I’ve been getting quite a bit of feedback on the recently reported Sulphidisation and screw top developments. So I’ll re cap on what we already know. The international wine challenge reported a “rotten egg” smell in 2.2% of screw top wines they opened. It soon emerged that this was not the fault of the closure [...]
French Labeling Is the giant, that is French winemaking awakening from its slumber? Will the new labeling stave off the threat that the new world is posing? This may help but the benefits will not be far reaching, as it doesn’t address the real problems they have. When they remove the subsidies that prop up [...]
This is the proviso I was talking about in the previous post. When I opened the Petit Chablis I went straight for the Riedel vinum series Chardonnay glass (the glass on the right) which is what is recommend for Chablis by Riedel. However I was not happy with the result and tried the Riedel Sommeliers [...]
On Saturday I was visiting La Cigal in Parnell, Auckland when I came across a very well priced 2005 Petit Chablis from Jean Marc Brocard. I’ve been very interested in this particular French vintage so I grabbed a bottle to have with lunch for a meager $24.95 NZD. It was fantastic! With only a proviso [...]
Very simply en primeur is buying wine before it is bottled and released. Although some wineries from the United States, Australia and New Zealand do this, the main user of this concept is the Chateau’s of Bordeaux. How does it work? In the new world (the US, Australia etc) example, you simply get an offer [...]
Looking through the data from Wine New Zealand 72% of exports for the year ending 2006 are Sauvignon Blanc. So chances are that if you have purchased or drunk a New Zealand wine and are not in the country, it will be Sauvignon Blanc. Everyone is familar with the Marlborough incarnations, however there are a [...]
An interesting article in The Australian about the signing of a treaty to standardize labeling placement rules between new world wine producing countries. This is a good step, as it simplifies what is an obstacle for small exporters. Hopefully it will lead to greater range of wines being exported and more options for the consumer.
If you are cellaring Champagne or sparkling wine you have probably wondered if you should cellar the wine standing up or lying down. I have always cellared Champagne lying down, but I continually strike people who have vast collections standing up. There is a lot of advice on the net suggesting you stand the sparkling [...]
The New Zealand and Australian Screw top users have been quick to blame “the pro cork lobby” for what they describe as a beat up of the sulphidisation problem which cropped up last week. And they are getting pretty annoyed about it! Interestingly they claim to have identified this as a potential problem back in [...]
Constellation Brands the US owner of Australian labels BRL Hardy’s and Woodbridge is predicting a reduction of between 15-25% in the Australian vintage. If correct this is likely to have an impact on the current glut of Australian wines and may lead to firming of prices. Good news for producers and growers maybe not so [...]
The now aptly named “Long Flat” brand has started packaging some of their wines in the “Prisma Pak“. The packaging company are claiming an environmental advantage in that they enjoy a lower weight and thus require less energy to transport. However they do not look like a long term cellaring option despite stacking well.
When I took my first full time job (at a vineyard) many years ago, one of the owner’s, made me memorize the five first growths of Bordeaux the first week I was there. At that stage I hadn’t really drunk red wine and didn’t have a clue about the French language or France. Yet here [...]
US wine makers are trying to stave off allergen labeling regulations. Due to the nature of the fining agents it’s a arguable that they are present in the finished wine. However there is no reason, why wine makers should not be upfront about their production practices. What does need to be labeled though are the [...]
This screw top issue has brought out some interesting opinions The NZ Herald reports the following One wine maker claims that this problem effects 20-30% of screw top wines Another wine writer claims its 10-20% Another wine maker doesn’t think it exists. The BBC also reports that another wine expert thinks that future is still [...]
I’m going to upload a new version of wordpress tonight which might cause a short outage of the blog. Upload finished!!!!!!
I must admit to always being fairly skeptical about the way screw tops were marketed. Not for the reason of their quality but more because of the ways it was sold. The elimination of bottle variation was one of the benefits that were trumpeted. This always seemed to be an absurd idea to me. One [...]
Screw tops may not be quite as good as promised reports the Telegraph. The problem is described as sulphidisation, it causes the smell of sulphur or rotten eggs. 2.2% of screw top closed wines at the annual International Wine Challenge have been found to be affected. I can’t say I have experienced the problem however. [...]
Half a million in wine stolen from a California home. This should be all the reason you need to check your insurance and how it applies to your collection. One particular problem can be only getting a payout on the value of the most recent vintage release by the winery/Chateau. This is well worth checking [...]
Need to make up some tasting notes? Not worried about the accuracy? Try this. Hat tip The Wine Wanker
I keep coming across one wine cellar issue of late. Maturing cellars (that are intended for drinking) full of wine that the owners no longer like. Tastes change and taste in wine is no exception. This problem often tends to arise when you buy a lot of one particular style. Say for example, you love [...]
Vinexpo has a few free downloads directly available on current and predicted world wine sales trends. What I found most interesting was the predicted 16.7% growth from 2004 to 2009 of the over $10 USD per bottle segment of the international market. The lower priced segments all show growth, but at a lower rate.
The UK’s growth in wine sales continues with new data suggesting that it will overtake France in dollars spent on wine (or euro’s, pounds). Interestingly Australia has overtaken France as the leading supplier to the UK. In what must be quite a blow to French exports. In addition the report predicts that the US will [...]
Pinot Noir 2007 is set to get underway at the end of month. It’s a fantastic promotion and if you are a keen on the variety and in Wellington you should try to get along to one of the tastings.
Style: White wine, Dry Where: Burgundy France, between the villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, who have both hyphenated the name of this famous vineyard to their own. The vineyard is designated a Grand Cru meaning (in short) it is of the highest standing in region. Grape Varieties used: Chardonnay Vineyard Size: A fraction under 8 [...]