Catching up
A shot from a recent trip to Rioja: this is one of the vineyards used by CVNE for Imperial
Between studying for the MW and work, it's been a busy year. The last few weeks have seen stops in Tuscany, Bordeaux, Rioja and Burgundy - and there's much to report on. For now, here's an update on jottings that you might have missed.
Bordeaux 2021: With primeurs week back with a bang this year, I spent an enlightening and exhausting 10 days exploring the 2021 vintage and Bordelais hospitality. It was a fascinating year to explore and there was a surprising openness from producers when it came to the challenges of this tricky season. From my first thoughts to a full report and guide by commune, I wrote extensively about it. Maligned by some of the critics, I think it's a remarkable result given what they faced. These may not be the most age-worthy wines, but I think there's a lot of pleasure to be had if you know where to look.
Tate & Lyle: Inspired by Bordeaux, I took a look at chaptalisation - something that returned to the forefront in Europe in 2021. Suddenly young producers were having to learn how to master this age-old technique to craft wines that had sufficient alcohol (and everything that comes with that - more here). It's a nerdy read, but fascinating to see the difference of opinion - and taste the results.
A South African interlude: Ahead of the latest release, Klein Constantia arranged a fantastic vertical tasting of their iconic sweet wine at Trivet (my first visit, and the food was exceptional). I've always had a soft spot for the wine and it was interesting to taste so many vintages. Perhaps some were a little disappointing, but the trajectory is inspiring, with brighter acidity, precision and balance. Read my spotlight on Vin de Constance on FINE+RARE.
Burgundy 2021: After a whistle-stop three days in the region, here are my initial thoughts on the vintage. So far, it's hard to offer a firm view. There is so much more to taste and explore and I can't wait to get out there later in the year to delve into it fully. At the moment I am a little concerned about the varying quality of reds, although there's promise in the whites. More to follow later this year.
Find all the above articles on frw.co.uk/editorial
