Highlights: Bizoe ‘Henriëtta’ 2020 Franschhoek, South Africa
Website: https://bizoe.co.za/ Franschhoek is a region with a particular talent for Semillon, and here it’s nicely married with its regular partner, Sauvignon Blanc, to create a really interesting...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Kym Teusner: fine wines from this Barossa star
Website: https://www.teusner.com.au/ I first met Kym Teusner in the Barossa Valley in 2004 (see my report here here). He’d only just begun then, as his first release was the Joshua in 2002. There were...
View ArticleHighlights: Domaine de L’Arlot Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Clos des Forets St...
Website: https://www.arlot.com/en/ Really loved this wine from L’Arlot. This property is part of the AXA Portfolio, and Christian Seely has been in overall charge since 2007. This was one of the first...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Exploring Japanese wine (5) a wine-pairing lunch at Chi-Fu, Osaka
Website: https://chi-fu.jp/ This was a remarkable gastronomic experience. Chi-Fu is a Japanese-influenced Chinese restaurant in Osaka serving an amazing multicourse menu, and it has a Michelin star....
View ArticleHighlight: Savage Thief in the Night Grenache 2022 Piekenierskloof
Grenache is a grape with lots of potential in South Africa, and one of the regions doing well with it is Piekenierskloof. This is a cracking example from Duncan Savage. Savage Thief in the Night...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2023: the year in pictures
Quite a bit of travel in 2023, and some great memories. It was also the year I published my new book, and moved to the Docklands in London! JANUARY Just one trip in January: a quick one to Arnhem (NL)...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Highlights: two dry Furmints, Disznókő and Oremus
Furmint is such an interesting grape variety. It isn’t immediately likeable: it can be grainy, gritty, savoury and even a bit angular. But it has its own distinct personality. And that’s a good thing....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Exploring Greece (6) Skouras
Website: https://skouras.gr/en-gb Skouras is another important winery that helped put modern Greek wine on the map in the 1990s. The famous Megas Oenos wine was first made by George Skouras on an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Australian Riesling, a study in 8 wines
These wines were tasted as part of the Finger Lakes Experience this year in Geneva, New York State. I’ve followed Aussie Riesling for quite a while, and so it was nice to try a group of them together....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Exploring Japanese wine (6) visiting Tamba Wine in Kyoto
Website: https://www.tambawine.co.jp/ Tamba Wine is a vineyard and winery based in the middle of the Kyoto prefecture in Japan, some 50 km north of Kyoto. It was established in 1979 by Tetsua Kuroi,...
View ArticleHighlights: Laura David L’Insolente Montlouis-Sur-Loire 2022
Website: https://laura-david.com/fr/ Laura David established her domaine in 2017 at the age of 25 with 7 hectares of vines in Montlouis, and three years later added another two hectares, planted to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Restaurants: Plateau, Brighton
Website: https://www.plateaubrighton.co.uk/ Plateau is one of those restaurants that I love to eat at. A lunch today, on a bright but chilly winter’s day, was just about perfect. This isn’t a new...
View ArticleHighlights: Paumanok Prestige Cuvée 2012 North Fork of Long Island, New York
Really liked this aged Bordeaux blend from Long Island in New York State. Paumanok Prestige Cuvée 2012 North Fork of Long Island, New York13% alcohol. 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 4% Cabernet...
View ArticleHighlights: Umani Ronchi Fonte Del Re Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 2022 Italy
Supermarkets aren’t always the best place to find characterful, interesting wines, but this remarkable Lacrima is available in the UK from Tesco. Such an interesting wine. Umani Ronchi Fonte Del Re...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Video: visiting Constantino Ramos, one of the most exciting producers in...
Constantino Ramos came from the pharmaceutical industry, where he was running clinical trials, and shifted to his passion, wine. He worked alongside famed consultant winemaker Anselmo Mendes for 9...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Visiting Constantino Ramos, resurrecting the red wines of Monção and Melgaço...
‘My background is from the pharmaceutical industry,’ says Constantino. ‘My family didn’t produce wine.’ He did a degree in pharmacy at Coimbra University and was working in clinical trials in Lisbon,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My science CV
After reading a recent book review that questioned my scientific credentials (I don’t think they were aware of the first 18 years of my career), I thought it might be worth highlighting my scientific...
View ArticleHighlights : Filipa Pato & William Wouters Flos Castanea 2022, Bairrada,...
This experimental project was made with the grandson of Vinho Verde biodynamic pioneer Fernando Paiva, of Quinta da Palmirinha. Paiva has been working with natural preservatives instead of using...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Video: the famous La Colline Semillon vineyard in Franschhoek, South Africa
Old Road Wine Co winemaker Ryan Puttick introduces the La Colline Vineyard in Franschhoek, South Africa. Planted in 1936 by Antonie Roux, the grandfather of the current owner Anton Roux, this is bush...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Old Road Wine Co, a Franschhoek-based winery making some impressive...
Website: https://oldroadwinecompany.com/ Launched in November 2018. Owned by. The idea is to make interesting wines with good stories. These are terroir driven, ranging from 85-600 R a bottle. Single...
View Article