Articles

Scala Dei’s Artigots 2017

by  |  08-02-2021

If visiting the 12th century monastery of La Cartoixa in the village of Escaladei, you’d be forgiven for not noticing the dirt road that wobbles up along the left side of the old stone walls.... more »

A tasting of Sommos Garnacha

by  |  03-02-2021

The last day I was up in Barbastro to research the Somontano Report, I visited Sommos to sit down with the winemaker, José Javier Echandi, over lunch and discuss what they’re doing in their massive,... more »

Tasting Costers del Segre, of altitude

by  |  28-12-2020

For any wine drinker living outside Spain, or really outside of Catalunya even, DO Costers del Segre will be a bit of an unknown. Deep in the interior and fully contained with the province of... more »

David & Nadia’s Grenache 2018… no wait, the Pinotage 2018 please

by  |  02-12-2020

When not drinking locally from Catalunya or for that matter, Spain at large, we’ve been on something of a South African kick lately. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that regions such... more »

2017 vs 2018 in Priorat via Mas Doix’s Salanques

by  |  23-11-2020

A typical question people often ask me is, was so-and-so a good year for wine? It makes sense as while you can make wine literally anywhere in the world, actually growing grapes is a touch... more »

In The Glass: Crivellé i Valls – Llàgrimes del Priorat 2018

by  |  06-11-2020

Whenever anyone asks me what judging wine is like, I tell them that it’s very hard, tiring work and they invariably laugh at me. I realize it’s impossible to imagine that swishing and smelling wine... more »
Photo by Malu Lambert

From Cape Chianti to hero: Grenache in South Africa

by  |  26-10-2020

“I grew up with Grenache,” shares South African wine legend, Jan Boland Coetzee. His pale blue eyes focused on the verdant Swartland hills from our vantage point on Adi Badenhorst’s porch. The crops and vines... more »

In The Glass: Obergo – Expression Garnacha 2016

by  |  30-09-2020

I’m on my way to DO Somontano for a couple of days. While their wines are readily available in supermarkets in some parts of Spain, I’m looking to gain a better appreciation of what this... more »

Ten tasty Catalan Grenaches for #GrenacheDay

by  |  18-09-2020

In case you actually needed an excuse to open up a bottle of Grenache, today, September 18th, is International Grenache Day! A celebration of all things that this red (as well as white, pink, and... more »

In The Glass: Toto Marqués – Prades 950 2016

by  |  01-07-2020

There’s been a justified push to promote “terroir” insofar as it relates to wine. This French word, which means “sense of place” or more simply, “locale” is all fine and good unless it’s the case... more »