Domaine Tissot Château-Chalon Vin Jaune 2009 Now here is a wine that deserves it's reputation. I'd put it up against the fine wines of the world, sitting alongside the greatest Burgundy, the most luscious Trockenbeerenauslese, the …
Some very brief highlights from Rootstock 2016 I only managed a single morning session at Rootstock 2016 (the sustainable wine/food fair - see previous iterations here or here) this year, mainly because I was originally slated to be …
Domaine de la Pinte Savagnin 2007 Old school Jura Savagnin style, this spent 5 years in oak. It's every bit the fusty oxidative style, with mothball and a hint of decay, if still firm to finish. …
Les Chais du Vieux Bourg L'Etoile QV d'Etoiles 2011 A blend of Chardonnay and Savagnin, this comes from Ludwig Bindernagel - recently called one of the most exciting producers in the Jura. Made with some skin …
Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Jura Poulsard 2011 At what point does a fault become too much? Or to put it differently, what faults are an instant turnoff for you? Personally, I think I can handle brett, …
Domaine de l’Octavin Vin de France Pamina Chardonnay 2012 The only 'mainstream' variety in the l'Octavin range and also the most boring. There, I said it. Really quite volatile, which is surprising given that it's a less …
Domaine de l’Octavin Vin de France Dorabella Poulsard 2013 Following on from the oddity of the Trousseau, this looks almost 'conventional'. Sort of. Sourced from fifty year old vines, this Jura Poulsard is produced without sulphur, with …
Caves Jean Bourdy Chateau Chalon 1995 Vin Jaune has to be one of the more challenging classic wine styles out there. The famous 'yellow wine' of the Jura is an obscurity in the scheme of things, a …
Domaine de l’Octavin Vin de France Corvées de Trousseau 2013 Welcome to the pointy end of natural wine. This Trousseau is instantly fascinating and divisive, all at once. The low alcohol (9%) dictates that this had to …
Domaine l'Octavin Vin de France Foutre d'Escampette 2014 It seems that everyone is getting on the 'pet nat' (Pétillant Naturel - a style of rustic sparkling produced by bottling fermenting grape juice, with the trapped CO2 …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, doing a degree that I didn't really like, and a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say I discovered wine, my uni degree morphed into something completely different and wine/beer took over my life.
Almost twenty years later and I currently spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
While wearing my writer cap I write features for the likes of National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS plus I'm a Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here.