It’s been exciting to see the rise of Fino and Manzanilla en rama, a story explained in more detail here. This is the new release from Hidalgo La Gitana, which I visited last year. Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla en Rama NV (2024 release)15% alcohol. This is lovely. From La Cuadrado vineyard in the Balbaina Alta… Read More »
Simon Field MW is impressed by a (relatively) lesser-known grand cru. By Simon Field MW In his latest dispatch from the Bordeaux 2023 en primeur campaign, Simon Field MW visits Château La Tour Figeac, an over-performing, but under-hyped estate in St-Emilion. Bordeaux 2023 Field notes: Out of sorts? During a primeur campaign, it is a… Read More »
In recent years, Roebuck Estates has risen as one of the leading English sparkling wine producers. Their four vineyards situated across Sussex were established between 2006 to 2017, with their latest release standing out notably. Roebuck Estates Classic Cuvée 2018 EnglandBoasting a 12% alcohol content, this wine exhibits a pure, delicate, and refined quality. The… Read More »
Tasting the Gaja family’s best wines, a journey through time and space from Piedmont to Montalcino and Etna. By Susan Hulme MW Susan Hulme MW takes advantage of a rare opportunity to join Angelo, Gaia, and Giovanni Gaja to taste some of the family’s most significant wines. “Angelo is always ahead of time. He doesn’t… Read More »
An incredible amount of wine is crafted under the general Côtes du Rhône designation. To put it into perspective, around 167 million bottles were produced in 2022 alone. While a significant portion of this production might be considered average at best, a small percentage truly stands above and surpasses the criteria of the designation. The… Read More »
This is an impressive example of English Pinot Noir, sourced from a unique vineyard in the Crouch Valley, which is frequented by many top-notch winemakers. This wine stands as a fitting tribute to one of the founder owners of the vineyard, Roy Martin, who tragically passed away last year. It’s the creation of renowned winemaker… Read More »
Website: https://www.giantstepswine.com.au/ The Yarra Valley winery, Giant Steps, embarks on a new journey as it recently came under the ownership of Jackson Family Wines. As of 2021, Melanie Chester directs their winemaking and viticulture processes. The establishment of the winery can be traced back to Phil Sexton in the late 1990s. Known for his entrepreneurial… Read More »
Extensive testing led the research team to identify the material known as sulphur dioxide (SO2) as the main offender. It’s commonly employed by winemakers as an antioxidant and antimicrobial and doesn’t present any problems when the wine is kept in glass bottles. But, when in contact with aluminium cans, the behaviour of SO2 changes, potentially… Read More »
A wine lover’s guide to the classic French duck dish. By Joanna Simon Joanna Simon explores the history and preparation of confit de canard, before picking out the best wines to drink with this classic dish from South West France. “In some ways confit is less a recipe than a way of life.” So wrote… Read More »
The 2021 vintage brought a sigh of relief to winemakers on the ‘authentic’ Sonoma Coast. This year saw an impressive recovery from the tragic and deadly 2020, besought by wildfires and a sweeping pandemic. Exceptional concentration, bountiful yields, and near-perfect clusters collectively contributed to the joyful conclusion of 2021. The phenomenon of a third straight… Read More »