Articles

In The Glass: Viña Tondonia – Rosado Gran Reserva 2008

by  |  23-08-2019

Much like politics these days, the concept of “unicorn wine” drives me a bit bonkers. For those who’ve not found their Instagram awash in its eleven-lettered presence, essentially they’re wines that are so rare and... more »

That chilling the red wine thing

by  |  25-07-2019

If this latest heatwave has shown us anything, it’s that there are a few more bends to go before we see the “shade” at the end of the tunnel which signals that another summer has... more »

Velles Vinyes: DOQ Priorat releases the most stringent “old vines” definition in Spain & maybe the world

by  |  30-05-2019

When I first started getting into wine, if it said “Old Vines” on the label I would usually buy it. Being Californian, Zinfandel had a regular spot in my shopping cart but this grew to... more »

A judgment in Grenache, Perpignan edition

by  |  22-05-2019

Taking the TGV from Perpignan in the direction of Spain gives you that brief glimpse of what being a protagonist in a billion-dollar superhero franchise must feel like. There’s this rush as you gain more... more »

A gateway to Lebanese wine: Hochar Père et Fils 2015

by  |  22-04-2019

There are random appearances of Château Musar’s “Grand Vin” at a wine and liquor shop in the Duty Free of Stansted Airport which seem to be dictated by the laws of chaos. The temptation has... more »

Let’s talk about ’16 and Álvaro Palacios

by  |  25-03-2019

A decade ago, despite living just an hour away in San Francisco, my visits to Napa Valley were readily-dwindling in regularity as tourism was then and is now, out of control. But in a nearly-final... more »

Blind tasting and finding typicity in DOQ Priorat

by  |  07-03-2019

What do you call a group of blind wine tasters? A “fool”, a group of blind wine tasters is called a fool. I am an itinerant member of one such fool in Barcelona and the... more »

In the Glass: AA Badenhorst – Secateurs Red Blend 2012

by  |  21-02-2019

I try to live a life as free from regret as possible and overall, I think I do a pretty decent job of keeping my “regret debt” within decent margins. There are however two regrets... more »

The wines of Terroir Sense Fronteres

by  |  12-12-2018

I’ve not been seen outside my tasting room much this year as it was one of those periods when I again took on all the wines of both DOQ Priorat and DO Montsant. The end... more »
L-R: Sumarroca, 7103 Petit Celler, Montse Molla

The 2018 Harvest. So far so… normal-ish?

by  |  24-09-2018

Just once I’ve love to hear some wine promotion body speak of their current harvest and say something along the lines of, “This year? It’s shit. Seriously, don’t drink it. Actually, you won’t be able... more »