Interview: Quinta do Noval's Christian Seely on producing dry wine in the Douro
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- Published: 17 February 2019 17 February 2019
The roots of ambition
Speaking at a recent launch of port house Quinta do Noval’s range of new-look red wines, Managing Director Christian Seely digs into the terroir to reveal the fruits of his carefully exercised labour. Is the beautiful undulating land of the Douro, with its extreme climate and steeply terraced vineyards, working its way to joining the ranks of Europe’s highest regarded dry red producers?
Dry Hungarian Furmint; The other taste of Tokaji!
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- Published: 01 February 2019 01 February 2019
Furmint is to Tokaj what Riesling is to Germany, or Chardonnay is to Burgundy, but strangely it has the ability to move with great agility between differing styles, exuding a range of characteristics that are unique and very enjoyable.
Master of Wine, Caroline Gilby, was spot on when talked about the versatility of Furmint, at a recent tasting in central London. The sweet Tokaji wines are well documented as the ‘Wine of Kings’, but many people I know are not so well acquainted with the Hungarian dry whites made using Furmint. This should surely change.
Much loved wine figure, Gerard Basset, world's best sommelier, remembered with tasting award
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- Published: 29 January 2019 29 January 2019
Whether giving a master class to an enchanted audience of budding wine professionals or advising the world of fashion of what wines pair well with leading designer labels, Gerard combined good humour and expertise, making the experience of wine and gastronomy all the more pleasurable.
Gerard Basset, Master of Wine & Master Sommelier, was an unassuming towering figure in the world of wine. Scooping up the top awards including World’s Best Sommelier. Establishments such as Hotel Du Vin and TerraVina that he was part of, evolved as expressions of his excellence.
Review: Jose Maria da Fonseca Periquita Reserva, 2014, Peninsula de Setubal, Portugal
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- Published: 26 January 2019 26 January 2019
Inky dark ruby hue. Immediately reminiscent of LBV port. Mulberry, strawberry, chocolate. Elegant use of oak to soften and hook us back in for next sniff & sip. Very stylish wine from the Peninsula de Setubal, just south of Lisbon, Portugal.
Periquita Reserva 2014, fab pick from @DulwichVintners for £12.50... cool blend of Castelao (54%), Touriga Nacional (28%), & Touriga Francesa (18%).
Available in-store or online from Dulwich Vintners
Bordeaux’s difficult conversations about climate change
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- Published: 18 January 2019 18 January 2019
As the impacts of climate change accelerate, and emissions, rather than going down, actually rose by 2.7% in 2018 (an increase from 1.6% in 2017), the conversations emerging from within wine producing regions is both necessary and brave.
Book Review: 'Brut Force' The funniest wine drenched book you could read this Christmas!
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- Published: 09 December 2018 09 December 2018
Peter Stafford-Bow’s second instalment of his hedonistic wine-trade hero, Felix Hart’s adventures into the mists of debauchery, is as funny and engaging as his first novel, Corkscrew. Felix is the epitome of the bachelor wine-pro, tasting his way from one hilarious disaster to the next, consuming the quantitative and qualitative equivalent of that other stocking filler, ‘One Thousand Wines To Try Before You Die’.
Simpsons English Wine Estate: Fine wines over, the white cliffs of Dover
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- Published: 03 December 2018 03 December 2018
Innovate to cultivate
If there is one thing that sets the Simpson’s apart from many other wine producers starting out in the UK, is that they have, over the course of the last 16 years, already established a very successful wine estate, Domaine Sainte Rose, in the Languedoc region of southern France.
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Back in Galicia: Sacred steps on the pilgrims path to fine wine
The cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of Saint James, rises out of the landscape, infested with antiquity. The rambling steep streets give way to shafts of dramatic light, emblazoned chapels, and tightly packed tapas bars, dusty, as old novels pressed together in antiquarian bookshops.
Interview: (Re)Defining the Entre-Deux-Mers, climate change & tasting with Stephane Dupuch
Driving into the Entre-Deux-Mers region from the north, the vineyards roll out like a bright green deep-pile carpet across the undulating land. It’s hard not to be excited about tasting wines with so much heritage, as we head to Chateau-Sainte-Marie to meet with 5th generation owner, Stéphane Dupuch.
Wine tasting in northern Catalonia in the foothills of the Pyrenees
It’s been a hot couple of weeks here trekking around northern Catalonia. From the homeland and backdrop to surrealist Salvador Dali’s world to dramatic remnants of the volcano park an hour away, this place is a land of rough-hewn vistas and rustic hospitality.
AOC Ventoux is breaking through
It’s a scorching summer evening in Regent’s Park and what is my glass is of premium importance. The fact that Britain is experiencing a thorough multi-day licking from the sun, is itself unconventional, as are the pourers at this evenings tasting: 4 wine producers from the appellation AOC Ventoux in the southern Rhone.
Talking food and wine & Carluccio's motto: "MOF MOF"
Carluccio's deli and restaurants are a high-street staple, where great flavours in food blend easily with quality wines on the list. Following the death of the charismatic founder, Antonio Carluccio, his spirit lives on in style and philosophy. Nick Breeze talks to Head of International Operations (especially where wine is concerned!), Mike Stocks about wine-list tips, food matching and the great man of "mof mof":
Wine Tasting in Abruzzo - tasting notes
Winemaker and owner Nicola D’Auria greeted us at the entrance of this fascinating cantina. The winery and cellars have been designed by Rocco valentini in the shape of a vertical barrel in order to immerse the tasters senses in wine.
