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Harlan Estate: Secrets behind its vine-by-vine approach

Jonathan Cristaldi — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 07:00:18 +0000

Harlan Estate, in Napa Valley's Oakville AVA.

The horseshoe-shaped Harlan Estate encompasses two steep hillside ridge lines in the shadow of the Mayacamas mountains in California‘s Napa Valley. Facing east, the landscape reveals a great panorama of the Oakville AVA, with Rutherford and St Helena to the north and Yountville to the south.

Peering across a deep valley cut by a fault line, the western benches come into view between black, blue and valley oaks. To the southwest, the Harlan family home sits atop a high bluff keeping watch over it all.

Bill Harlan interview and six wines tasted back to 1992

Colgin Cellars: the evolution of a cult Napa estate through 14 wines

World’s greatest vineyards: our top 12

Secure the last remaining tickets for this Harlan Estate Masterclass in June

The post Harlan Estate: Secrets behind its vine-by-vine approach appeared first on Decanter.

Kiona Vineyards: Foundation and future on Washington's Red Mountain

Shana Clarke — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 07:00:51 +0000

Kiona Vineyards' founders were the first to see the potential of Washington State's Red Mountain AVA back in 1972.

Kiona Vineyards is the pioneering winery of Washington State’s Red Mountain AVA, today in the hands of the third-generation – brothers JJ and Tyler Williams.

The siblings’ grandfather, John Williams, bought land on the mountain 51 years ago, in 1972, with the first 4ha vineyard planted in 1975.

With Tyler taking over as winemaker from his father Scott in 2019, and older brother JJ having worked on the business side since 2009, Kiona now has more than 113ha, growing grapes for 60 wineries, as well as making its own estate wines.

Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of six Red Mountain wines from Kiona Vineyards

Kiona Vineyards: six Red Mountain wines to try

Seattle for wine lovers

Walla Walla Valley for wine lovers

Washington’s Woodinville wineries – and top bottles to buy

The post Kiona Vineyards: Foundation and future on Washington's Red Mountain appeared first on Decanter.

First Taste: Louis Roederer Cristal 2015

Anne Krebiehl MW — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:37:27 +0000

Louis Roederer’s cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, who could not be present for the London launch, refers to 2015 as a ‘soil vintage’, one that spoke of the deep-rooted vines of what the estate refers to as Domaine Cristal, a range of 45 plots across seven grand cru villages that are farmed organically and biodynamically.

The grapes that make it into Cristal must be from vines older than 20 years in order to express both the chalkiness and salinity of these soils.

Scroll down to see the tasting note and score for Cristal 2015

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Anne Krebiehl MW tastes and rates Cristal 2015:

First taste: Louis Roederer Cristal 2014

Champagne Louis Roederer heads the line-up at new platform selling wine NFTs

Louis Roederer: late-release vintage vertical

Don’t miss the Louis Roederer Masterclass at the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter NYC this June

The post First Taste: Louis Roederer Cristal 2015 appeared first on Decanter.

2004 and 2005 Rioja: Panel tasting results

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:00:17 +0000

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pierre Mansour tasted 53 wines with 8 Outstanding and 37 Highly recommended.

2004 and 2005 Rioja: panel tasting scores

53 wines tasted

Exceptional 0

Outstanding 8

Highly recommended 37

Recommended 7

Commended 1

Fair 0

Poor 0

Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit red wines from the 2004 and 2005 vintages only, with any Rioja classification of gran reserva, reserva, crianza or genérico permitted

We had high expectations of this tasting. It is well known that great Rioja shows its full potential after extended ageing in the bottle, and 2004 and 2005 are both excellent vintages.

The 2004 vintage is the more irregular of the two. It was the last late vintage (from the following year onwards all good vintages have been quite early, likely due to climate change), and some areas performed much better than others. Fruit selection and good vineyard siting were crucial factors, but those who worked well got top wines.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores from the 2004 and 2005 Rioja panel tasting

2004 and 2005 Rioja panel tasting scores

The judges

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW is a widely published wine journalist, educator and judge. He holds a degree in agronomical engineering and a Masters in viticulture and oenology, is a national expert for Spain at the OIV organisation and a DWWA joint Regional Chair for Spain.

Sarah Jane Evans MW is a Decanter contributing editor and Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards. Her latest book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain is set for release in early 2024.

Pierre Mansour is director of wine at The Wine Society, where he has worked for 23 years. Starting out with merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, he joined The Wine Society in 2000, moved into buying after four years and has been buying The Society’s Spanish wines since 2008.

Albariño beyond Iberia: panel tasting results

Priorat red wines: panel tasting results

Spanish indigenous reds: panel tasting results

The post 2004 and 2005 Rioja: Panel tasting results appeared first on Decanter.

Expert's choice: Italian rosé – 18 fine wines to try

Elizabeth Gabay MW — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:18 +0000

Feudi di San Gregorio vineyards in Italy's southern wine region of Campania.

While the export market is flooded with pale pink Pinot Grigio and Chiaretto, and more recently with pink Prosecco, the trends in planting paint a confusing picture for Italian rosé.

Italy appears to be one of the few countries where the production of rosé is declining, even if there are more and more producers adding rosé to their portfolios.

Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 18 of the finest Italian rosé wines

Italian rosé: 18 of the finest wines to try

Italy’s finest white wines: 20 top bottles, region by region

Château Sainte Marguerite and Pernod Ricard: a Provençal marriage

Domaine de Leos: the celebrity rosé takes a new direction

The post Expert's choice: Italian rosé – 18 fine wines to try appeared first on Decanter.

Niepoort: producer profile and 10 top wines to try

Sarah Ahmed — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 07:00:56 +0000

Dirk van der Niepoort and his son Daniel Niepoort

‘Do little stupid things’ may not sound like a recipe for success. Nor, for that matter, the best fatherly advice for Daniel Niepoort on becoming Niepoort’s sixth-generation head of winemaking in 2021. However, the open-minded attitude and logic behind it – ‘because you learn the most’ – are what enabled Dirk van der Niepoort to transform a relatively obscure Port house, founded by his great-great-grandfather in 1842, into one of the best known and most influential Portuguese wine and Port producers in the world.

Top Niepoort wines to try

Portugal’s iconic wines: top bottles from the Douro

Top 20 Portuguese Atlantic whites from Portugal

Rare museum wines from Portuguese icon producers

The post Niepoort: producer profile and 10 top wines to try appeared first on Decanter.

Wines for the weekend: April 2023

Decanter Staff — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:54:00 +0000

Get through the working week, and it’s time to crack open something a little bit more special.

As a companion selection to our 25 wines under £20, the Decanter team has selected seven standout bottles that are sure to impress, all available in the UK and priced between £20 and £50.

Wines for the weekend: April 2023

Wines for the week: March 2023

Wines for the weekend: March 2023

Editors’ picks – March 2023

The post Wines for the weekend: April 2023 appeared first on Decanter.

Unique Wine Collection – highlights

Decanter Staff — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:30:36 +0000

As wine lovers and investors are presented with the opportunity to acquire a sole-ownership cellar of outstanding comprehensiveness and value, we delve into the collection’s contents for a better understanding of its character and uniqueness.

The below are but a few highlights of an incredible line up of more than 5,400 bottles, all of which were curated carefully through years of thorough tasting and research. A combination of knowledge, experience and passion that yielded a comprehensive collection covering the world’s most iconic regions and producers. Alongside well-established names are also mavericks – the icons of tomorrow – making this collection both valuable and exciting.

The close relationship between the collector and the different brokers and producers not only allowed access to rare bottles but also guarantees the authenticity and traceability of each bottle in this fantastic cellar.

Highlights from a Unique Wine Collection

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Discovering Domaine Chanson's Beaune Premier Crus

Andy Howard MW — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:00:13 +0000

Domaine Chanson's cellars.

With 25 hectares (ha) of premier cru vineyards in the Beaune appellation, Domaine Chanson (created in 1750) is one of the leading producers in this oft overlooked AP. In total, Chanson owns 45ha of premier and grand cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, ranging from vineyards in Corton in the north to Santenay in the south.

Domaine Chanson is centred around the formidable historical fortress, Le Bastion de l’Oratoire, which is built into the defensive walls of Beaune.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for eight Domaine Chanson wines

Originally commissioned by Louis XI and built between 1519-1524, the tower has walls up to eight metres thick and has been part of the Chanson operation since the French Revolution. Today, the four floors of the Bastion Chanson are designed for wine ageing – three floors for red and one for white wines.

See Andy Howard MW’s notes and scores for eight Domaine Chanson wines:

Burgundy 2021 en primeur: where to find value

Burgundy wine fans queue weeks ahead for new releases

Burgundy 2021 en primeur release volumes under pressure

The post Discovering Domaine Chanson's Beaune Premier Crus appeared first on Decanter.

First taste: Alvaro Palacios 2022 new releases

Sarah Jane Evans — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 05:30:30 +0000

Alvaro Palacios in the L'Ermita vineyard

There’s something of a family feeling about the annual London ‘Tasting of the 2022 Vintage in Advance’ of the Palacios properties in Priorat, Bierzo and Rioja. It’s held in the sub-basement cellar of Berry Bros & Rudd, with its rugged, uneven floors, across the road from St James’s Palace. As ever, each guest is provided with an elegant, hard cover, cloth-bound, gold-embossed tasting book.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the Alvaro Palacios 2022 new releases

Just as with the precision of the wines, the tasting book itself reveals a principle of attention to detail – whether in the vineyard, the winery or in printed materials. What’s more, this isn’t a typical noisy London tasting, busy with guests talking to each other. The tasters here are much more focused. The new vintage is what matters, and everyone wants to talk to the producers.

Sarah Jane Evans MW rates the Alvaro Palacios 2022 new releases

Rioja’s village wines: The names to know and bottles to seek out

Priorat red wines: panel tasting results

10 Spanish grapes to discover

The post First taste: Alvaro Palacios 2022 new releases appeared first on Decanter.

Walls: Tasting Château de Montfaucon - 'Lirac's finest wines'

Matt Walls — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:31:58 +0000

A vertical of Château de Montfaucon's Vin de Madame la Comtesse.

How many wines can you name that contain over 20 grape varieties? Here’s one: Château de Montfaucon’s Lirac, Vin de Monsieur le Baron. Having tasted every vintage back to 2007, I can state with certainty that it’s one of Lirac’s greatest red wines.

If this sounds like faint praise, it’s not meant to. Admittedly, Lirac doesn’t currently have the same cachet as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but it’s just on the other side of the Rhône river and has some pockets of exceptional terroir. What’s more, while the greatest Châteauneuf might set you back £400 a bottle, you can find Vin de Monsieur le Baron for closer to £40.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for verticals of Vin de Monsieur le Baron and Vin de Madame la Comtesse

See the full verticals for Vin de Madame la Comtesse and Vin de Monsieur le Baron:

Southern Rhône 2021: full report and top-scoring wines

Rhône vintages: four to lay down and four to drink now

Walls’ hidden gems: Domaine d’Abrigeon, Buisson

The post Walls: Tasting Château de Montfaucon - 'Lirac's finest wines' appeared first on Decanter.

Italy's finest white wines: 20 top bottles, region by region

Aldo Fiordelli — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:00:19 +0000

Castello della Sala.

Mattia Spedicato, wine manager at Michelin three-star Geranium in Copenhagen (No1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list), impressed producers last October in Sicily when he confessed that two-thirds of the restaurant’s wine list is dedicated to white wines: in the past, an old vintage of a Chardonnay, a Fiano or a Trebbiano was presumed unsellable as consumers were wary of white wines more than a year or two old.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 20 of Italy’s finest white wines

‘Fine white wines are lacking in Italy,’ stated Antinori’s CEO Renzo Cotarella during the launch of a new top-shelf Chardonnay, Nibbio, produced at the company’s Umbrian estate Castello della Sala, also the source of the prestigious Cervaro della Sala.

20 of Italy’s finest white wines tasted & rated

Around Italy in 25 wines

Indigenous Italy: Classic wines with regional flair

Cervaro della Sala: Creating a world-class white wine

The post Italy's finest white wines: 20 top bottles, region by region appeared first on Decanter.

What to do in Bordeaux for wine lovers: The essential list

Wendy Narby — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:51:51 +0000

From child-friendly activities through to cellar tours and Michelin-starred restaurants, the below selection highlights the best of what you can do in Bordeaux in 2023 and has something for every wine lover.

Bilbao for food and wine lovers

Santiago de Chile for wine lovers

Chicago: a travel guide

The post What to do in Bordeaux for wine lovers: The essential list appeared first on Decanter.

Prosecco's broad appeal: revealing the complexity

James Button — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 07:00:16 +0000

The typical hogsback hills of Valdobbiadene, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When the Prosecco DOC was written into law in 2009, along with two DOCGs – the hilly prominences of Asolo and Conegliano Valdobbiadene – it meant that Prosecco could now be produced in a 250km-wide zone encompassing nine provinces, from Vicenza in Veneto to Trieste in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

It was a vast expansion from the traditional centre of production of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, which had been recognised as a DOC since 1969. Whether this was down to the need to embrace the town named Prosecco, located in Trieste, to justify the naming of the new DOC, or that the minister of agriculture responsible for signing on the dotted line, Luca Zaia, was from Conegliano (and the following year was appointed president of Veneto, a position he has held ever since), the fact is that these game-changing moves turned Prosecco into a powerhouse whose ascent seems unstoppable.

Scroll down for a selection of top Proseccos to try

But, nearly 15 years on, the key questions are: have consumers begun to tire of Prosecco’s typical apple, pear and flowers profile; and is there more to this area than affordable bubbles?

Broad appeal: the variety of taste in Prosecco

Prosecco secures trademark protection in New Zealand

Prosecco: Still on a high and with a point of difference

Best Prosecco under £20

The post Prosecco's broad appeal: revealing the complexity appeared first on Decanter.

Daou: behind this Paso Robles estate, plus 11 tasting notes

Brianne Cohen — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 07:00:53 +0000

Daou Mountain in California's Paso Robles.

The land on which Georges and Daniel Daou’s eponymous estate sits has always been highly regarded. However, under their guardianship its true potential has been released, today the source of critically acclaimed wines.

Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 11 wines from Daou and Patrimony Estate

Soul of a Lion and more: 11 wines from Daou and Patrimony Estate

California’s El Dorado AVA: regional profile and wines to try

Colgin Cellars: the evolution of a cult Napa estate through 14 wines

The Duckhorn Portfolio purchases 107ha vineyard in Paso Robles

The post Daou: behind this Paso Robles estate, plus 11 tasting notes appeared first on Decanter.

Rioja’s village wines: The names to know and bottles to seek out

Sarah Jane Evans — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 06:30:32 +0000

The church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in the village of Labastida.

The year 2017 was a memorable one in Rioja for two reasons. First, on 28 April, came the great frost, which also wreaked its chilly havoc over Bordeaux and swathes of northern Europe. Some producers were lucky enough to suffer less than others, but even then, the vintage was greatly reduced. In due course, nature revived – as it nearly always does.

The second event has caused more long-lasting effects. This was the decision to introduce a category of Vinos de Municipio, commonly translated in English as ‘village wines’.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 10 great Rioja village wines

It sounds like a long overdue step to give recognition to Rioja’s villages. After all, this is one of the many charms of Rioja. As you drive through the wine country, a series of strikingly lovely villages are stretched out along the road, each one beckoning the visitor.

A selection of 10 distinctive Rioja village wines

Top Riojas to enjoy this winter

Rioja gran reserva: my top 20

Rioja’s rising stars: the winemakers to watch out for

The post Rioja’s village wines: The names to know and bottles to seek out appeared first on Decanter.

Barbaresco 2020: Vintage report & 50 wines tasted

Aldo Fiordelli — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:48:22 +0000

Clear skies, crystal-clear rivers and clean air: the 2020 vintage started while the world was in lockdown. Going to work in the vineyards was one of the few permissible activities at the time (lucky vignaioli!).

The most genuine producers confess to having taken extraordinarily good care of their vines during the Covid pandemic like never before. No fairs, no visiting importers, no tastings.

Barbaresco wines from 2020 emerged as graceful with unexpected, sweet tannins.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Barbaresco 2020 wines

Barbaresco 2020 vintage rating: 4/5

‘Given its more approachable style, it is not likely to be a favourite vintage among classic Barbaresco lovers… But in the best examples there is volume, lushness and balance’

Tasting notes and scores for Aldo’s top Barbaresco 2020 wines:

The following wines all scores 93 points or above

Barbaresco 2019 vintage report: 40 wines to try

Nebbiolo Prima 2019 and 2020: Producer focus

Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo report and top picks

The post Barbaresco 2020: Vintage report & 50 wines tasted appeared first on Decanter.

Rioja £20-£40: Red Rioja panel tasting results

Sarah Jane Evans — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 07:00:18 +0000

Sarah Jane Evans MW, Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW and Pierre Mansour tasted 105 wines with 7 Outstanding and 76 Highly recommended.

Red Rioja £20-£40: panel tasting scores

105 wines tasted

Exceptional 0

Outstanding 7

Highly recommended 76

Recommended 22

Commended 0

Fair 0

Poor 0

Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their current-release red Riojas priced at £20-£40 (or $20-$40), with any Rioja classification of gran reserva, reserva, crianza or genérico permitted

How low can red Rioja reserva and gran reserva go? A quick web search reveals that in price terms it’s down to £5.75 and £10 respectively. Just how can Spain’s first DOCa – created in 1991 – sell itself so cheaply?

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top-scoring wines from the red Rioja £20-£40 panel tasting

Red Rioja £20-£40 panel tasting scores

The judges

Sarah Jane Evans MW is a Decanter contributing editor and Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards. Her latest book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain is set for release in early 2024.

Albariño beyond Iberia: panel tasting results

Priorat red wines: panel tasting results

Spanish indigenous reds: panel tasting results

The post Rioja £20-£40: Red Rioja panel tasting results appeared first on Decanter.

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto: 2001-2021 vertical

Susan Hulme MW — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:00:13 +0000

The first vertical tasting of Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido’s Merlot-based wine, took place in March 2023 in London, hosted by UK importer Armit Wines alongside Priscilla Incisa della Rochetta from the estate.

Tenuta San Guido is world-famous for Sassicaia, the Cabernet-based blend from Tuscany which was first released onto the market in 1971 with the 1968 vintage, and quickly became one of the world’s most sought-after wines.

In 2000, Tenuta San Guido released the first vintage of Guidalberto. Originally it was intended to be a more affordable and approachable wine, making it more accessible to a wider audience at a much earlier stage in its evolution. That is still the case today, but when the team were tasting some of the earlier vintages at the estate, they discovered that Guidalberto showed a surprising capacity to age.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for eight Guidalberto vintages between 2001 and 2021

The name Guidalberto celebrates an ancestor of the Incisa family, Guidalberto della Gherardesca, who lived in Bolgheri in the early 19th century. He was not only a pioneer in agricultural practices but was also responsible for the planting of the Viale dei Cipressi, the famous 5km-long cypress avenue that has become the symbol of the Bolgheri area.

Guidalberto 2021 & seven older vintages tasted and rated

First taste: Sassicaia 2020

Sassicaia masterclass at Decanter’s London Fine Wine Encounter 2022

Bolgheri 2019: Vintage report plus 50 top wines

The post Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto: 2001-2021 vertical appeared first on Decanter.

Decanter luxe list: Spring

Lane Nieset — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 07:00:16 +0000

Credit: Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno

January is when we make resolutions for the year, but spring is when new beginnings officially start, and this season has more than enough high-profile wine events to keep you on your toes.

From exclusive new wine clubs offering insider access to winemakers—and winemaking!—to wine-themed air safaris in South America, we’ve curated a list of the most luxurious and exclusive new happenings in the wine world to add to your calendar this spring.

Top wine spas of the world: awaken your senses
Where to stay in Rioja
Decanter’s Dream Destination: Les Sources de Cheverny, Loire, France

The post Decanter luxe list: Spring appeared first on Decanter.

Premium – Decanter

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Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of six Red Mountain wines from Kiona Vineyards

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