Category Archives: Wine

Taste the Limestone, Smell the Slate by Alex Maltman (Book Review)

Between 2010 and 2016 I subscribed to wine’s perhaps most serious journal, World of Fine Wine. On occasion I was able to see my own words on their pages, but back then it was, mostly if not entirely, a bastion … Continue reading

Posted in Geology and Wine, Minerals and Wine, Subjectivity in Wine Tasting, Tasting Wine, Viticulture, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Science, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Recent Wines March 2025 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

We have just another five wines for this second part of my article on the wines we drank at home in March. That’s nearly a “Dry March” for me, but I’m anticipating a very “wet” April, as visiting season is … Continue reading

Posted in Alsace, Artisan Wines, Bugey, English Wine, Hungarian Wine, Natural Wine, Welsh Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Recent Wines March 2025 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

March has been a quieter month, so just ten wines, five in each part. It’s not so much the alcohol as the cost of wine now, as my last article explained. That said, with various wine-loving guests coming to stay, … Continue reading

Posted in Alsace, Aosta, Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Burgundy, Italian Wine, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rioja by Fintan Kerr – The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide (Book Review)

Wine books can be pretty expensive these days, at least the serious wine books you and I read. It’s not always the case. Jamie Goode has found a way to make some of his books affordable, but those published by … Continue reading

Posted in Fine Wine, Restaurants, Rioja, Spanish Wine, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Shops, Wine Tourism, Wine Travel, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Elephants in the Wine Room

Occasionally I like a gentle rant, and I was inspired to spout forth on this topic, the price of wine, by a few very different recent experiences. By “wine”, of course I mean the kind of artisan, especially natural, wines … Continue reading

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Recent Wines February 2025 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

Part Two of my wines drunk at home in February doesn’t manage the zero-zero of all different countries, as Part One did, but we still manage to range far and wide in the world of wine. We kick off in … Continue reading

Posted in Amphora Wine, Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Austrian Wine, Czech Wine, German Wine, Jura, Mosel, Natural Wine, orange wine, Savoie Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines February 2025 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

We are extra-diverse on Recent Wines February 2025 (Part 1). Six wines, six different regions and six different countries. I won’t manage that in Part 2 as I can already see two French wines creeping in there, so make the … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Champagne, Czech Wine, English Wine, German Wine, Italian Wine, Natural Wine, North American Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Timberyard Spring Tasting 2025 Part 3 – Element Wines, David Morris/Mountain People Wines and more

This is the final part of three in which I go through some of the wines on show at Timberyard’s Spring Tasting in Edinburgh on 3rd March. Here we are looking at wines brought in by Edinburgh-based merchant Element Wines. … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, biodynamic wine, Natural Wine, Welsh Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Timberyard Spring Tasting 2025 Part 2 – Passione Vino

Part Two (of three) of my review of Timberyard’s Edinburgh Spring Tasting covers the wines of Passione Vino. Part One, already published, covers Carte Blanche Wines. Passione Vino is an importer/merchant I don’t know too well, although you may have … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Fine Wine, Italian Wine, Passionate Wine, Sicily, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Timberyard Spring Tasting 2025 Part 1 – Carte Blanche Wines

The spring tasting season got off to a chaotic start in Edinburgh on Monday. Rather like the cliché about buses coming along in twos and threes, there were four wine tastings and a whisky tasting on the same day, all … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, biodynamic wine, Fine Wine, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment