John Grochau established Grochau Cellars in 2002, originally branding it under his own name. Due to difficulties some customers had in pronouncing "Grochau" (it’s pronounced ‘grow-show’), the label was shortened to GC Wines, but he’s currently in the process of reverting to the original name. Starting as a waiter in Portland, John found his passion… Read More »
NUITS-ST-GEORGES DOMAINE DE L’ARLOT In the Côte de Nuits, the 2024 growing season brought heavy conditions, particularly for Premeaux-Prissey, where winemaker Géraldine Godot sprayed frequently and dealt with high malic acid levels. The harvesting took place between September 18 and 21, with yields varying significantly across vineyards. In Clos des Forêts, the yield was notably… Read More »
If anyone were to create a top ten list of South African wine producers, Boekenhoutskloof would undoubtedly rank among the very best. Established thirty years ago by Marc Kent, the winery began with a Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1996 vintage, a time when South African wine was emerging from its post-apartheid transformation under Nelson Mandela.… Read More »
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY Sarah Marsh MW presents her insights on the 2024 Burgundy vintage, focusing on the producers from Chambolle-Musigny, highlighting the challenges and characteristics of this year’s wines. DOMAINE JACQUES-FREDERIC MUGNIER Frédéric Mugnier describes the 2024 vintage as “expressive and cool,” recommending its classic Burgundian profile. He believes it has great aging potential, akin to the… Read More »
Patrick Corbineau’s Chinon is a remarkable natural wine, notable for the absence of added sulfites. Tasted recently on a podcast with Doug Wregg, the vintage remains a mystery, as neither the label nor cork provides this information. Patrick, who has unfortunately passed away, used to annotate the bottles with a pen. Speculated to be from… Read More »
The 2024 Burgundy vintage is brought to life through detailed tasting notes from producers based in the Marsannay and Fixin regions, as described by Sarah Marsh MW. Marsannay Château de MarsannayManaged by Stéphane Follin-Arbelet, this 40-hectare estate emphasizes organic practices and covers crops. The 2024 yield was notably low at just 9hl/ha, yet the wine… Read More »
Emiliana is a notable winery located in Chile’s Los Robles region of Colchagua. My visit there was guided by winemaker Noelia Orts, who shared the winery’s compelling story. Originally part of Concha y Toro until 1987, Emiliana is primarily owned by the Guilisasti family, who still maintain substantial ties to Concha y Toro. In 1998,… Read More »
Decanter’s February 2026 issue centers on the wines of Spain, exploring regions from Priorat to Rías Baixas, and shines a light on Oregon and Sonoma’s Pinot Noir rivalry. It also delves into Koshu, a unique varietal from Japan’s Yamanashi region. In the Editor’s Glass Amy Wislocki, the magazine editor, shares her reflections on the Viura… Read More »
English and Belgian Sparkling Wine: A Promising Future A recent tasting of English and Belgian sparkling wines revealed an encouraging outlook for Northern European production, particularly highlighting Chardonnay as a standout varietal. This event, hosted by a panel that included Simon Field MW, Anthony Rose, and myself, involved a selection of wines nominated by their… Read More »
José Ignacio Maturana, after spending 15 years as the chief winemaker for Casa Silva, decided to embark on a new venture with his brother Sebastien in 2014. They established Maturana Winery in the diverse region of Maule, Chile, where they have made significant investments in constructing a state-of-the-art facility. This winery emphasizes sustainability and fairness,… Read More »