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New Producer: Napa Knockout - Massimo di Costanzo

Thursday 1^st September 2016

by Julian Campbell

Massimo di Costanzo is the up-and-coming talent from Napa Valley, whose wines have really impressed. Making wine in tiny quantities, the adage good things come in small packages, or in this case parcels, has never be so astute. The 2013 vintage is one Napa knockout you will not want to miss out on...

We asked Massimo a few questions to give us a real insight into the innermost workings of this exquisite winery and just why, for Massimo, the simplicity of wine and the culture of wine is as much a necessity as it is a way of life. Read on to find out more...

Harvest Report: Altare

Wednesday 14^th September 2016

by Giles Burke-Gaffney

Back to the Roots: A lesson of Humility... A harvest update from the wonderful Silvia Altare.

From the domaine that makes some of the most intense wines Piedmont has to offer, in the words of Silvia. "It's that time of year again where we are back to the roots and we're back to the crazy days. You anxiously feel the need to look at the weather forecast every 4 hours and working 15 hours a day seems normal..." Read on to discover more.

Harvest Report: Chateau Lafleur

Wednesday 21^st September 2016

by Giles Burke-Gaffney

As harvest in Bordeaux begins, the Guinadeau family of famed Chateau Lafleur sent us their report on the latest vintage.

"We started to harvest on the morning of Friday 9th September, with the whites. It was warm and dry in Bordeaux so we harvested only in the morning, very early, to enjoy the relative cool of the first hours of the day. We gathered for the first time the young parcel of Sauvignon Blanc "Les Perrieres de Mathilde". Then through the weekend we harvested a portion of Semillons from the "Ambaud" parcel and Sauvignons from the plot "Louima." Our permanent vineyard team and team of pickers were very motivated as the health of the vines was very good with the very few pockets of botrytis cut away. For now this has been a harvest of great pleasure."

Vintage Report: Rhone 2015 - Rhone Rises

Tuesday 27^th September 2016

by Giles Burke-Gaffney

After some challenging vintages Rhone’s vignerons have got big smiles on their faces again. 2016 is shaping up nicely, the ground is a little parched, but grapes are still ripening and in good health.

Something between very good to great is on the cards. At the same time the fruits of its predecessor, 2015, certainly look the real deal. Two of us yo-yoed between Marseille and Lyon last week visiting 24 producers in total and quenching our palates on some of the most brilliant young Rhone wines we had tasted in years.