JOANNA SIMON takes on the role of ice queen this week as she takes a look at some of the 'extraordinary wine' that is Eiswein from Germany and Austria or Icewine from Canada. For a good bargain, she suggests 1997 Darting Estate Eiswein Scheurebe (12 for 37.5cl; Marks & Spencer).
Read more...MATTHEW JUKES surveys the January sales and comes up with a few quality bargains.
Read more...The subject is detox, and Richard Ehrlich is a non-believer: 'There's no such thing as detox.' However, he does concede that 'there is such a thing as the detox industry', and he's keen to add some advice of his own. Option number one involves 'getting more flavour into the glass of whatever virtuous drink you
Read more...'Which country is the new Australia?' asks TIM ATKIN MW. Perhaps Australia itself, he suggests: 'It's easy to forget that Australia can still surprise.' But Atkin is putting his money on South Africa, claiming it holds the edge over Australia in 'Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Pinotage (by default)'. Atkin even dares to share his view that Aussie favourite
Read more...After a week involved in the annual Burgundy en primeur tasting jamboree, Jane MacQuitty decides that the 2004s deliver 'some surprisingly elegant, racy, pear and lime zest-spiked fruit'. She warns, however, not to be 'taken in by wine merchants' euphoria: [it] is a good not great vintage'. Similarly, 'don't go looking for keepers - you won't find them'. 2004 Burgundy is 'classic' and 'terroir-driven', unlike 'the opulent 2003s'. Her 'best of' list comes out next week. Picks for this week include the 2003 Graffigna Shiraz Reserve, Argentina (down 1 to 3.99, Co-op), 2001 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc, California (down 2 to 4.99, Waitrose), 2002 Mdoc, Bordeaux, Yvon Mau (down 2 to 4.99, Tesco) and 1998 Chanoine Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut (down 15 to 14.99, Tesco).
Read more...Champagne might be a drink for all occasions, but opening
Read more...'English wine is no longer the joke it once was,' says Owen Elias, winemaker at Chapel Down in Kent, talking to JONATHAN RAY. Ray is keeping Elias company on a visit to Jean-Philippe Archambaud, winemaker at Simonnet-Febvre in Chablis, but ends up feeling a little out of his depth once the chatter turns to rainfall, sunlight hours, sugar levels and acidity. Although he's back in the frame when the tasting of 2003 and 2004 Chablis begins: 'The wines differ across the quality levels, but their hallmark remains a soft, gentle butteriness with elusive hints of honey and an appealing freshness.' A return match is on the cards for next week, with France putting England to the test. Wines of the week include 2004 Vergelegen Chardonnay, South Africa (7.99 as part of a case; Majestic).
Read more...'The death of the high street has been greatly exaggerated,' claims TIM ATKIN MW. It looks as though there are going to
Read more...'This week's WOW' from MATTHEW JUKES is 2005 Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape (5.99; Asda, Oddbins, Sainsbury's) - 'a wickedly refreshing wine'.
Read more...If you're looking for a wine to go with bruschetta of red pepper and goat's cheese, GILES KIME says you can't go far wrong with 2005 Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc (7.99; Majestic).
Read more...RICHARD EHRLICH pays a visit to the retail giants and comes away with a festive medley from each. A good white from Marks & Spencer is 2004 Pouilly-Fuiss (9.99), while one of Ehrlich's favourite reds from Tesco is 2001 Chteau Martin (6.99, down from 9.99).
Read more...JANE MacQUITTY goes up a price bracket into the 'under-12' range and recommends her Christmas selection.
Read more...JAMIE GOODE gets friendly with the environment, saying, 'The number of organic wines, made by people who care about the diversity of life in their vineyards, is on the up.' His 'clear-conscience' tipples include 2004 Carmen Nativa Chardonnay, Maipo (7.99; Oddbins, Booths) and 2004 Chapoutier Ctes du Rhne (6.49; Waitrose).
Read more...You might be able to take Christmas out of Port, but
Read more...MATTHEW JUKES's wine of the week is 2004 Zamora Zinfandel, Lodi, California (6.99; M&S). He also recommends 2005 Stormhoek Pinot Grigio, South Africa (5.99; Harrogate Fine Wine), 2003 Seghesio Barbera, North Coast, California (19.45; George Hill of Loughborough, Liberty Wines, Valvona & Crolla of Edinburgh), 2004 The Storm, Reserve Sangiovese/
Read more...'Australia is alone in how seriously it takes wine marketing,' says JANCIS ROBINSON MW. The University of Adelaide has 600 students in its wine business and marketing school, compared to 10 students in the MBA course run by the University of Bordeaux, she reports. But while the clever Australians have 'seen their global market share zoom skywards over the past decade', there's no longer enough jobs for the growing multitude of wine-marketing graduates. Robinson talks to one such graduate, Jennifer Lynch, who has brought her skills to Britain, 'where there is a desperate need for more marketing expertise in the wine business'. When asked what could be done for French wines, Lynch suggests: 'De-mystify! Adding things like back labels and better labelling in general will help them enormously.'
Read more...JONATHAN RAY is really struggling: 'I've almost run out of goodwill to all men and we're not even there yet.'
Read more...With the party season in full swing, VICTORIA MOORE picks out some festive winners, pointing out that 'you can get a very decent bottle of still wine for the price of the cheapest bubbly'. Among her suggestions are 2005 Knappstein Hand Picked Riesling (6.99, or 5.99 when you buy two; Majestic) and 2004 La Serrana Tempranillo, Vino de la Tierra Castilla y Leon (2.99; Majestic). Or if you must stick to sparkling, a 'ridiculously good deal' is Duval-Leroy Premier Cru Fleur de Champagne (13.99, down from 20.99 until 8 January 2006; Waitrose).
Read more...It's tradition versus science for ANTHONY ROSE this week, as he reports on events from the recent harvest. Technology is
Read more...'I taste a lot of rubbish so that you don't have to,' says TIM ATKIN MW. Out of the 10,000 wines he tastes per year, Atkin reckons that only 500 are worth a second look. And although there might be a couple of good ones that slip through the net, Atkin maintains his customary modesty: 'I am generally a
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