Bordeaux 2004 'sluggish'
The Bordeaux 2004 en primeur campaign is sluggish despite the fact prices are 10-20% lower than the 2003 vintage.
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In Focus: Australia's Adelaide Hills
Forget spicy Shiraz from Victoria and blockbuster reds from Barossa. Adelaide Hills is Australia’s most talked about region, with producers discovering its cool, moist climate is great for fresh, elegant wines. By JAMES LAWTHER MW
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The Angel of St-Emilion: Château Angélus
Château Angélus, among the greatest of St-Emilion’s 13 premiers grands crus classés, certainly deserves its great reputation, and is producing more harmonious wines than ever since 1996. JAMES LAWTHER MW reports.
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In Focus: Chateauneuf-du-Pape's best producers
It’s been a favourite of wine lovers for years, and now Châteauneuf-du-Pape is producing better wines than ever before. Dynamic young producers and a stack of superb vintages have combined to guarantee many great-value new wines. JAMES LAWTHER MW visits.
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St-Emilion Grand Crus Classes 2002
2002 may have been a tough vintage, but many châteaux succeeded in producing some excellent wines. JAMES LAWTHER MW selects the best.
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South Africa's In The Money
Millions of rand are being pumped into South Africa’s wineries. But, asks JAMES LAWTHER MW, when will they start producing standout wines?
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Bordeaux Supérieur wine: Living Up To The Label
Bordeaux Supérieur is just one step up from generic AC Bordeaux, but you can find some great value wines. JAMES LAWTHER MW introduces the category, and picks his top 10.
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Interview: John Platter
The South African wine industry has been transformed over the last 25 years. John Platter, the country’s most influential wine critic, has witnessed it at close hand, and has firm views on how SA can establish itself as a true global force. JAMES LAWTHER MW is all ears.
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Delpeuch urges rapid and radical reform
CIVB president Christian Delpeuch has urged the Bordeaux wine trade to rapidly reform to avert the present crisis.
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The Bordeaux area: Inner Workings
Inner Workings; Who contols the Bordeaux market
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Bordeaux 2003 - Pomerol
Earlier ripening Pomerol took the full blast of this hot, dry year. The vine stressed and blocked in zones of sandy-gravel soils, the leaves withering and in certain extremes even falling off. Maturity was thus affected resulting in some wines with hard, dry tannins, dilution or occasionally an alcohol 'burn'. That being said it’s certainly not a disaster as had earlier been predicted. There are few wines with aggressive, vegetal notes and the harvest appears generally clean. Those who worked assiduously in the vineyard have produced attractive fruit, even in the 'lesser' terroirs off the Pomerol plateau (Bellegrave,Taillefer). The stars, generally with a greater percentage of clay soils (Pétrus, Trotanoy), have produced truly stunning wines. It’s a year to be selective. James Lawther MW
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SOUTH AFRICAN SHIRAZ - QUE SYRAH SYRAH
Over half of South Africa’s Syrah vines are less than five years old. But that doesn’t meant they can’t produce great wine, says JAMES LAWTHER MW
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Understanding Hermitage
Hermitage is one of the northern Rhône’s most exclusive appellations...
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Producer profile: Château Cos d’Estournel
Château Cos d’Estournel in St-Estèphe is a landmark in more than one way.
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Cote Chalonnaise Getting Better
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape- Wines from the Rhone, 2001
The last in a run of four good vintages in the Rhône, 2001 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape produced some great wines with balance and length. JAMES LAWTHER MW picks his best of the year
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Pomerol Hidden depths
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Côtes de Blaye Premières
The vineyards of Blaye are dotted throughout the area, interspersed with asparagus fields. The wines are traditionally crisper than those of Bourg, with a move towards a riper style.
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Côtes de Castillon
In the last five years, winemaking stars from Saint-Emilion have been rushing to invest in Castillon. The cool-climate wines produced here today have earned an enviable reputation.
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Côtes de Bourg
The Côtes de Bourg landscape – and wines – are full of character. Wine has been made here since Roman times, but a new elegant style and improved quality have transformed the area
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Barrique Bordelaise: Super coopers
Alongside Bordeaux's historical attractions, the region's barriques are monuments in their own right. JAMES LAWTHER MW charts the history – and future – of these cradles of wine
