A Wine Blog

Moving from Malbec... Argentina’s been facing a similar dilemma to New Zealand in recent years with its over-dependence on one signature grape variety. But while the world is thirsty for Argentinean Malbec in the same way that it’s still craving kiwi Sauvignon Blanc,...

It's Chardonnay but not as you know it! There are Chardonnay lovers and there are those in the ‘ABC' - Anything but Chardonnay camp. Which side do you belong to? If you consider yourself an ‘ABC’-er, I’m willing to wager that you don’t detest all Chardonnays. How can...

Continuing my notes on this rising star, here’s where I got more than a glimpse of some of the mid to higher end wines as well as a couple of great value Pinots worth seeking out. Here are my thoughts on the seven reds tasted and when I think they’ll be best enjoyed...

Champagne René Jolly, Côte des Bar Pierre-Eric Jolly represents something of a dichotomy. On the one hand he’s a traditionalist, valuing time-honoured techniques and craftsmanship. On the other he’s an innovator, tirelessly looking for ways to do things differently....

Here's Some More Wine Faults to be Aware of... Think of it a bit like this. You pass on your prized Bolognese recipe to a friend because they want to really impress a hot date. Everything is going great guns until they come to the seasoning. The recipe asks for...

It's a fact. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world's most widely-planted grape varieties. We think of it as synonymous with New Zealand, because of its global popularity. So it may surprise you to hear that it's spiritual home actually lies in France. Yep that's right,...

Here's Some More Wine Faults to be Aware of... There's nothing more frustrating or disappointing when you open one of your prized wines in front of your friends or family during a dinner party, and for whatever reason, the wine just isn’t right. And you can almost...

Nowadays we have to accept that if we want to enjoy good cool-climate Chardonnay, we’re going to have to spend upwards of £10/bottle. The sweet-spot for me is somewhere between £12-18. Both independent merchants and some supermarkets will have a decent selection from...

Basil Fawlty’s response was priceless “I just uncorked it didn’t you see?”. We might well laugh at Basil’s ignorance, however it’s still a phrase that can instantly silence fellow diners. Or initiate panic in the eyes of an inexperienced member of waiting staff,...

Cognac is one of the world's most exciting and dynamic spirit categories. Slick advertising and cutting-edge packaging have helped to facilitate enviable sales growth. But it hasn't always been like this. Cognac's Dramatic Metamorphosis! Until the mid-1990s, Cognac...

Champagne is a wine region steeped in history and bound by customary laws and practices. It is not typically renowned for its progressive attitude, or indeed, propensity for innovation. After all, what incentive is there to change or improve something that clearly...

Despite sounding like the beginning of a Shakespearean soliloquy, I’m actually delving into the world of sweet wines. More precisely, the important presence of noble rot; Botrytis cinerea in Latin or simply botrytis for short. What is Botrytis/Noble Rot? Botrytis is a...

Since quitting my sales job earlier this year, I’ve become much more fond of Mondays and today’s tasting with Maison Chanzy’s head of Digital Sales and Customer Experience, Nicolas Corne, reinforced this sentiment IN SPADES. Over the course of two and a half hours,...

This was my first introduction to Maison Chanzy. I heard about them just as I was leaving Alliance Wine to turn to freelance content writing. Taking advice from my former boss, another fellow Burgundy lover, I bought a few bottles of their more affordable wines to try...

Here are my notes on the wines tasted and when I think they’ll be enjoyed at their best (all tasted in this order and all best served between 10-12°C): 2018 Saint-Véran This appellation runs to the north of Pouilly-Fuissé and south. Bénédicte explains that 85% of...