What’s New?!

by blog on November 13, 2019

A roll call of what’s rocked in over the last few weeks. German Weiss Squad Young Martin Woerner is probably tired of people calling him young Martin Woerner. He, and his small operation called Marto Wine, is based in Rheinhessen with organically-farmed vines on sandstone soils. Martin previously staged with Tom Lubbe at Matassa and […]

{ 0 comments }

Review of 2019: The Calm Before The Anti-Climax

by blog on November 9, 2019

Apparently, if I don’t complete this blog by some completely arbitrary date, I should find a convenient ditch and perish histrionically therein. This has been a year where we’ve always had one eye cocked on an (un)certain event taking place. In one sense, in or out would never make a huge amount of difference to […]

{ 0 comments }

Doug Decants: Urogallo Wines, Northwest Spain

November 8, 2019

Life Beyond Fabada Asturiana Snappers-up of unconsidered trifles might be vaguely aware of the existence of the wines of remote Asturias in northwest Spain, where the vineyards are carved into the canyon-like valley walls. The tradition of grape growing and winemaking in Asturias dates back to the 9th century. Unfortunately, the current century has not […]

Read the full article →

What ever happened to… Wine Controversies?

October 29, 2019

Once upon a time I only had to open my mouth or take to my keyboard to ruffle feathers– I had Larry David’s effortless knack for causing offence. Asked to write the occasional article for trade magazines, my moment of glory eventually arrived when I was given a brief to investigate and comment upon wine […]

Read the full article →

Focus On: Recaredo (Cava not Cava anymore) and Celler Credo

October 28, 2019

The other week Ton Mata was in town to show some new wines from Celler Credo and to reinforce the message that the Recaredo sparkling wines had seceded from the generic Cava DO. Both Recaredo and Celler Credo are dedicated to making wines that show the very best of their region. For almost a century, […]

Read the full article →

Celebrating the Autochthonous

October 28, 2019

I recently tasted a Georgian wine that had over 400 grape varieties blended into it. If ever there was a declaration of the symbolic desire to preserve a multi-faceted grape patrimony this was it. Our list has over 250 different varieties ranging from the classic noble varieties – as some wine writers would characterise them […]

Read the full article →

Doug Decants: Franz Weninger’s Furmint vom Kalk

October 28, 2019

Franz Weninger and his father switched to BD farming in 2006. They originally planted Furmint in Austria over a decade ago, but the vines were hit by frost – so 2018 is the first vintage of this wine. Franz views Furmint as the white equivalent to Blaufrankisch, a wine built on the backbone of high […]

Read the full article →

Doug decants: Camillo Donati’s Lambrusco Frizzante

October 15, 2019

Slow food pilgrims who take their hunger, scrip and staff to Bologna and environs know that it’s possible to find interesting, well-balanced Lambrusco from artisanal producers and go-ahead co-operatives. We are talking frothy and refreshing wines that one can sip on the piazza or enjoy with a pizza. Little of the quality Lambrusco escapes Emilia-Romagna, […]

Read the full article →

Focus on: Bodegas Emilio Hidalgo, Jerez de la Frontera

October 15, 2019

Bodegas Emilio Hidalgo was founded in the mid-nineteenth century by Emilio Hidalgo Hidalgo, so good they named him twice. The company is owned and operated by the fifth generation of his descendants and our host for the visit was the genial Fernando Hidalgo. The winery has been located, since its inception, in the old part […]

Read the full article →

Guest Blog: How I Caught the Natural Wine Bug – Freddie Johnson

October 15, 2019

My professional experience with wine starts unconventionally as a 19-year old cowering in the cellar of a Michelin-starred London restaurant. As I pondered just how many times a commis chef could set an entire flat top grill aflame mid-service before being relieved of his position, my eyes drifted over a number of striking, colourfully-labelled bottles […]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries