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Catalan Wines

The DOQ Priorat & DO Montsant reports for 2019

by  |  23-09-2019

I’ve been tasting the wines of DOQ Priorat and DO Montsant for nearly a decade now and am quite happy to present tasting reports of each region’s current releases for 2019. Having written individual books... more » I’ve been tasting the wines of DOQ Priorat and DO Montsant for... more »

In The Glass: Lectores Vini – Pomagrana 2018

by  |  09-09-2019

Trepat comes up with regularity on this site for good reason as it sits at that most delicate of intersections wherein it is approachable yet flavorful and not terribly alcoholic. This is no mean feat... more » Trepat comes up with regularity on this site for good reason as... more »

A strike at the heart of DO Cava

by  |  06-09-2019

Yesterday, September 5th, three groups of viticulturists in the Penedès region (Unió de Pagesos, JARC, and Viticultors del Penedès), held a planned harvest strike against the ongoing grape pricing scandal in DO Cava. More than... more » Yesterday, September 5th, three groups of viticulturists in the Penedès region (Unió... more »

A look back at the 2012 vintage in Catalunya & Roussillon

by  |  01-09-2019

The other day someone wrote to inquire about the 2012 Clos Mogador and what my impressions were of it. While I enjoyed drinking it when initially released, I realized that instead of just talking about... more » The other day someone wrote to inquire about the 2012 Clos Mogador... more »

Big Cava flexes its muscles, to pay 30% less for grapes

by  |  19-08-2019

After the departure of the Corpinnat wineries at the start of this year, one would have thought DO Cava didn’t need any more bad press, but yet, it was announced last week that the large... more » After the departure of the Corpinnat wineries at the start of this... more »

Carinyena Blanca: Tasting a grape that’s finding its place in Empordà

by  |  13-08-2019

Catalunya’s Denomination of Origin Empordà has just announced an institutional plan to “realize the potential” of the grape, Carinyena Blanca (White Carignan.) Going forward this will involve making it a permitted grape as per their... more » Catalunya’s Denomination of Origin Empordà has just announced an institutional plan to... more »

When the village goes dry

by  |  07-08-2019

On July 25th the village of Gratallops ran out of water. A village of 226 people, 23 wineries, three hotels, multiple holiday rentals, and seven restaurants/cafés had neither water to drink, nor to shower with,... more » On July 25th the village of Gratallops ran out of water. A... more »

Sicus, when wine is made in the vineyard

by  |  12-07-2019

Driving forty five minutes covers a lot of ground in the wine world. It affords a 41km view of the entire Côte d’Or in Burgundy. Similarly, it will see you go from the top to... more » Driving forty five minutes covers a lot of ground in the wine... more »

Terra Alta and the finesse of Garnatxa Blanca

by  |  08-07-2019

For the current issue of World of Fine Wine I was given free rein to write about all that is wonderful when it comes to the Garnatxa Blanca (White Grenache) grape in DO Terra Alta.... more » For the current issue of World of Fine Wine I was given... more »

Tast del Decenni 2019: The DOQ Priorat 2009 vintage

by  |  02-07-2019

In 2009, the heaviest shoe of the Global Financial Crisis had finally fallen. All the maneuvering, consolidating, and bailing of companies and governments truly came to a head for and was deeply affecting European countries,... more » In 2009, the heaviest shoe of the Global Financial Crisis had finally... more »