Writing about the wines of Piemonte, Italy and France
The wines of South West France
Last night’s tasting in Longparish was a great opportunity to explore again the amazing diversity and riches of the wines of South West France. Even the names are redolent of difference and local pride: from Irouléguy in Atlantic-influenced Pyrenees, deep in Basque country, via Madiran, Fronton and Gaillac spread across the central area, to Marcillac
Diversity in South West France Read More »
Ch. de Mercuès is a proper if very elegant castle. Its website shows the towers of chateau emerge form the mists of South West France. On the same website the wine plays second fiddle to the luxury hotel but nonetheless they are clearly proud of it. In the glass the wine comes over as a
February’s Bring a Bottle Club was off into unchartered territories … again. It was, however, the last time when we had some clues. The custom has been for each person to bring their bottle or bottles suitably shrouded but for all to know who has contributed each wine. This inevitably leads to inferences being made
Inferences true and false Read More »
Andover Wine Friends’ monthly tasting featured wines from small French appellations and provided a tour of the south of France with a stop-off in Corsica. Led by Lefty Wright (picture below), it showed what quality there is outside of the well-known areas – if you can source these small-production bottles, here provided by Yapp Brothers.
Small is beautiful Read More »
Wine drinkers are on the whole a pretty conservative lot. We know what we like and we generally stick to it. This applies equally whether we are supermarket shoppers or have developed specialised palates. But one of the joys of the world of wine is its huge diversity, a product of its deeply entrenched localism
Buried treasure in the South West Read More »
We do not normally associate vineyards with high technology. Vine growing is basically specialised agriculture and all the usual factors for farming apply: soil condition, fertility, drainage, seasons, rain fall, hard work. If you walk through a vineyard on a bright sunny day it is difficult not to be affected by romantic feelings combining perfect
Plotting in Saint Mont Read More »
Away from the powerhouse of Bordeaux, the southwest of France is a treasure trove of local varieties, obscure appellations and local traditions. Marcillac is a case in point. I am happy to admit that I had to ask Germain de Marquis of the Clos du Marquis, which specialises in the food of the southwest, where
Marcillac – rustic southwest magic Read More »
Persistent driving rain in the middle of winter is no incentive to get out and enjoy the wines of the sunny south of France, even if the journey is only to London’s West End. The weather was conspiring with the economic climate. And is the most difficult financial situation most of us can remember really