Since a visit to Chianti Rufina last summer, I miss no chance to taste or talk about these wines. I was therefore delighted that the Wine Society offered a mixed tasting case which was the perfect starting point for a Fine Wine supper. The wines were from two socially contrasting estates, the workmanlike Grati (also
Two Chianti Rufina estates Read More »
One way of dealing with the overwhelming complexity of the world of wine is to decide that there certain wines/grapes/styles that you don’t like. A few popular favourites would be a) German wine (sweet and flavourless) b) English wine (how could you? see previous post) c) over-oaked Chardonnay (agreed). My number one choice would be
Beaujolais: prejudice confounded Read More »
It is something of a struggle to persuade the world that England is a place which produces fine wine. The reputation of the weather does not help, even though with the warming of the climate Southern England has had a good number of years in a row when it has been possible to ripen grapes
Light and aromatic Read More »
The ‘Bring a bottle’ club’s theme this month was the southern Rhône, an interesting counterpoint to the usual preference for the mainly more prestigious wines of the northern section of this great river. But it proved an inspired choice with some great bottles, both white and red. There were a few disappointments too with oxidized
Southern Rhône class Read More »
In general, I like to praise the good qualities of wines which I taste. If anything I can be too positive. But if there is something to like, I will lead with that, while noting shortcomings as they are evident. It is surprising to me, therefore, to report that Andover Wine Friends’ May tasting of
Underwhelmed in Bordeaux Read More »
Decanter’s vertical tasting of the Antinori Super Tuscan wines was a remarkable chance to compare five vintages of Tignanello and Solaia going back thirty years. But more than that, in Marchese Piero Antinori’s presence, it became a fascinating cross-section through the quality revolution in Italian winemaking over the last forty years. As Antinori explained, in
Antinori: kick-starting the Italian quality revolution Read More »
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a grand name with wines of a range of qualities. If the appellation did not exist, the wines would be a much more humble Côtes-du-Rhône (Villages) and you might wonder what all the fuss was about. But it certainly does exist and in fact, its contribution to the way the French thought about
Soft and strong (updated) Read More »
May’s BBC 1 – bring any quality bottle or the odd joker and taste them blind – threw up a distinctly mixed bag. The whites in general,, unusually, did not shine, the one sparkling wine met a distinctly mixed reception and the evening was saved by good company and a high standard in the reds.
Things can only get better Read More »
As stated many times on this blog, exposing yourself to trial by blind tasting is a mug’s game. My worst moment was failing to identify the grape variety of an Alsace Grand Cru Gewurztraminer. After I knew what it was its typical rose water and lychees aromas were as obvious as it gets. And yes
Blind tasting improbability index Read More »
This weekend saw the chance to taste two interesting but very contrasting sweet wines. I am sorry that it was only after the event that I thought to take the photo. It was one of those evenings that sort of ‘developed’ as it went along But if are very sharp sighted and use a bit