Old vines
891. Yalumba, The Tricentenary Grenache Barossa Valley, 2008
In a fortuitous meeting at the Yalumba Cellar Door, Jane Ferrari set up a 6am vineyard tour & tasting, including Pewsey Vale Rieslings, that …
Cantariña, Bierzo: Finance to fine wine
In 2002, I first met Santiago Ysart Alvarez de Toledo – Santi Ysart – when we joined the full-time MBA programme at London Business …
Sonoma: old-vine Zinfandel, fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Sonoma is, in fact, a large region. Most people, including myself, would probably think of Sonoma as Napa’s quieter, more rural, more familial, ‘little …
Ridge Vineyards: truly iconic California wines
Iconic is a term often over-used. In the case of Ridge Vineyards it is entirely appropriate. Their instantly recognisable label design is, literally, an …
447. Santa Rita, Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Maipo Valley Chile, 1999
A different vintage from the 1997, that I also picked up whilst at Diageo. This was more appealing, more complex I think, and better …
419. Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Springs Sonoma County, 2004
The best match we could come up with for a dish containing chillis, walnuts, beef, soured cream, sultanas and pomegranates was a Zinfandel, and …
Bodegas Ysios: a Rioja to watch
I’d had a recommendation from one of the folks at Wines of Rioja to visit Ysios since it is close to Laguardia where we …
230. Santa Rita, Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Maipo Valley Chile, 1997
A lot of pain for the pleasure! In Ireland, Diageo / UB is the agent for Santa Rita, but I had to order this …
92. Domaine Gramenon, Côtes-du-Rhône Ceps Centenaires La Mémé, 2000
Very disappointing. May have been a little “off” – it had thrown a lot of sediment and was a little bubbly initially. Slightly “baked” …