French Wines

Everyone’s a winemaker in wine country, Domaine Christiane Chambeyron-Manin Côte Rôtie 2013

by  |  29-03-2018

The butcher I frequent in the next village over has a small quantity of wine that they make and sell directly in the shop, certified under DO Montsant. Distracted by cuts of meat and wondering... more »

Drouhin Vaudon – Chablis 2016

by  |  06-03-2018

Instagram is weirder than the weather. Sometimes you put up a photo of what you think if one of the most dramatic landscapes you’ve ever seen but it gets nearly no reaction. Then, you put... more »

The Grand Carignan Tasting

by  |  08-01-2018

There existed a time when I was daft to the wiles and wonders of the grape, Carignan. Despite pockets of old vines in California it was essentially a lost variety. Little thought and even less... more »

A book review of “Essi Avellan’s Champagne”

by  |  16-08-2017

What I know of Champagne is purely by obligation. In sommelier studies and other wine courses, given its dominance in the sparkling wine world, Champagne is required knowledge and I know as much as it... more »

A book review of “In Vino Duplicitas”

by  |  08-08-2017

The entire Rudy Kurniawan affair was sordid and I’ve read countless articles about the story since it broke years and years ago. Despite this, Peter Hellman’s new book, “In Vino Duplicitas” brought out many bits... more »

Why not to drink sparkling wines in a Champagne glass

by  |  31-07-2017

For most of July, I’ve been drinking a lot of sparkling wine. While it would seem a natural fit with the hot weather (and it’s not just my imagination) I’ve been tasting a vast array... more »

The Blason Louis experience

by  |  22-06-2017

A few months back, I was contacted by Blason Louis to receive a pack of their wine flaçons. I really had no idea what they were talking about as a bottle for wine is bouteille... more »

New wine protest in le Boulou at the French-Spanish border

by  |  24-05-2017

Heading north from Barcelona Airport, I was greeted to the signs as seen above warning that there was going to be a “manifestation” or protest by the Southern French winemakers on the 23rd of May.... more »

A tasting in Croatia of Garnacha, Garnatxa, & Grenache

by  |  18-03-2017

We’ve arrived to a day and age wherein I don’t understand how someone can’t appreciate Grenache–if not love it. Sure, there are people who are going to only like white wines, or wines with a... more »

Southern French wine fair slap fight

by  |  12-03-2017

With the general corruption in Spanish politics, the short-sighted xenophobia in British politics, and then the… whatever you want to call gaping void into the nether world that’s opened in American politics, I have little... more »