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Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have crossed my doorstep recently. This week included some heavy hitters—expensive, prestigious wines that all seemed to show up recently …

Domaine de l’Aurage. I, and a host of London’s top sommeliers and journalists, were incredibly privileged to join owner Louis Mitjavile for a masterclass and lunch at Goodman back in May for what was an incredibly illuminating afternoon. For those unaware of who Louis is and what his father François Mitjavile’s impact have been on Bordeaux, the name that might …

It was a challenging vintage in Crozes-Hermitage, but the results are considerably better than for the disastrous 2021s. It’s also stylistically more consistent than the varied 2022s. Alcohols are fairly moderate, and levels of tannin and acidity are also quite low; they typically have a herbal freshness, with just-ripe blackberry and raspberry flavours. Not a subscriber? Sign up today to …

Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo-Boisset, the scions of two famous wine families, have purchased Flora Springs Winery in Napa Valley from the Komes and Garvey families, founders of the company. Though Gallo-Boisset and Boisset are industry veterans, this is the first winery collaboration by the couple. The sale includes the St. Helena winery, inventory and the flamboyantly designed tasting room …

All eyes on Aglianico. Scientists from a cohort of Italian universities have published a study on the potential health benefits of a specially-designed pomace made from the byproducts of Campania’s flagship grape. According to their paper, Aglianico could potentially spare diabetes patients from blindness. Almost a quarter of patients with type 2 diabetes will experience some form of diabetic retinopathy …

Many people don’t know that Japan has a vibrant and long-standing wine culture stretching back to the 19th Century, when the Japanese began to seriously cultivate the Koshu grape for winemaking purposes. Koshu is usually trained in large pergolas, but some of the best producers are increasingly interested in trellising, such as those in this vineyard owned by Grace Wine, …

This has been a momentous year for The Wine Society (The Society). The storied importer and retailer celebrated its 150th anniversary with a remarkable series of special tastings, dinners, talks and releases, alongside social and environmental sustainability initiatives that will ripple through in years to come. Among the most relevant is perhaps the Climate & Nature programme through which The …

The style of red Hermitage this year is relatively approachable, the structures are a little more rounded and less rigid than in some vintages. Not a subscriber? Sign up today to read the Rhône Report and all Premium articles. Use the code RHONE2023 at checkout to get 20% off your first… Source : https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/hermitage-2023-report-and-top-scoring-wines-543883/

Coravin forest green Timeless Six+ systemWine-Opoly board game £25 Widely available It wouldn’t be Christmas without a board game. This wine lover’s spin on classic Monopoly aims to help you learn while you play. Choose either traditional play or a one-hour version. Wine Folly, Color of Wine poster £29 winefolly.com Perfect for wine students, this is one of a range …

The Sant Gregori Villa site. Researchers uncovered plots dedicated to viticulture and various structures for wine production during their excavation of the site. They identified constructions dating from the turn of the era (the year 1AD) to the 4th century at the Sant Gregori Villa. Researchers have not yet found evidence of any pressing rooms, but they have already uncovered …

It is the first time a Spanish producer has ever secured top spot in the highly anticipated Power 100 rankings from Liv-ex, a global marketplace for fine wine traders. Burgundy normally reigns supreme on this list. Domaine Leroy took the crown in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and Domaine Leflaive then topped the list in 2023. However, it has been a …

Relaxing at La Ardosa in Madrid, a popular haunt for locals and tourists alike since its foundation in 1892. It’s an iconic image straight out of a Hemingway novel: a sleepy bar on a Sunday afternoon, the floor littered with peanut shells; barrels with wooden spigots jostle for space above the bar. Short glasses – filled with ice, olives and …

Do We Believe Global Warming Yet? With a title like the following, I really do hope that more people are beginning to pay closer attention. “Global wine production falls to lowest level since 1961,” was seen in Decanter magazine. The subtitle reads, “has plummeted to a 63 year low.” This was followed by, “after frost, […] The post Best Press …

Why Vougeot? The Clos de Vougeot masterclass Decanter Fine Wine Encounter Singapore set out to demonstrate that the Clos is among the most fascinating terroirs in Burgundy. The tasting allowed the attendees a deep dive into the pleasures and contradictions of this superb appellation. The class was led by François Labet, proprietor of Château de la Tour and the largest …

Why Vougeot? The Clos de Vougeot masterclass Decanter Fine Wine Encounter Singapore set out to demonstrate that the Clos is among the most fascinating terroirs in Burgundy. The tasting allowed the attendees a deep dive into the pleasures and contradictions of this superb appellation. The class was led by François Labet, proprietor of Château de la Tour and the largest …

Marqués de Riscal wines at Decanter London Fine Wine Experience Having consolidated a unique portfolio of vineyards across Rioja, Castilla y Leo?n and Rueda, the historic winery brought eight stellar wines to the table at the Landmark Hotel London this November 2024. With 350ha of organic vineyards in Rueda (for white wines), and 370ha in Rioja (for reds) and a …

The principal aim when pairing cheese and wine is to find an enjoyable match and to avoid clashes between all elements involved. I can count on my fingers the number of cheese and wine pairings that have taken me to an ethereal level. My favourite was a pairing of Bolney Wine Estate’s Kew Gardens sparkling rosé with a youthful Mont …

Aldi’s wine range remains focused on affordable quality. Supermarket Aldi showcased 98 sparkling and still wines in its 2024 UK autumn/winter collection, 63 of them new. With prices starting from £4.19 for the non-vintage Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot under the Estevez label from Chile, to £21.99 for the Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne NV, the focus of this German supermarket …

Olivier Clape of Domaine Clape sees 2023 as ‘like what we used to have,’ a return to wines of classical proportions compared to some of the very ripe, exaggerated wines of recent years. ‘OK, it’s rainy and you have to fight the mildew and everything, but in the end it’s worth it,’ says Clape. Not a subscriber? Sign up today …

Ben Hasko was announced as one of five new MWs in August, having qualified as Master Sommelier in 2016. Amy Wislocki caught up with him while in Singapore for the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter in October. ‘I found out about passing the MW in between services at work. We opened a good bottle of Champagne there and then to celebrate. …