Highlights: Barbadillo Nave Trinidad Manzanilla en Rama, Spain
The Nave Trininad is one of the naves in the bodega El Toro, the first warehouse that Benigno Barbadillo bought when he started his company in 1821. This old school bodega is rectangular-ish in shape,...
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Exploring Japanese Wine (7) visiting Kawachi Wine Company, Osaka
Kawachi Wine Company is based in Habikino City, on the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures. The vineyard grows grapes both for wine and for eating: 80% of the graoe production here is for table...
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The Petit-Boxler family and their new Champagne-Alsace venture: Domaine La...
This is a remarkable project from a young couple who span two wine regions. The Petit-Boxler family brings together François Petit from Champagne and Justine Boxler from Alsace (Alsace fans will...
View ArticleHighlights: Champagne Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut NV France
Champagne Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut NV France12.5% alcoghol. With a base of 2019 vintage and 34% reserve wines aged in oak (a perpetual reserve), this is a blend of 67% Pinot Noir, 31%...
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Exploring Bourgogne (5) Domaine Fabien Coche, Meursault
Domaine Fabien Coche5 rue de Mazeray – 21190 MeursaultTel. +33 (0)3 80 21 28 41https://fabiencoche.com/ Fabien Coche is based in Meursault, where he runs the family domaine. Previously this used to be...
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Australia Day Tasting 2024: some amazing pre-2020 Aussie wines
For the third year in a row a group of Aussie-wine-loving folk have met on Australia day to taste great Australian wines. The rule this year was the same as last year: bottles older than 2000 please....
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Clos Galerne: mastery of Chenin in some great Anjou terroirs
Website: https://closgalerne.com/ Cédric Bourez is the dude behind Clos Galerne, and exciting and relatively new producer in Anjou. His background is working at Château d’Esclans in Provence, a rather...
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In Niagara, Canada (13) Two Sisters Vineyards
I caught up with winemaker Adam Pearce to try through the range of Two Sisters, a Niagara winery based in Niagara River. It’s a quite new venture, debuting in 2007. The sisters in question are Melissa...
View ArticleHighlights: Partida Creus Blanco GB 2020 Penedès, Spain
This is a beautiful naturally made Garnatxa Blanca from Penedès. Partida Creus Blanco GB 2020 Penedès, Spain11.5% alcohol. Golden in colour, this is aromatic with spicy apple and pear fruit and a hint...
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Exploring Japanese wine (8) visiting Katashimo Winery, Osaka
Website: www.kashiwara-wine.com This is an interesting winery in Kashiwara City in western Osaka, led by the dynamic Toshihiro Takai. As well as making wine he has been busy crossing grape...
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Beaujolais adventures (8) Domaine de Romarand, Quincié
Website: https://domainederomarand.fr/ Domaine de Romarand is an exciting new Beaujolais producer based in Quincié. Anastasia Kritikou is Greek, married to an Italian (Michele Dall’Aglio). They are...
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The Language of Yes: Grahm x Gallo for some interesting Rhône-inspired...
This is an interesting pair of wines from the articulate and engaging Randall Grahm, who made his fame with Bonny Doon, which he later sold. The Language of Yes is a collaboration between Randall and...
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Exploring Bourgogne (6) Domaine Jeannin-Naltet Père et Fils
4 rue de Jamproyes – 71640 MercureyTel. +33 (0)3 85 45 13 83Website: https://jeannin-naltet.fr Benoit Eschard took over this domaine a decade ago, after a career working as an engineer in Paris. This...
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Restaurants: Arabica Borough Market, London
Website: https://www.arabicalondon.com/borough-market/ OK, it’s not fancy. But Arabica is just the sort of place I love eating at. It’s a small chain of two middle eastern restaurants, one in Borough...
View ArticleHighlights: Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV
This isn’t life-changing fizz, but it’s a really well made Champagne at a good price, and I’m sitting here in an airport lounge drinking it with pleasure, as are quite a few others. Champagne...
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The wines of Kistler: high-end Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Sonoma, California
Website: https://www.kistlervineyards.com/ Kistler is a highly regarded producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Sonoma in California. Founded in 1978, their main focus is on Chardonnay, and...
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Zephyr: Marlborough gets interesting in the hands of Ben Glover
Website: https://zephyrwine.com/about.htm Ben Glover made his reputation as a winemaker working for Brent Marris at Wither Hills, and later Mud House. This was to prove an ideal training ground for...
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Bad news from the Okanagan and other regions in BC, Canada: no grapes to be...
Some bad news from the Okanagan Valley in Canada, the country’s second largest wine region. This is a region that is used to cold winters, but they rarely get winters cold enough to damage grape...
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Exploring Bourgogne (7) Domaine Michael Sarrazin
Domaine Michel Sarrazin et Fils26 rue de Charnailles – 71640 JamblesTel. +33 (0)3 85 44 30 57www.sarrazin-michel-et-fils.fr This family estate is located in the heart of the Bourgogne winegrowing...
View ArticleDomaine Roche Bleue L’Orée de la Berterie 2022 Coteaux-du-Loir
Domaine Roche Bleue L’Orée de la Berterie 2022 Coteaux-du-Loir, Loire13.5% alcohol. This is Chenin Blanc from 30 year old vines. 80% on slopes and 20% on the plateau. Some red clay with a limestone...
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