Every so often I’ll read something about how “someone†takes a “non-interventionist†approach to wine making. It’s a sort of pompous, holier than thou statement, that infers a purity of production that the unmentioned “other wine†does not live up too. This type of nebulous statement about wine making that really grinds my gears! Its [...]
The last couple of nights seem to have brought heavy frosts to Napa Valley. Details at the cork board and the Napa valley register.
For those that may not have seen the Ghost Horse labels, winery/lifestyle website. It’s the most entertaining wine website I’ve seen all year, it makes me smile every time I see. The discussion over at the ebob forum is a laugh as well. Make sure you watch the intro, but maybe turn the volume down [...]
There have apparently been a few Sauternes and red wines released in Bordeaux. The prices show no or only small reductions thus far. Details to follow when I have them.
I’m wanting to integrate the Global Wine Consultants site with this one to cut down the number of clicks to get to the right material. I want to retain the wordpress framework and all the content of the other site. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to come up with a good plan yet. Any ideas [...]
I’ve tried some really interesting wines over the last week. Highlights have been the fantastic 2007 Waiheke Island Chardonnays from Man O’ War vineyard. Both the White label and the Valhalla are worth trying. The interesting thing about them is that whilst they have fruit they also have great earthy and mineral characteristics and structure. [...]
The 2007 edition of Bordeaux en primeur is set to be a slow mover after Robert Parker compared the vintage to 1999 and 1997. It’s a low blow. Yet according to decanter he decided to pour some salt on the wound by describing the best wines as charming. It’s the equivalent of “…I like you [...]
I’ve been hearing some talk recently about the price of wine on restaurant lists. Is it excessive or not? When I heard a restaurateur defending pricing based on having to cellar wines and the cost of capital, it got me thinking. This is a great reason if it’s true, but I don’t believe for an [...]
Although it’s early in the vintage, I don’t think 2008 is going to be remembered as one of the greatest New Zealand vintages. With the possible exception of the few vineyards in the Waikato (providing they have picked everything) it seems like a mixed bag everywhere. Marlborough seems to be particularly affected by odd conditions [...]
What a day to go on a site visit. The rain yesterday was phenomenal and will bring some relief to those farmers in the Waikato area that have been besieged by drought. You have to wonder about some of the official figures for rainfall as they simply do not seem to reflect the amount of [...]
I’m visiting the the South Waikato and Taupo today. Hopefully I’ll find a wifi connection and post some photos.
On the 19th of May, Glengarry wines are running a comparative tasting on the merits of decanting. If I were not going to be away I would most certainly be there. Essentially what they are going to do is open and decant a number of wines progressively over the day and let them sit in [...]
Not the vintage or the pricing of Chateau Margaux, worse yet My favorite Chinese restaurant has closed. The Empress Garden on Jervois Road, the home of the best Peking duck in Auckland has closed. The restaurant has been open for 26 years but closed last weekend much to my horror when I found out yesterday. [...]
Early next month I’m visiting Singapore to meet with a number of wine importers and distributors. The purpose is to primarily showcase high quality New Zealand wines that are available for export. New Zealand wines are the focus mainly because I’m traveling from New Zealand directly. Establishing export markets can be really tough for small [...]
It appears four producers of Brunello di Montalcino, (one of my favourite Italian wines) are being investigated by the Italian authorities regarding alleged over production of the wine. This includes an amazing seizure of 600,000 bottles 2003 Castello Banfi. At around 37 Euros per bottle retail price that would be over 22 million Euro’s worth [...]
Wine tasting notes are a real peculiarity of the wine trade. The intention is to convey what the wine was like, but depending on the use they can vary wildly. I love the absurdity of Clive Coates wonderfully brief one word descriptions like “sound”, he might as well say “hovercraft”. Robert Parker writes some really [...]
Is there any one in New Zealand making a Pinot Gris under 10 grams per litre residual sugar? The last one time I was told that a particular Pinot Gris was a “drier styleâ€, it came in at that figure of 10 grams per litre when tested. Not that it even tasted like it was [...]
This is a terrific wine for the price from the Cotes du Rousillon on a number of levels and this is why I recommend trying it.  It doesn’t cost a fortune, about $33.00  It’s huge but in a “sort of’ new world style backed by old world flavours and makes a lot of big Australian [...]