Sep
20
Eric Texier Domaine de Pergaud St-Julien en St-Alban Vieille Serine 2013
There’s natural wine, and then there are well-farmed grapes made without SO2 addition. This wine is in the latter camp. The tannin of the 70 year old Serine (an old
Jul
27
Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2010
Hawkes Bay Chardonnay does not show up in cellars often – the only way to assess quality over time. Sacred Hill has been imported into our market in small quantities
Oct
14
Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett 2015
To get this much flavour from a wine with 8.5% ABV that is perceptibly dry is a remarkable achievement. It seems somehow that the Mosel has fallen out of favour
Jul
9
Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Trinoro 2014
Andrea Franchetti’s project Tenuta di Trinoro helped redefine the potential for Bordeaux Blends in Tuscany. In particular, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot do very well at Franchetti’s site, which allows
Jun
18
Philippe Valette ‘Et Pourtant…’ Vin de France
Philippe Valette makes my favourite wines of the Macon. His farming practices are the best in the region: firstly, farming is organic and free of all chemical sprays. Philippe also
Apr
27
Ciabot Berton: Barolo from a La Morra Traditionalist
Ciabot Berton are new entrants into British Columbia’s wine market. A recent tasting provided an opportunity to explore a range of blended and single vineyard Barolos from various recent vintages.
Apr
21
Spotlight on the Maconnais wines of Jean and Gauthier Thevenet: Domaine de Roally Viré-Clessé 2014
In a region of over 9,000 growers, it is a shame that so few focus on terroir differences. In this lies the greatness of the three Thevent cuvees – they
Apr
17
Spotlight on the Maconnais wines of Jean and Gauthier Thevenet: Domaine de la Bongran Viré-Clessé 2010
The Thevenets are a founding family of modern Macon. Long before Lafon and Leroy purchased vineyards in the region, the Thevenets challenged the co-op, mass-production mentality of the Macon, focusing
Apr
6
Idlewild “The Bird Flora & Fauna Red” 2015
The exploration of California’s alternative and forgotten finds is in full maturity. Wine lists in San Francisco’s Mission district are replete with such offerings, the best of which are delicious,
Feb
7
Bernard Gripa Saint Joseph Blanc 2013
I have a soft spot for Northern Rhone whites. The top examples of Marsanne and Roussanne from Saint Joseph and Hermitage offer a combination of texture, medium acidity, concentration and