Marchesi Antinori, the Tuscany-based wine company and owner of Napa’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, has purchased the Arcadia vineyard from the family of the late Warren Winiarski, bringing a key source of grapes for the Stag’s Leap operation under the winery’s complete control. Arcadia Vineyard is a 135-acre property with 84 planted vineyard acres, divided between Cabernet Sauvignon (58 acres), …

Two professional juries tasted different versions of a classical Bordeaux wine that incorporated one of five grape varieties from Southwest France, a cross from the 1950s and a Portuguese grape. Results broadly suggested no major impact on the wines’ regional ‘typicity’ when novel grapes were included at up to 30% of the blend, according to the study published in the …

López de Heredia, Viña Tondonia, Rioja First vintage: 1913 Among the world’s most recognisable vineyard names, López de Heredia’s Viña Tondonia has become a brand in its own right. Its Reserva is treasured as one of Spain’s most accessible icons, both stylistically and budget-wise, consistently delivering power and poise, drinkability and staying power, quality and value. See below for a …

At the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium’s State of the Industry address, Bitter again emphasised the need for large-scale vineyard reductions in California, to better balance supply with market demand. He explicitly called for more vines to be uprooted in coastal regions, such as Santa Barbara, Lake, Mendocino, and Monterey counties, as well as among Lodi’s Zinfandel plantings. From the …

Michael Pritchard MBE showcasing his Winewizard device at the Decanter office. Image credit: Sylvia Wu Michael Pritchard MBE, the Essex-based inventor known for his LifeSaver® portable water purification device, is now applying his innovative mind to the world of wine. His latest creation, Vinalchemy, promises to revolutionise the industry by accelerating the ageing process of wine. This breakthrough offers exciting …

Paris Sigalas looks exactly as one might imagine a French-educated, Greek mathematics professor-turned-winemaker to look. Which, strangely enough, is a little like the late Sir Michael Gambon. Now in his late 70s, he exudes a very particular sort of ineffable, laid-back cool – shot through with a robust intellectualism and good sense of humour. One senses that an afternoon with …

A mix of mulled boysenberry and blackberry fruit, dried violet, iris and lively licorice snap notes gives this a textbook and very aromatic St.-Julien profile. A sleek iron detail courses underneath, allowing the fruit to sail unhindered through the finish, flanked judiciously by singed apple wood. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2042. 12,500 …