Aya is a boutique winery located in the Struma Valley of Bulgaria, managing two distinct vineyards. The primary vineyard, Harsovo, is situated near the town of Melnik and benefits from a warm climate, where they cultivate varieties such as Melnik, Cabernet Franc, Cinsault, Syrah, and Grenache. Spanning 35 hectares, some of these vines are old,… Read More »
Clos Rougeard, a revered estate in the Loire Valley known for its remarkable wines, is experiencing a resurgence under the stewardship of the Bouygues family. This historic producer, which focuses on the indigenous grapes Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, has maintained its reputation for crafting wines that exemplify the best of the region. Located just… Read More »
Wealthy collectors of high-end single malts are stepping back from whisky auctions, as a recent report from Scottish investment bank Noble & Co highlights a significant downturn in the market. From October 2024 to January 2025, the report noted a "sharp correction" in the secondary market for single malt Scotch whisky. The total transaction value… Read More »
I’m a big fan of Aligoté, and the 2022 Domaine Reunaud Boyer Bourgogne Aligoté is one of the best examples I’ve encountered recently. This wine, originating from Bourgogne, France, has an alcohol content of 11.5%. It presents an impressive bouquet that includes aromas of sea spray, candle wax, and crystalline citrus, complemented by a hint… Read More »
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 »