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Could a Côtes du Rhône ever score 100 points? There’s no reason why not. In fact, Domaine Gramenon scored 97 points in the recent 2023 Rhône vintage report. Score inflation? No; the wine deserved it on merit.  Scroll down to see 16 of Mat Walls’ top 2023 Côtes du Rhône under… Source : https://www.decanter.com/premium/walls-the-best-new-cotes-du-rhone-wines-under-20-549397/

Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I post them to my magazine on Flipboard, but for those of you who aren’t Flipboard-inclined, here’s everything I’ve strained out of the wine-related muck for the week. Nonalcoholic California wine has come a long way. But here’s the harsh realityThey still …

An imperial of Château d’Yquem 1996 was the star of the show as members celebrated the festive season at 67 Pall Mall last month. Diners at the upmarket London wine club also enjoyed an 18-litre melchior of Blandy’s Madeira, while others polished off various magnums and double magnums. Similar scenes were playing out at Oswald’s, another exclusive wine club located …

The Scenic Sapphire Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours eight-day, food- and wine-themed cruise down the Rhône river, from Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, 283km south as the river flows to the Roman city of Arles, takes passengers through – and to – some of the country’s most storied wine-producing regions. The 135-metre Scenic Sapphire can accommodate 147 passengers in its 74 …

Bottles of champagne ageing in the cellar of Champagne Henri Lemaire. What are lees in wine? Essentially, lees are a byproduct of fermentation, during which yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. As fermentation comes to an end, the yeast dies and sinks to the bottom. These dead yeast cells, along with other solid particles such as grape skin …

Cabernet rows at Montecillo Vineyard near the top of the Moon Mountain AVA. Montecillo Vineyard has perhaps been one of the best-kept secrets in Sonoma County. Its old-vine Cabernet goes to some very talented winemakers. Coming from gnarled vines planted in the 1960s, dry-farmed above the fog line in the Moon Mountain AVA, where the hot day’s sun creates perfect …

The Natureo range, produced by Familia Torres, has stood out in the no-low category since it was first launched in 2008 As demand for low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks continues to rise, one of Spain’s leading producers is making a significant investment in the category. Familia Torres has announced it will invest €6m (£5,074,110) between 2024 and 2026 in a new …

Many leading wine-consuming nations are drinking less: UK wine consumption was down 2.9% in 2023 compared to 2022; the USA was down 3% and Canada down 5.6%. Chinese wine consumption plummeted by 24.7%. France is about to pay wine-growers €4,000 per hectare to uproot some 30,000ha of vineyards, with a further 70,000ha targeted. Australia had two years’ worth of wine …

Tom Hewson, Eugenio Egorov and Victoria Mason MW tasted 82 wines, with 1 Outstanding and 41 Highly Recommended Non-vintage rosé Champagne: Panel tasting scores 82 wines tasted Exceptional 0 Outstanding 1 Highly recommended 41 Recommended 38 Entry criteria: Producers and UK agents were invited to submit their non-vintage rosé Champagnes in any dryness level, from zero dosage up to sweeter …

Hello and welcome to this week’s 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 past week included an eclectic mix of wines from here, there and everywhere. Let’s …

Marilisa Allegrini with daughters, Carlotta (l) and Caterina, and CEO Andrea Lonardi. Until the early 1980s, Valpolicella was regarded as a cheap, thin, quaffing wine of no distinction. Until, that is, Giovanni Allegrini and a handful of others changed that perception by acquiring outstanding vineyards and producing wines with concentration and personality. After his death in 1983, Giovanni’s sons Walter …

A lot of people pay big bucks to live amongst the vines. But if you’re a Rufous Hornero, you just find a convenient end-post and start building. Also known as the Red Oven Bird (and sometimes affectionately as the Engineer Bird) these relatively nondescript birds are all over Uruguay and the rest of South America. This one made its home …

Costières de Nîmes AOC is the most southerly appellation in the Rhône valley, nestled at the edge of the Rhône delta, in the hills overlooking the Camargue, with vineyards as little as 20km (12.5 miles) to the Mediterranean sea. The appellation is best understood as two halves, either side of a large hill: a south-facing half facing the sea, and …

Edward Ragg MW is a new judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Edward Ragg MW, Ph.D.Edward Ragg MW Edward co-founded Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting in Beijing with his wife and partner Fongyee Walker MW in 2007. Having read English at Oxford University, Edward began blind-tasting at Cambridge whilst writing an M.Phil. and, later, Ph.D. dissertation on American …

Whether you’re looking to fête the start of 2025 in the utmost style or still planning this year’s calendar, we’ve pulled together some of the most decadent ways to celebrate the end of the winter season and beyond – because why should the party stop after New Year’s Eve? If you’re still trying to find a gift for that family …

In March 1933 millions of Americans toasted President Franklin D. Roosevelt after he repealed the Prohibition. National morale was at rock bottom amid the Great Depression, so the new president declared: ‘I think this would be a good time for a beer.’ Ninety-two years later, the spectre of prohibition looms over the nation once again. This time, the new president …

Nicola Chiucchiurlotto in his vineyard It’s the iconic greeting you get when you walk into The Varsity, a hotdog and milkshake joint in Atlanta: ‘What’ll ya have?’ It’s a mix of southern US charm and the casualness of a friend: it lets you drop your shoulders and relax – no pressure or judgement. And this is the question, with all …

If one thing is certain about the restaurant industry, it’s that things change: Fresh faces come onto the scene, established chefs seek a change of pace, restaurant groups try to tap into up-and-coming trends. Below are eight exciting, upcoming openings that we at Wine Spectator think will stand out in 2025, including a Caribbean-influenced spot from an acclaimed group, an …

Florencia Gomez is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Florencia GomezFlorencia Gomez Florencia is an Argentinian wine professional with over 15 years of experience all along the wine industry. She is currently a stage 2 MW candidate based in London. After getting her winemaking degree, she spent the first six years making wine in Argentina, the …

Eugenio Egorov is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Eugenio EgorovEugenio Egorov Eugenio Egorov is the head sommelier and wine buyer at 5-star The Stafford in London. Born in Ukraine, he began his hospitality career in restaurants in Italy and the United States of America before moving to London in 2014. He rose through the ranks …