Decanter August 2022

It may be a little surprising to see Greece, the cradle of Western civilisation and somewhere with thousands of years of winemaking history, described as an ‘exciting new region’ in this issue. But that’s one of the joys of wine – perpetual discovery, rediscovery and reinvention. Every generation learns from the previous one, but also questions that accepted wisdom. This can occasionally lead to undrinkably wild youthful experiments (bless their little hipster face furniture) but can also spark a movement that leads somewhere interesting, fresh and exciting. Which is what seems to be happening in Greece right now. While our writer Olly Smith is known for his enthusiasm, we genuinely think he’s got something very good to rave about this time. Are the Bordeaux 2021s raveable about, though? Or –…

PEDRO BALLESTEROS TORRES MW is a widely published wine journalist, educator and judge. He is a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino, and is on the governing board of the Spanish Tasters’ Union NATALIE EARL is Decanter’s regional editor for France other than Bordeaux and Burgundy, and is a keen advocate for organic, sustainable and natural wines. She wrote the feature on pét-nat in this issue GEORGINA HINDLE is Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent, tasting and writing about the wines of the region where she lives, as well as editor of Decanter Premium, overseeing Decanter’s global fine wine content for online subscribers ANDY HOWARD MW is a contributing editor to Decanter and a DWWA Regional Chair. A former wine buyer, he now runs his own wine consultancy Vinetrades Ltd,…

Sussex sparkling PDO causes friction in rival counties O rderinga bottle of ‘Sussex’ English wine could become familiar after UK government announced protected status for the term – but the move has also reignited debate. Sparkling and still wines meeting set production rules and made in East and West Sussex counties will be eligible for the new Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), it was announced in June. Mark Driver, co-founder of Rathfinny Wine Estate near Seaford on the coast and a prominent supporter of the move, said Sussex would enjoy similar status to that of Champagne or Rioja in the UK’s Geographical Indication (GI) scheme. Looking further ahead, he said: ‘We can’t wait for the day when you can go into a bar in London, New York, Beijing, or Tokyo and…

■ A‘freedom blend’ to help raise money for Ukrainian refugees has been created by award-winning Moldovan winery Purcari. Containing 65% Saperavi, 20% Rara Neagră and 15% Bastardo grape varieties, the red wine was priced at £19.99 in the UK (see ‘Weekday wines’, p111). All proceeds will go to help Ukrainian refugees, said Purcari, which sits close to the border with Ukraine. The winery has also offered assistance, including temporary accommodation, to people fleeing Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February. ■ APenfolds wine made in China will launch on the Chinese market this year for the first time, said brand owner Treasury Wine Estates (TWE). It’s part of a ‘multi-country of origin’ strategy for Penfolds, but also follows China’s high tariffs on Australian wine imports, imposed last year. ‘China is an…

With reference to your excellent article ‘The language of tasting notes’ (June issue), I believe there is no such thing as a bad tasting note, just a wrong audience being addressed. Wine notes written with a mass market retail-buying audience in mind are going to be somewhat different to those aimed at wine enthusiasts with a level of knowledge, seeking guidance on a particular wine or vintage. My own wine tasting notes are all contained in a little red book, signed by one of my heroes, your late consultant editor, the incredibly generous, kind and engaging Steven Spurrier. The notes themselves may possibly make a Decanter contributor or Master of Wine shudder while reading them back. But the point is they are my notes and are designed to evoke a…

WIN A MAGNUM OF CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER Wine is all about opinions, so why not share yours? If you are amused, enraged or intrigued by anything you’ve read in Decanter or on decanter.com, write or email us at the address listed above. Each month the sender of our star letter will receive a magnum of Champagne Bollinger, courtesy of Mentzendorff, the UK agent (mentzendorff.co.uk). The Holy Bible of wine As a wine novitiate, I open my copy of Decanter in reverence every month. I even dress up for the occasion as I feel I should demonstrate my respect for the learning I’m about to absorb. The vinous world, after all, is almost magical, if not miraculous in its combination of earth and effort to produce such a heavenly nectar. In particular,…