“`html Paul White delves into the history of the world’s oldest continually produced wine, and travels to Cyprus to taste some exciting contemporary examples of the style. By Paul White Cyprus’s sweet Commandaria is reckoned to be the world’s oldest continually produced wine and probably its most ancient surviving style. Its story predates ancient Greece… Read More »
Hermitage Cognac said its new ‘Siècle d’Or’ vintage expression spent 100 years ageing in Limousin oak barrels in the heart of Cognac‘s ‘Grande Champagne’ region. The house said it believed its new offering to be the oldest barrel-aged Cognac so far released. Company founder David Baker described it as a ‘masterpiece of smoothness and quality’.… Read More »
I tasted these wines over dinner with Julien Bréchet of Domaine des Bosquets. He took over the family domaine in 2006 and has made great strides in terms of pushing quality and refinement. He farms 26 hectares in the appellation, covering the lieu dits of Jasio, La Colline, Le Plateau, les Bosquets, Roche, Les Routes,… Read More »
Rare Bordeaux and Burgundy wines from the Avery family’s collection were among the stars as total sales in the recent London-based auction reached almost £2.57m, including buyer’s premium, said Christie’s. It said the sale was 100% sold by lot. The June event was dubbed an offering of ‘last treasures’ from a private cellar amassed by… Read More »
Andrew Jefford tastes 2021 Ramey Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay. By Andrew Jefford Andrew Jefford is nourished by a very special wine made amid the Pacific fogs of the Russian River Valley by David Ramey. Pale gold in the glass—but can you see, by the way it moves, that there’s substance and swell, too? Perhaps I’m imagining… Read More »
This is a Napa Classic. Beaulieu Vineyards are now owned by an Australian company (Treasury Wine Estates) but they have a long history in post-prohibition Napa. Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Napa Valley, California14.7% alcohol. First vintage 1936. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon from the western… Read More »
Website: https://www.saintcosme.com/ Louis Barruol of Château Saint Cosme is one of the presidents of the Gigondas appellation, and he’s making some of the appellations most sought-after wines. He also makes negociant wines from elsewhere in the Rhône, as well as being a partner in Forge cellars in the Finger Lakes of New York. Louis was… Read More »
Ornellaia’s 16th annual auction of artist-designed bottles has raised $325,000, which the Bolgheri estate has donated to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s Mind’s Eye programme – a charity that helps the visually impaired to enjoy art through multi-sensory experiences. Throughout the history of the auction, each vintage of Ornellaia has been given a name to… Read More »
Website: https://www.gigondas-vin.com/en/home/ Gigondas is one of the most prestigious of the Rhône crus (the average bottle price in France for Gigondas is €18), and there’s a very interesting development here that people in the region are excited about: as from 2023, Gigondas can be white as well as red! Just 1% of its surface area… Read More »
Simon Field MW concludes his coverage of the 2023 Bordeaux en primeur tastings with his tasting notes on the wines of Sauternes and Barsac. By Simon Field MW 2023 Bordeaux: Enigma decoded 2023 Bordeaux tasting notes: Left Bank Part I 2023 Bordeaux tasting notes: Left Bank Part II 2023 Bordeaux tasting notes: Right Bank Part… Read More »