Extra reading

A round-up of articles penned and published elsewhere

Port tongs at the ready

I’ve been spending time talking to the Douro’s finest. As well as my geeky exploration of aguardente – the spirit that makes up 20% of a bottle of Port, I spoke to the Douro’s leading shippers about the vintages to drink now

Tuscan dreams

I got to spend several hours talking to the impressive Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti of Castello di Ama. Together this duo has seen the property rise to the top of the Tuscan wine scene, but has also commissioned some of the modern art world’s biggest names (including Anish Kapoor). The resulting installations litter the 18th century estate – a fitting metaphor for the combination of tradition and technology that has led their wines to reach such great heights. Read the full feature here

Changing of the guard at Domaine des Lambrays

Late last year I visited Domaine des Lambrays to taste the 2019s, the first vintage to be made fully under Jacques Devauges. It was a remarkable visit, talking to Jacques about the property’s almost-monopole eponymous Grand Cru and how he’s getting to know it. Read the full feature here

Bordeaux cometh

My first jottings on Bordeaux 2020 and en primeur in the pandemic era are out in the world – expect much more on this front in the coming months.

I also had the chance to catch up with Damien Sartorius-Barton, the 10th generation of Bartons to make wine in St Julien. He’s got fingers in many pies – with some exciting side-hustles too.  While he’s effortlessly suave and classically Bordelais, he also skateboards, drinks wine from the trendiest producers and feels millennially at odds with the world of Claret. Read the interview here