Pictured on the right are four acuvin test strips for residual sugar. The top strip is Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2010, a wine of some repute. (15.5 by Jancis Robinson) This particular version is low on Syrah, only 20%, which probably accounts for the slightly lowish score. Robinson gave the ’11 a 16. Ogier Heritages [corrected… Continue reading How to earn a “Classic” score from the Wine Spectator
Tag: Wine
My Father, Chianti and I
So I’ve been spending a lot of time since December in Winnipeg. Rather too much in one sense. It is exhausting. When I get home I fall into bed around 830 and sleep like a log for 12 hours. On the other hand, at times it is exhilarating, entertaining, and downright fun. At other times… Continue reading My Father, Chianti and I
Recorking Sparkling Wine
“How can I recork sparkling wine and champagne when I don’t finish the bottle?” Ah the eternal lament. Theoretically I should be using stoppers all the time given how much of the stuff I drink; factually it is seldom a problem as the bottles always seem to magically empty themselves. Here is a selection of… Continue reading Recorking Sparkling Wine
Three Cheers for MLCC
I was researching a column last week for the Spectator and I came across a bottle that made me go weak in the knees – Stonecroft Old Vine Gewurztraminer from Hawkes Bay. Now before you fire up your boozemobile for a midnight run to Manitoba you do need to know a couple of things. Firstly… Continue reading Three Cheers for MLCC
Let the Bells Ring Out and the Banners Fly!
If you’re a fan of Portuguese wines (and who is not?) you are likely mostly in love with the Douro reds: big, plush, seductive wines that make California reds seem trivial. But the Portuguese have always made and enjoyed much lighter reds too. This makes great good sense as such wines are more drinkable in… Continue reading Let the Bells Ring Out and the Banners Fly!