Do We Need Tasting Notes?

Do We Need Tasting Notes?

Matthew Gaughan
Other Wines

Wine publications are dominated by tasting notes that either use generic or overblown language without conveying the essence of the wine. What purpose do these thousands of tasting notes serve? Do they benefit the consumer, the publication, or the producer? Or would we all be better off without them?

What's in a name...again

What's in a name...again

Matthew Gaughan
spain

Catalan sparkling wine continues to confuse, and the issue isn’t helped by writers and retailers referring to wines as Cava when the producers have left the designation. Let’s call the producers by the names they have chosen to use!

Loire: Touraine

Loire: Touraine

Matthew Gaughan
france

A trip to Touraine in the Loire Valley showed the wonderful range of wines made there: from Chenin Blanc to Cabernet Franc to Sauvignon Blanc to Gamay to Malbec, dry, off-dry, sweet, and sparkling, rosé too. Despite the long history of winemaking in the Loire, the region has seen a lot of changes in the last few decades. Here’s a spotlight on some of the major Touraine appellations and producers to try.

Hella Chenin

Hella Chenin

Matthew Gaughan
south africa

Hella Chenin—a first-time event celebrating Chenin Blanc from California and South Africa. A chance to compare and contrast, to appreciate the variety from different regions, and to understand that Chenin is not just the Loire.

Aligoté

Aligoté

Matthew Gaughan
france

Aligoté has had a bad reputation: it has high yields and produces wines with searingly high acidity. However, some producers in Burgundy are taking it much more seriously. If yields are contained, then the high acid is well-suited to warmer growing conditions. There are some very good wines being made, and Aligoté is becoming increasingly interesting.

Understanding Appellations and Wine Regulations: Outside Europe

Understanding Appellations and Wine Regulations: Outside Europe

Matthew Gaughan
Other Countries

The equivalent of appellation rules outside of Europe are usually much looser. This allows much greater liberty for producers but less information for consumers and a potential unclear identity for regions. It also means greater potential for experimentation for producers. How appellation systems have developed outside Europe gives an insight into the pros and cons of how wine regulations work.

Understanding Appellations and Wine Regulations

Understanding Appellations and Wine Regulations

Matthew Gaughan
Other Countries

Appellations are a frustrating necessity: they give identity to regions and attempt to create a consistent quality and style. At the same time, producers constantly complain about the rules and regulations which they find confining and sometimes they leave the appellation completely to go their own way. So why are appellations so important?

"Vines in a Cold Climate": Book Review

"Vines in a Cold Climate": Book Review

Matthew Gaughan
Other Countries

Not so long ago, English wine was a niche topic; now it’s one of the most exciting trends in the wine industry. Henry Jeffreys has written a book, Vines in a Cold Climate, detailing the revolution in English wine from nothing to defined styles of wine. Essential reading for anyone interested in what’s happened, what is happening, and what is going to happen in England.

Sekt

Sekt

Matthew Gaughan
germany

The last twenty years has seen a radical shift in the quality of German sparkling wine (called Sekt), with the best producers either focusing almost solely on bubbles or making high-quality alternatives to their still wines. Tasting through nearly fifty Sekt wines in Germany showed the range of styles and levels of quality now being made.

The Different Sides of German Wine

The Different Sides of German Wine

Matthew Gaughan
germany

When attending a tasting event featuring nearly 200 German producers, you might expect a lot of Riesling—but instead I explored lesser-known sides to German wine: grape varieties such as Weißburgunder, Spätburgunder, Silvaner, Lemberger, and Chardonnay, and regions such as Sachsen, Saale-Unstrut, Württemberg, Ahr, and Franken. Here’s an overview of the different sides of Germany beyond Riesling.

Montagne de Reims

Montagne de Reims

Matthew Gaughan
france

An overview of Montagne de Reims, a region to the north of Champagne which is most famous for its Grand Cru Pinot Noir, but there’s also Chardonnay and Meunier planted, and styles vary according to the village and to the producer. A facsinating example of how terroir is more important to Champagne than is sometimes discussed.

New York's White Hybrids

New York's White Hybrids

Matthew Gaughan
USA

25% of plantings in New York are hybrids. Many producers and commentators don’t think it’s possible to make quality wine from hybrids, but New Yorkers disagree. I tasted 21 white wines from hybrids to find out…

"Nolo" wines

"Nolo" wines

Matthew Gaughan
Other Countries

Nolo wines—with no or low alcohol—have been a talking point for a while as consumers are increasingly health- and socially-conscious. However, quality has been low, as alcohol is a key component in the structure and taste of wine. But there is some good Nolo wines being made, if you know where to look. Here’s a brief overview.

“The Wines of Germany”

“The Wines of Germany”

Matthew Gaughan

Review of a highly entertaining and informative new book about the wines of Germany by Stephen Bitterolf, who set up an import company, vom Boden, ten years ago. His commitment to supporting German producers is apparent throughout and the “love letters” to the regions bring them to life. Alongside beautiful photos, this is an ode to German wine.

Understanding What’s Cava and What’s Not Cava

Understanding What’s Cava and What’s Not Cava

Matthew Gaughan
spain

Cava can be confusing and controversial. There are several breakaways making very similar wines due to concerns over quality—but there is still lots of great Cava being made within the designation. So why are there these rival regional entities and how do we know what to buy? Here’s an overview of the situation.

Hybrids

Hybrids

Matthew Gaughan
USA

A recent tasting of a hybrid blend from New York opened up a discussion on the history, use, and potential quality of the many hybrids grown across North America. Often dismissed as only producing low-quality wines, hybrids nevertheless have their place in viticulture which is beginning to be more appreciated. The great question remains though: can hybrids produce quality wine…?

Armenia

Armenia

Matthew Gaughan
Other Countries

Armenia’s winemaking history goes back at least 6,000 years and probably more, but it’s only over the last ten years that there has been a renaissance in quality and international exposure. In this episode, Vahe Kueshguerian—the doyen of Armenian winemaking—talks about the history of Armenia’s wine, the geography, the grape varieties, and the trends which are shaping the country’s wine culture.

Load More