The Long Read: Natural Wine Through 1,000 Blogs (Nearly)

by blog on April 28, 2021

How to reach 1,000 blogs on wine. Always scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh, Mr. Gibbon? A lot of words, some not necessarily in the right order, have flowed under the bridge. I am not averse to the Franken-blog, (bolting several blogs together and galvanising it with a fresh introductory and valedictory sentence). Is writing about one’s […]

{ 0 comments }

Q & A with Samuel Guibert, owner & vigneron at Mas de Daumas Gassac

by blog on April 28, 2021

Mas de Daumas Gassac is a truly special domaine, one we hold in high and fond regard.  As it approaches its 50th anniversary, we talk to owner and vigneron, Samuel Guibert, about the past, present and future of Gassac and discover everything from his earliest memories playing in the vineyard as a child to what […]

{ 0 comments }

Spotlight on: Clos du Gravillas

April 26, 2021

Nicole grew up in Narbonne, with her ‘accent du SUD’, her laugh, her contagious enthusiasm. John came to St-Jean-de-Minervois from much farther west, the land of horses and bourbon, Kentucky. In 1996, this sud French girl convinced her southern bred boy that the white rocks of St Jean were the most beautiful rocks in the […]

Read the full article →

100 Great Natural Wines: Slovenia & Croatia

April 23, 2021

This is a series profiling the producers on our list who make natural wines. Within this series we will be highlighting some of the extraordinary and rare bottles and vintages that have helped to shape our appreciation of natural wines over the years. Previous posts from our 100 Great Natural Wines series include Austria, Spain, and […]

Read the full article →

Decanting: Domaine Christian Binner in 20 bullet points

April 21, 2021

Organic practice for 15 years (although vineyards have never had chemicals) – Ecocert The Binners have practised biodynamics for many years using preps 500 – 507 – certified Demeter in ’20. They dynamise their own preps, and also make herbal teas to spray on the vines. Only ploughing on Schlossberg hill (by horse). Otherwise, no […]

Read the full article →

The Long Read: Immersion, The Luminous & The Numinous

April 13, 2021

The Harris Epiphany The state of ignorance and innocence, receptiveness, and a combination of unlikely natural circumstances that may trigger a spiritual/poetic realisation. A real artist is the one who has learned to recognize and to render… the ‘radiance’ of all things as an epiphany or showing forth of the truth ~ Joseph Campbell When we […]

Read the full article →

Spotlight on: Chateau Plaisance Penavayre

April 13, 2021

Château Plaisance Penavayre covers 30 hectares of certified organic vineyards on terraces above the Tarn valley in the commune of Villaudric, about 35 km north of Toulouse. The soils in Fronton are characterised by boulbènes – acidic, sandy-gravel mixes also seen further north in Bordeaux – but on the terraces, the soils are particularly poor […]

Read the full article →

Doug Decants: 2019 Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc

April 9, 2021

The story of Mas de Daumas Gassac is one of vision, enterprise, passion and pride. When the Guiberts first purchased their farm (the mas) in the charming Gassac valley they little realised that they had a particular micro-climate which would give them the potential to make great wines. A visiting professor from Bordeaux, one Henri […]

Read the full article →

100 Great Natural Wines: Sicilia – Part Two

April 7, 2021

This is a series profiling the producers on our list who make natural wines. Within this series we will be highlighting some of the extraordinary and rare bottles and vintages that have helped to shape our appreciation of natural wines over the years. Previous posts from our 100 Great Natural Wines series include Austria, Spain, and […]

Read the full article →

Doug Decants: Balgera

March 26, 2021

Vini di Balgera, Lombardia Cultured Chiavs Balgera is a small family winery located in Chiuro, one of the winegrowing villages of Valtellina area, in the region of Lombardy. The winery dates back to 1885, when it was founded by Pietro Balgera, who began the trade in Valtellina wines to neighbouring Switzerland through Valposchiavo, the tradition […]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries