Reviews of wines, producers, restaurants and books
Jean-Claude Courtault came from the Loire Valley to Chablis in 1974 to work as vineyard manager at a winery in Lignorelles. In 1984 he started to buy his own land and in 1987 he launched
Erich Machherndl in Weissenkirchen in der Wachau is a master of the Austrian grape variety grüner veltliner. A good example is his Grüner Veltliner Federspiel 2008, with a high acidity, very clean and crisp style.
It’s a new decade and time for new wine experiences. I suggest that you take the time to make a nice and hearty meat stew one of the January weekends and serve it with a
This is one of our favourite restaurants in Narbonne, not that choice is lacking. In the minuscule space (30 m2 plus terrasse) le chef Frédéric Nalais serves delicious and well made food. Try the croustillant
It’s hidden in a back street and you may have to fend off the dust bins on your way there even thought it’s in the beautiful city of Verona. It’s a traditional osteria (bistro for
In Monferrato, in the hills east of Asti, we find Braida, a winery belonging to the Bologna family. Today it’s the third generation Bolognas who manages the winery, Raffaella and Guiseppe, both with an oenology
Wagram is an Austrian wine region a short distance west of Vienna totalling 2500 ha. The make primarily white wines and grüner veltliner accounts for 55% of the production. Winemaker Franz Leth also makes predominantly
Forget dry, red, white. In December it should be sweet and strong. Christmas arrives with strong and blue cheeses that require some substantial counter-artillery to create a holiday harmony. The saviour comes in the shape
Querce2 The olive oil of the month comes from Tuscany and the partly Swedish-owned farm Querce2, just south of Florence. They make an excellent oil that fulfils all requirements to be called “eccellente”, as the
It is far between the organic or biodynamic growers in Champagne, but if you look closely you will find a few. Champagne Fleury in Côte des Bars in the southern part of Champagne is one
Catherine and Jean-Michel Turgy have 6 ha, all planted with chardonnay. The property is in the small village Mesnil-sur-Oger, in the middle of the Côte des Blancs district, known for its high quality chardonnay grapes.
L’histoire du Crémant d’Alsace ou la genèse des bulles By: Nicole Laugel Publisher: Jérôme Do Bentzinger Editeur The story about the creation of the Crémant d’Alsace appellation is an entertaining success story. AOC Crémant d’Alsace
Grand Crus Classés, Grands Chefs Etoilés By: Sophie Brissaud, photo Cyril le Tourneur d’Ison & Iris Sullivan, plus many contributing chefs and sommeliers Publisher: Editions de la Martinière It’s logical. This is a book made
South-West France, the Wines and Winemakers By: Paul Strang, photographs by Jason Shenai Publisher: University of California Press This is a book that has been in the coming for a very long time and now
History of Wine Words By: Charles Hodgson Publisher: P2Peak Press The best use for this book is probably as a dinner conversation piece. Or as something to leaf through idly in the sofa. It a
The Ultimate Austrian Wine Guide (2009/2010 edition) By: Peter Moser Publisher: Falstaff Publications We’ve previously reviewed this book, in an earlier edition, so this is just an update. And it’s well worth mentioning again! The
Choosing the Right Wine By: Beverley Blanning Publisher: Teach Yourself This is a soft cover, pocket size book on how to teach yourself about wine. Small, simple (no glossy paper, virtually no illustrations) and very
Oenologie et crus des vins By Kilien Stengel, editor Publisher: Editions Jérôme Vilette Supposedly, this book is intended for student sommeliers and restaurateurs, as well as those studying viticulture, oenology. It is an ambitious task
Criteria: an interesting wine (not too cheap) and one that you can enjoy with dinner or friends (not too expensive). And very good! Åsa’s wine of the month: Rosé du Coteau from the agricultural institute
A popular restaurant on a side street to the busy rue Rivoli. Nice atmosphere and very friendly and helpful staff (well worth underlining!). At lunch time you can have Today’s Special for 14€, traditional French
A charming little restaurant in the heart of Tours in the Loire valley, located between the Cathedral and the Vieux Tours. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays. In short: very high ambitions and moderate prices! It’s an
We find Domaine Marronniers in the small village of Préhy, a short drive from Chablis itself. There Bernard Legland and his wife welcome you for a wine tasting of a range of Chablis wines. The
They make Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue, one of the better known vin de pays denominations in the Languedoc. Grapes are mainly syrah, grenache, carignan, cinsault, merlot, roussanne and marsanne. They have 22
Wine Brands By Evelyne Resnick Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan This is an interesting book that we certainly recommend to those who are interested in the wine business and internet marketing. Evelyne Resnick is French and has
This is a 22 ha big estate in Boutenac, one of the best areas in the Corbières. The vines are old. Some carignans and grenaches are over 100 years old. 80% of production is AOC
Domaine Grand Guilhem, Fitou In the mountainous part of Fitou, in the small village of Cascastel, on the border to Corbières, that’s where we find Gilles Contrepois (an exiled Parisian) at Domaine Grand Guilhem. He
Chianti Rufina DOCG 2006 Fattoria Cerreto Libri A spicy wine with long after-taste. On the palate you have distinct notes of violet, warm and ripe black currants and a touch of vanilla. The colour is
We’ve stopped counting all the exciting wineries we discover in the Languedoc. But among the interesting ones there are some that stick in memory and stand out. L’Oustal Blanc in Minervois is one of those.
Fronsac is not as famous as its illustrious neighbour Pomerol. But it would deserve to be. It is pretty rolling hills landscape, much nicer than the flat land in Pomerol. And the wines from the
Dietro l’Isola from Salvino Gorgone Salvino Gorgone owns two hectares on one of the southernmost islands of Italy, Pantelleria, south of Sicily. He makes a wonderful sweet wine using the passito method (drying of the
Jean-Claude Courtault came from the Loire Valley to Chablis in 1974 to work as vineyard manager at a winery in Lignorelles. In 1984 he started
Erich Machherndl in Weissenkirchen in der Wachau is a master of the Austrian grape variety grüner veltliner. A good example is his Grüner Veltliner Federspiel
It’s a new decade and time for new wine experiences. I suggest that you take the time to make a nice and hearty meat stew
This is one of our favourite restaurants in Narbonne, not that choice is lacking. In the minuscule space (30 m2 plus terrasse) le chef Frédéric
It’s hidden in a back street and you may have to fend off the dust bins on your way there even thought it’s in the
In Monferrato, in the hills east of Asti, we find Braida, a winery belonging to the Bologna family. Today it’s the third generation Bolognas who
Wagram is an Austrian wine region a short distance west of Vienna totalling 2500 ha. The make primarily white wines and grüner veltliner accounts for
Forget dry, red, white. In December it should be sweet and strong. Christmas arrives with strong and blue cheeses that require some substantial counter-artillery to
Querce2 The olive oil of the month comes from Tuscany and the partly Swedish-owned farm Querce2, just south of Florence. They make an excellent oil
It is far between the organic or biodynamic growers in Champagne, but if you look closely you will find a few. Champagne Fleury in Côte
Catherine and Jean-Michel Turgy have 6 ha, all planted with chardonnay. The property is in the small village Mesnil-sur-Oger, in the middle of the Côte
L’histoire du Crémant d’Alsace ou la genèse des bulles By: Nicole Laugel Publisher: Jérôme Do Bentzinger Editeur The story about the creation of the Crémant
Grand Crus Classés, Grands Chefs Etoilés By: Sophie Brissaud, photo Cyril le Tourneur d’Ison & Iris Sullivan, plus many contributing chefs and sommeliers Publisher: Editions
South-West France, the Wines and Winemakers By: Paul Strang, photographs by Jason Shenai Publisher: University of California Press This is a book that has been
History of Wine Words By: Charles Hodgson Publisher: P2Peak Press The best use for this book is probably as a dinner conversation piece. Or as
The Ultimate Austrian Wine Guide (2009/2010 edition) By: Peter Moser Publisher: Falstaff Publications We’ve previously reviewed this book, in an earlier edition, so this is
Choosing the Right Wine By: Beverley Blanning Publisher: Teach Yourself This is a soft cover, pocket size book on how to teach yourself about wine.
Oenologie et crus des vins By Kilien Stengel, editor Publisher: Editions Jérôme Vilette Supposedly, this book is intended for student sommeliers and restaurateurs, as well
Criteria: an interesting wine (not too cheap) and one that you can enjoy with dinner or friends (not too expensive). And very good! Åsa’s wine
A popular restaurant on a side street to the busy rue Rivoli. Nice atmosphere and very friendly and helpful staff (well worth underlining!). At lunch
A charming little restaurant in the heart of Tours in the Loire valley, located between the Cathedral and the Vieux Tours. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays.
We find Domaine Marronniers in the small village of Préhy, a short drive from Chablis itself. There Bernard Legland and his wife welcome you for
They make Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue, one of the better known vin de pays denominations in the Languedoc. Grapes are mainly syrah,
Wine Brands By Evelyne Resnick Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan This is an interesting book that we certainly recommend to those who are interested in the wine
This is a 22 ha big estate in Boutenac, one of the best areas in the Corbières. The vines are old. Some carignans and grenaches
Domaine Grand Guilhem, Fitou In the mountainous part of Fitou, in the small village of Cascastel, on the border to Corbières, that’s where we find
Chianti Rufina DOCG 2006 Fattoria Cerreto Libri A spicy wine with long after-taste. On the palate you have distinct notes of violet, warm and ripe
We’ve stopped counting all the exciting wineries we discover in the Languedoc. But among the interesting ones there are some that stick in memory and
Fronsac is not as famous as its illustrious neighbour Pomerol. But it would deserve to be. It is pretty rolling hills landscape, much nicer than
Dietro l’Isola from Salvino Gorgone Salvino Gorgone owns two hectares on one of the southernmost islands of Italy, Pantelleria, south of Sicily. He makes a
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