Reviews of wines, producers, restaurants and books
Sister and brother couple Marie and François Giraud took over this property from their father ten years ago and have today 19 hectares. They have great respect for the appellation and the terroir but have
A family property that is run by the husband-wife couple Fabienne and Philippe Gamet. They have 8.6 hectares of vines around Epernay. Brut Séléction can be had for 12.50€ at the winery. It is made
Interview with Volker Paul Weindel, winemaker and owner since 1996 of Domaine la Tour des Videaux in Pierrefeu de Provence close to Massif des Maures. We are in the vineyards in winter before the vines
Criteria: an interesting wine (not too cheap) and one that you can enjoy with dinner or friends (not too expensive). And very good! Selected by Jack, our reporter in Stockholm. Faustino I Grand Reserva, Rioja
It is not quite what you expect – that a Japanese restaurant has what is no doubt one of the best (if not the best) wine list in Beaune. But so it is. You will
Pinxo is run by Alain Dutornier from the Michelin-starred restaurant Carré des Feuillant, just a few blocks away. The decoration is very Spartan with a Japanese touch. The first thing that strikes you with the
Martine Pagès and Christophe Molinier are both trained oenologists. They run this 50 ha family property in the Corbières in Languedoc. They have 10 ha in the sub-appellation Boutenac with its stony soil. They took
The name is genuinely Basque (a region that covers bits of south-western France as well as northern Spain) but the restaurant proposes gastronomic specialities from all of the French Sud-Ouest (south west). Let yourself be
Divine & Sense opened in October 2008. It’s well place in central Montpellier with a design that seems to be inspired by Philippe Starck with the contrast between old and new and unexpected details –
There are many, often small, French appellations that are unfortunately far too little known. Sometimes one wonders if the wines wouldn’t be better known (which is important) and easier to sell (even more important) if
Life is such (or is it business?) that cooperatives often have difficulties aiming for top quality. The small cooperative Champagne Mailly, based in the Grand Cru village Mailly of course, is one that succeeds in
– Chateau Prieuré Borde Rouge is well on its way to join the big names of the Languedoc. They have already received numerous prizes for their very elegant and fruit-filled wines. The property comprises 23
The Wine Trials – A fearless Critic Book By: Robin Goldstein Fearless Critic Media The sub-title of this American book is “Brown-bag blind tastings reveal the surprising wine values under $15”. The message in the
La Vigne Assassinée – l’Avenir du Vin By: Christian R. Saint-Roche CIDE ISBN 2-9525036-1-3 The title reads ”the assassinated vine” but it’s not a crime novel even if it is a thriller of sorts. How
Grand atlas des vignobles de France By: Benoît France (ed) Solar France, 54 eur, ISBN 978-2263046605 This is a rather unique book. Even if the title says “atlas” it’s not your average map book. Instead
The Wines of Burgundy By: Clive Coates University of California Press, £35, ISBN 978-0520250505 This is a massive book: 1872 grams and 878 pages. There are books that you simply cannot avoid. This is one.
Andrew Jefford’s Wine Course By: Andrew Jefford Photo: William Lingwood & Alan Williams, et al Ryland, Peters & Small, £19.99, ISBN 978-1845977238 This is an introduction to wine and wine tasting. Andrew Jefford accompanies the
Japanese Whisky – Facts, figures and taste By: Ulf Buxrud Publisher: DataAnalysis Scandinavia AB, https://www.buxrud.se/japan.htm Ulf Buxrud is a great connoisseur of whisky. He has previously written a book about single malts from Scotland. This
Wine tourism is en vogue and the wine co-operative in Florensac in the Languedoc has made some big investments to become more welcoming to passing tourists. It is located near the motorway between Montpellier and
Julien Blanchard is young but already a very accomplished winemaker and we will no doubt hear more about him in the future, if I am not entirely mistaken. His wines are very well made, with
A small co-operative with some 1000 hectares. They have invested heavily in quality development in recent years and now work closely together with the individual growers. Stephan Clement, the winemaker, comes from Champagne and finds
Côtes de Duras Côtes de Duras is today perhaps a not very well know district, located only 45 km from Saint Emilion, but that may well change. There are many similarities with St Emilion, both
Marjorie Gallet was only 23 when she in 2001, without a penny in her pocket, decided to settle in Roussillon to become winegrower. She had an opportunity to buy an old property of 10 ha
Coume del Mas is close to the village Cousprou, between Collioure and Banyuls. The soil is poor, dominated by slate that gives a strong backbone and fresh acidity to the wines. The main grape variety
Strolling along the river on the Ile Saint-Louis is something that both tourists and Parisians love to do. A relatively new restaurant on the main street (almost the only street…) is Sorza. It is not
A biggish and well-maintained property with 170 ha of vines in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers. Since 1990 it belongs to the négociant CVBG-Dourthe-Kressman and they have put a substantial 4€M of investments into it. They
Cave d’Embres et Castelmaure, Corbières, Languedoc To reach the village of Embres et Castelmaure (yes, that’s how its called) you have to follow narrow, winding roads, beautiful and remote and full of game hunters in
A new TasteMonde has opened next to Place de la Madeleine. Their first restaurant opened several years ago in Issy-les-Moulineaux but now they’ve opened a second location more centrally. Unusual for Paris restaurants the focus
A quality-oriented co-operative (especially in recent times) in the middle of the very picturesque village of Collioure. The winery is in what was previously a Dominican monastery from the 13th century. They have put in
An excellent producer in the beautiful Pic St Loup area a bit north of Montpellier. The Ravaille family owns the property since a few hundred years back. The current generation is the fifth with the
Sister and brother couple Marie and François Giraud took over this property from their father ten years ago and have today 19 hectares. They have
A family property that is run by the husband-wife couple Fabienne and Philippe Gamet. They have 8.6 hectares of vines around Epernay. Brut Séléction can
Interview with Volker Paul Weindel, winemaker and owner since 1996 of Domaine la Tour des Videaux in Pierrefeu de Provence close to Massif des Maures.
Criteria: an interesting wine (not too cheap) and one that you can enjoy with dinner or friends (not too expensive). And very good! Selected by
It is not quite what you expect – that a Japanese restaurant has what is no doubt one of the best (if not the best)
Pinxo is run by Alain Dutornier from the Michelin-starred restaurant Carré des Feuillant, just a few blocks away. The decoration is very Spartan with a
Martine Pagès and Christophe Molinier are both trained oenologists. They run this 50 ha family property in the Corbières in Languedoc. They have 10 ha
The name is genuinely Basque (a region that covers bits of south-western France as well as northern Spain) but the restaurant proposes gastronomic specialities from
Divine & Sense opened in October 2008. It’s well place in central Montpellier with a design that seems to be inspired by Philippe Starck with
There are many, often small, French appellations that are unfortunately far too little known. Sometimes one wonders if the wines wouldn’t be better known (which
Life is such (or is it business?) that cooperatives often have difficulties aiming for top quality. The small cooperative Champagne Mailly, based in the Grand
– Chateau Prieuré Borde Rouge is well on its way to join the big names of the Languedoc. They have already received numerous prizes for
The Wine Trials – A fearless Critic Book By: Robin Goldstein Fearless Critic Media The sub-title of this American book is “Brown-bag blind tastings reveal
La Vigne Assassinée – l’Avenir du Vin By: Christian R. Saint-Roche CIDE ISBN 2-9525036-1-3 The title reads ”the assassinated vine” but it’s not a crime
Grand atlas des vignobles de France By: Benoît France (ed) Solar France, 54 eur, ISBN 978-2263046605 This is a rather unique book. Even if the
The Wines of Burgundy By: Clive Coates University of California Press, £35, ISBN 978-0520250505 This is a massive book: 1872 grams and 878 pages. There
Andrew Jefford’s Wine Course By: Andrew Jefford Photo: William Lingwood & Alan Williams, et al Ryland, Peters & Small, £19.99, ISBN 978-1845977238 This is an
Japanese Whisky – Facts, figures and taste By: Ulf Buxrud Publisher: DataAnalysis Scandinavia AB, https://www.buxrud.se/japan.htm Ulf Buxrud is a great connoisseur of whisky. He has
Wine tourism is en vogue and the wine co-operative in Florensac in the Languedoc has made some big investments to become more welcoming to passing
Julien Blanchard is young but already a very accomplished winemaker and we will no doubt hear more about him in the future, if I am
A small co-operative with some 1000 hectares. They have invested heavily in quality development in recent years and now work closely together with the individual
Côtes de Duras Côtes de Duras is today perhaps a not very well know district, located only 45 km from Saint Emilion, but that may
Marjorie Gallet was only 23 when she in 2001, without a penny in her pocket, decided to settle in Roussillon to become winegrower. She had
Coume del Mas is close to the village Cousprou, between Collioure and Banyuls. The soil is poor, dominated by slate that gives a strong backbone
Strolling along the river on the Ile Saint-Louis is something that both tourists and Parisians love to do. A relatively new restaurant on the main
A biggish and well-maintained property with 170 ha of vines in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers. Since 1990 it belongs to the négociant CVBG-Dourthe-Kressman and they
Cave d’Embres et Castelmaure, Corbières, Languedoc To reach the village of Embres et Castelmaure (yes, that’s how its called) you have to follow narrow, winding
A new TasteMonde has opened next to Place de la Madeleine. Their first restaurant opened several years ago in Issy-les-Moulineaux but now they’ve opened a
A quality-oriented co-operative (especially in recent times) in the middle of the very picturesque village of Collioure. The winery is in what was previously a
An excellent producer in the beautiful Pic St Loup area a bit north of Montpellier. The Ravaille family owns the property since a few hundred
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