-02-2022

“Reduction”, as defined by the Oxford Companion to Wine, is a: “chemical reaction that is in effect the complement of oxidation and one in which an element or compound gains electrons.” That’s obviously quite scientific... more »

The wines from Garnacha in Rioja 2022

by  |  25-01-2022

It is a justified assumption that 99% of the Riojan wines one encounters will be majority if not fully-based on the grape, Tempranillo. At 88% of all red plantings, it is unequivocally the dominant variety... more »

A look at The Language of Yes 2020

by  |  07-01-2022

I took advantage of being in California during the holidays to order and try the new “Language of Yes” wines coming from the Rancho Réal vineyard in Santa Barbara County. They’re being produced by legendary... more »

I tasted these 2€ Spanish wines so you didn’t have to

by  |  04-10-2021

Spain has no problem selling its wines... as long as they're "a good value". This has become a double-edged sword given that the common perception, especially in markets like the UK, is that Spanish wines... more »

Spanning the years in Abadia de Poblet

by  |  07-09-2021

Up until the mid-19th century, wineries and monasteries were more often than not, the same thing. This came about as wine was something made by monastic orders for prayer and totally in no way because... more »