Bearing in mind that most of us are broke at this time of year, I’ve decided to keep things simple and affordable this Christmas, restricting my choices to just a...
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Biodynamic wine: more than moonshine?
“Biodynamics produces wines that make you think more clearly”. This thought-provoking announcement was made by a winemaker recently in the press. He continued: “With biodynamic wine you are tasting all...
Read MoreWho pays wine critics?
The campaigning journalist George Monbiot stirred up a considerable amount of debate among hacks recently when he decided to publish a registry of his financial interests on his website. There...
Read MoreDoes Decanter Magazine make you blush?
There was one magazine above all that I found embarrassing to buy as a student. I used to surreptitiously snatch it from the newsstand and guiltily stuff it into a...
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Beards, wine and biodynamism
Pierre Weindel of Domaine de la Tour des Vidaux I was keeping my eyes out for deer’s bladders in the rafters or even the odd cow horn, but it was...
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The rocky road to the Chinese wine market
The attendance of Robert Parker, the world’s most influential wine critic, may have garnered the pre-conference headlines, but the most eagerly awaited panel at Wine Future Hong Kong 2011 was...
Read MoreMy top dozen wines from the Biodyvin tasting
2007 Domaine Bott-Geyl Gewurztraminer d’Alsace Grand Cru Sonnenglantz (available from OW Loeb)One of a series of stunning wines from this outstanding Colmar-based domaine. Spicy and complex, with real intenstity and...
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2007 Bordeaux revisited
We Brits aren’t very good at scrums, but that’s what the annual Institute of Masters of Wine claret tasting resembles at times, especially around the more popular wines. It’s all...
Read MoreWhat if the Mayans were right?
According to the people who know about these things, the last Mayan calendar, which spanned a period of approximately 1,872,000 days, ended just a couple of weeks ago (Oct. 28th)....
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The pick of Waitrose’s wine range
RED 2010 Saumur, Les Nivières (£7.49, 13%) Essence of Loire Cabernet Franc, this unoaked red is a delight: soft and grassy with fresh acidity, no oak and pure blackcurrant and...
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German Pinot Noir comes of age
Question: which country is the world’s third biggest producer of Pinot Noir? I’d always imagined the top five would be France (Champagne boosts the numbers), the USA, Australia, New Zealand...
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Putting the boot into heavy reds
One of the hardest things in life is to admit that you’ve made a mistake. Whatever we choose to call it – a blunder, a cock up or an error...
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