How exclusive is Ultramarine, the single-vineyard sparkling wine made by winemaker Michael Cruse? Well, the wine was first released in 2014, and up until a few months ago, I still hadn’t tasted a bottle. Now I will admit, I wasn’t bending over backwards to taste it, and I’m sure if I had called up Michael Cruse and asked him to …

Santa Barbara was launched into the consciousness of most mainstream wine drinkers 19 years ago with the release of the film Sideways. Despite a starring role in that narrative, however, Santa Barbara continues to be undervalued as a fine wine region, perhaps in part due to its size and complexity. But make no mistake about it, Santa Barbara now makes …

Christine Marsiglio MW, Freddy Bulmer and Roger Jones tasted 60 wines with 9 Outstanding and 32 Highly recommended. New Zealand reds beyond Pinot Noir: Panel tasting scores 60 wines tasted Exceptional 0 Outstanding 9 Highly recommended 32 Recommended 15 Commended 3 Fair 1 Poor 0 Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their latest-release still red wines …

Vines in the Barossa Valley. Exports to China were wiped out in one fell swoop after Beijing imposed a tariff of up to 218%  on Australian wine following a diplomatic row over the Covid-19 pandemic’s origins. At the time, China was Australia’s largest market, accounting for 40% of exports, so that was a hammer blow to producers across the country. …

Bidders in the room at Willamette: The Pinot Noir Auction held on 10 August 2023. Bidders around the world joined those in the room at WillaKenzie Estate via livestream as 75 one-of-a-kind wines went under the hammer at the seventh edition of ‘Willamette: The Pinot Noir Auction’. Top producers created Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines specifically for the sale, which …

Structure meets polish in this full-bodied blend, which offers deep blackberry and raspberry flavors that interplay with licorice, smoked pepper and garrigue and finish with well-buffed tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 2,792 cases made. Source : 47263609ef89db147721cd1f35fd0665

This vibrant white offers a laser beam of passion fruit, lime and pomelo flavors that are accented by aromatic details of lemongrass and lemon verbena, plus a hint of litsea oil, with grilled lemon and floral details on a fresh, juicy frame. Drink now. 36,000 cases made, 29,000 cases imported. Source : ea9c8df4eb8e53f4326b7fb838139d98