Torres Mas La Plana 2018, a notable Cabernet Sauvignon from the Penedès region in Spain, showcases an impressive 14.5% alcohol content. This wine originates from the historic Mas La Plana vineyard, where Torres first planted Cabernet Sauvignon in 1966. The initial name for this wine was Gran Coronas Black Label, which gained fame in 1979… Read More »
The 2024 vintage in Bordeaux’s Right Bank, particularly Pomerol and St-Emilion, stands out for its exceptional quality, largely attributed to the growers’ mastery of timing throughout the season. Frédéric Faye of Figeac emphasized the importance of precisely timed treatments and green harvests, while Olivier Berrouet from Petrus noted that selecting the optimal Merlot parcels for… Read More »
Linguist Dariusz Galasiński has recently directed his academic expertise towards the interplay of language and wine, igniting a discussion about the complexities of wine writing. In a piece published in WineMag, he poses the question: Is wine truly difficult to articulate? There are fundamentally two aspects of wine writing: the general narrative surrounding wine—such as… Read More »
The fourth annual Texas Wine Auction, hosted at the luxurious Albert Hotel in downtown Fredericksburg on April 25, 2025, proved to be a monumental event. This year’s festivities culminated in a live taping of the local show Texas Music Scene, featuring performances from four Texas country music artists, signaling a festive weekend dedicated to charity.… Read More »
Champagne Telmont, based in Damery in the Marne Valley, is celebrating its fifth year as an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival by introducing a new, lighter 800g bottle of its Champagne. This innovative bottle, developed in cooperation with glassmaker Verallia, represents the company’s first significant shift in packaging since the industry standard was… Read More »
In August 2019, I had the opportunity to visit Abe Schoener as he embarked on his venture with the Los Angeles River Wine Company. At that time, he was working from a large facility during harvest season, which was quieter than anticipated due to a lack of grape deliveries. Fast forward to February 2025, and… Read More »
Bordeaux 2024: Recommendations from St-Estèphe and St-Julien In the 2024 growing season, Bordeaux faced varying climatic conditions, particularly in St-Estèphe, where a significant reduction in rainfall resulted in inconsistent wine quality. The unique soil compositions—with varied gravel deposits and a higher clay content—have contributed to this variability. A total of 30 wines from St-Estèphe were… Read More »
Château Angélus announced the release of its 2024 vintage during the Bordeaux en primeur campaign on April 30, 2025. The wine will be priced at €180 per bottle when purchased through negociants, translating to about £2,148 for a 12-bottle case in bond (IB) in the UK, with some merchants offering it at £1,074 per six-bottle… Read More »
At the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) New York, an impressive lineup of New World wineries is showcasing how they are reshaping the landscape of fine wine. These six producers are not just crafting outstanding wines but are also challenging traditional norms and establishing new benchmarks for excellence. Notable Producers and Their Wines Rutini –… Read More »
In 2024, the Bordeaux region’s northern Médoc areas, including Pauillac, experienced a more favorable growing season with less rainfall in September compared to southern areas like Pessac-Léognan and Margaux. This lesser precipitation may account for the better consistency and balance found in Pauillac wines during this wet vintage. Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon in the mix, these… Read More »