Bottle Variation: The carefully laid cellar that’s just a lucky dip
Of all the mysteries of wine, bottle variation can be one of the most frustrating. Richard Hemming investigates the science behind the phenomenon, and explains why the old adage rings true that ‘there are no great wines, only great bottles’.
Can we still trust the AC system?
An increasing number of terroir-driven French estates are leaving the appellations body that is meant to protect their provenance and guarantee consumers a unique product. Isabelle Legeron MW believes the system is flawed and outdated, and no longer an indicator of wine quality
Brunello: The many crus of Montalcino
Its origins are based solely around the city of Montalcino, but there’s more than one style of Brunello. And there’s no better way to understand this intriguing wine than to seek out the single-vineyard expressions, says Monty Waldin.
Anything but oak
Is Italy’s love affair with the barrique over? Simon Woolf investigates
Champagne during WW2: From vines to victory - Decanter
The German army's official surrender in Reims on 8 May 1945 - Victory in Europe (VE) day - tasted particularly sweet for the canny, local Champagne winemakers and workers who spent much of World War Two outfoxing the occupying forces, writes Julian Hitner.
The cork comeback
In the last two decades, cork producers have been researching ways to combat TCA and salvage the tainted reputation of corks. Carla Capalbo reports on the latest developments
‘Two veryprestigious Burgundies failed to light any fires’ | Hugh Johnson
‘There are no great wines; only great bottles’ is always so true.
How do you tell the difference between Armagnac and Cognac?
The Gascon countryside is quintessential rural France: picture-postcard landscapes, bastide villages and a sleepy atmosphere. Unlike the monotonous monoculture of the Médoc or the Côte d’Or, vines here compete for space with sunflowers, maize and cattle.
Yeasts: do you know what’s flavouring your wine?
The gooseberry aromas of Sauvignon Blanc, the lychee of Gewurztraminer, the strawberry notes of Pinot Noir – none of these are found in the grapes, but they are released or created by yeast during fermentation.
Comment: Has wine quality improved?
Long-standing wine writer Hugh Johnson considers whether quality has moved on from the top wines of the 1960s and 1970s...