Decanter

Merchantshave been expecting a smaller Bordeaux en primeur campaign this year, following a challenging 2021 vintage, but a lot may depend on release prices. More than 71% of international merchants surveyed by Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the tr

L astmonth in this column, I celebrated the pleasures of Pinot. As I write this, it’s hard to celebrate anything. The dark days began when I learned from a visiting Canadian friend about the death of one of the kindest, most gentle and most skilful P

Palepink Provence rosés seem to be everywhere, but 20 years ago the majority of rosés on sale were relatively dark and full-bodied, and many of them lacked freshness and finesse. The evolution of rosé led to the rise of lighter, more elegant wines, a

The subject of ageing rosé elicits passionate debate. For many, ‘aged rosé’ or rosé de garde, still means rosé with only two to three years of age; but with the increase in quality inherent in wines of this type that have a capacity to age, these ros

Chris Losh’s recent article on crafting the perfect tasting note (June 2022 issue) got me thinking about my first ever lesson in wine, where I was told: ‘Wine is subjective, like music or art. I can’t tell you what you like, you can’t tell me what I

Almost exactly 30 years ago, when I was starting out as a wine writer, an editor sent me to a tasting of English wines on the outskirts of London. I remember a rundown village hall, trestle tables and a line-up of wines that was decidedly patchy. Mos

1 1 Langham, Culver Classic Cuvée Extra Brut, Dorset NV 93 £27-£29.99 Widely available Exquisite sparkler, from Langham’s own estate vineyard deep in Thomas Hardy country near Dorchester. The latest release is based on the 2019 vintage, 14 months spe

According to lifestyle and happiness guru Gretchen Rubin, you ‘bring your own weather to a picnic’. Ms Rubin, I’d suggest, has never shivered under a tree watching raindrops turn her fish-paste sandwich to mush because the weather forecast was wrong.

Beer drinkers have it easy – when the sun starts to shine, they just grab a can from the fridge and head outside. Wine fans face a tougher task: deciding whether to bring plastic cups or ‘proper’ glasses, how to keep a whole bottle cool, and whether

You might ‘doff your cap’ to someone as a sign of respect. In the winery, a winemaker might choose to ‘plunge the cap’ that forms on the top of a tank of fermenting wine in order to help extract more of the tannins in the grapes. For Nebbiolo, balanc

Vida Valiente is much more than just another winery for Napa winemaker Sam Kaplan. Over the past 20 years, Kaplan has become the shepherd of a growing number of blue-chip Napa wineries, including Arkenstone, Memento Mori and Vangone. His newest proje

The Kraken Rum has launched a second bottle in its limited-edition Unknown Deep series. Kraken Black Spiced Rum Limited Edition Deep Sea Bioluminescence (Alc 40%) boasts an eye-catching deep blue pearlescent coating on its embossed label and is prese

With culinary inspiration dating back to 1935, our restaurant brand Madhu’s specialises in South Asian cuisine with an East African influence. It’s thanks to the secret recipes handed down across eight decades that we have become caterers for royalty

T hemost enduring of classic cocktails, the Martini is simple to make and infinitely customisable. But how do you create the very best one possible? We asked the top mixologists in London’s Martini business – Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani of

The cultural history of Strasbourg – one of France’s largest cities, and the capital of Alsace – is reflected in its mix of architectural styles. Medieval timber-framed dwellings in the touristy ‘Petite France’ quarter (see p83) denote a thousand-yea

Hôtel Cour du Corbeau, Strasbourg Very close to the cathedral in a setting that dates back to the 16th century, this fourstar hotel combines Middle Ages charm with modern amenities. Visiting friends give rave reviews. cour-corbeau.com Hôtel Léonor,

It’s not just a case of sitting pretty in the glass. What a wine looks like can reveal its age, style and a lot more. Here’s what to look out for. 1 A modest pour First, don’t overfill your glass. You’ll need to tilt it to about 45° – always against

Riesling is king, but styles – and terroirs – vary. Either way, dry Riesling from quality producers matches any great dry white in the world. Gewurztraminer is slightly on the sweeter side, with low acidity, at its best conveying exuberant lychee, ro

Since strawberries are rarely seen without cream, it’s easy to see why they’re such a good match for a classic dessert wine like Sauternes – it’s a perfect balance of sweetness, richness and acidity. Strawberry shortcake or tarts are an even better m

Six months ago most of us had never heard of regenerative viticulture, but today the phrase seems to be on the lips of progressive wine-growers everywhere. There’s a dedicated new organisation, which aims to help wine producers reverse climate change

Regarded now as almost indigenous to California, Zinfandel also flourishes in Puglia, where it’s known as Primitivo. In its pink (Californian) incarnation, Zinfandel – sometimes called white Zinfandel – tends to be light, sweetish and bland. Take it

In the realm of white grapes, many consider Riesling as having no peer, with its racy acidity and tangy fruit attracting legions of disciples. Then there’s its innate dexterity, which lies behind wines that run the gamut of styles, from bone dry thro

THE Decanter GUARANTEE See page 107 Decanter’s editorial team share highlights and discoveries from their recent tastings 51 wines tasted ‘You can’t go wrong,’ says lead judge Sarah Jane Evans MW: 30 Highly recommended and three Outstanding wines 14

Commended 83-85pts ■ Altos Las Hormigas, Clásico, Mendoza 2020 85, 13.5%, 2022-2025, £14.99 Liberty Wines ■ Ampakama, Argentina 2020 85, 13.5%, 2022-2025, £12.50 St Andrews Wine Co ■ Antonio Mas, Núcleo, Tupungato, Mendoza 2019 85, 13.2%, 2022-2024,

Fine wine prices on the secondary market have appeared resilient to wider economic pressures so far in 2022, shows recent analysis. Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the trade, said in its May report that the Liv-ex 100 index rose by 0.7% in April and

An elite group of SuperTuscan labels have consolidated their position on the market, but trade players also see a broadening interest in Italian fine wines. Tignanello has been a standout performer for Italy on the fine wine market over the last year

How did you get here? I joined Cert Octavian, as it was known then, in 2009 as financial director. This was while the world was coming to terms with the financial crisis of 2008. After turning the business around, I was offered the opportunity to ta

Legendary vintages and where to find them Who we tip for promotion in the new classification 62 wines from a forgotten vintage tasted & rated ■

My book The Complete Bordeaux, which has been revised every five years, is soon to be published in its fourth edition. This may seem like excessive haste, given the scope of the book, but it is astonishing how rapidly changes can take place in the re

Fresh from tasting almost 900 new wines from the 2021 vintage – the full report on which will be published in next month’s Decanter issue (August 2022) – Ihad almost forgotten how amazing Bordeaux’s en primeur extravaganza is. After two years of enfo

When I first visited Bordeaux, the sleepy landscape of turreted stone châteaux and vineyards seemed timeless, with traditions so well established you felt they would go on forever. But new energy in this famous wine region is visible and audible: bee

There are some good and charming wines, but no great wines, in 2012. This was the verdict of a producer whose honest judgements I have learned to value, when we tasted the vintage together, en primeur, in April 2013. Retasting the vintage 10 years on

For a region as traditional and steeped in history as Bordeaux, it’s refreshing to see new initiatives, and even whole new categories, emerge with the goal of bringing wider attention to its lesser-known wines. The Médoc has, of course, its famous an

S ome600 participants dined lavishly at the gorgeous First Empire-style Château Margaux to mark its 200th anniversary back in 2015: ‘A fairytale-like event for which I could almost give up any future invitations to dinner in Bordeaux,’ recalls mercha

H owold is old? The concept of ‘mature’ wine is a slippery one. My stock answer has long Tasting wines from decades – and even centuries – gone by can be a magical experience, and there’s a treasure trove of legendary vintages out there. You just nee

T heart of mastering a job you never expected to have has been played out twice over at Château Léoville Poyferré, the family-owned and -run property situated in the north of the Médoc’s St-Julien appellation. It is one of five second-growth classifi

Where the 1990s gave Bordeaux winemakers a number of difficult challenges, the first 10 years of the new millennium were far kinder. Looking back at the decade today, not a single vintage was a complete disaster. There were challenges, unquestionably

T odescribe the revisable St-Emilion classification as turbulent – and in recent months it has seen three out of the four highest-ranked, premier grand cru classé A estates withdraw – would be an understatement. Unlike the static 1855 classification

P omerolis a paradox. Its famous plateau terroir is hallowed; it produces (in Petrus, Le Pin and Château Lafleur) three of the most expensive wines in the world; demand is so high and quantities so small that it is very difficult to source back vinta

The dry white wines of Bordeaux are much less famous than their red counterparts but should not be overlooked. Increasingly, the region offers great-value alternatives to New World Sauvignon Blanc, as well as high-quality wines capable of competing w

R eadyto explore one of the most magical wine regions around Bordeaux? A tranquil land of gentle slopes and misty mornings, defined by a thread of jade-hued water shrouded by overhanging trees, and punctuated by modest villages and medieval châteaux.