Good cooperative wineries (1): Cellier des Chartreux, Rhône

Most people are quite unaware of the fact that 50% of French wines are produced by cooperative wineries of variable sizes. Yet some people still persist in turning up their noses when you mention the fact that you have liked the wines (all or some) from such and such a cooperative. There is also our …

Wines from Moldavia, a quick look and a disappointing tasting

Production and some context According to the OIV and the year 2017 (which are the latest figures available) the wine production of this small country located on the north-west corner of the Black Sea, surrounded by Romania and Ukraine, place it in 20th place amongst the world's wine producers in volume terms. These figures of …

Vignobles et Signatures venture to London (part one)

For the first time since the Vignobles et Signatures group of French producers were founded in 1984, representatives from 15 members of their 17 members came to London to show off their wines. In the case of Roger Groult it was their cider and Calvados and for Famille Lesgourgues an Armagnac. I don't know whether …

« Pouvez-vous identifier ce vin? »

Passionné de vin, Laurent Gibet (du club In Vino Veritas Toulouse) participe régulièrement à des concours de dégustation, où il s’agit de reconnaître une série de vins. Tout aussi régulièrement, Laurent me fait l’amitié de m’envoyer les résultats de ces épreuves; comme sa passion n'a d'égal que sa modestie (malgré plusieurs titres au Championnat de France …

Vues sur le Riesling en Alsace

A note to my English-speaking readers. An English version of this article will be forthcoming next week, but you can still check out the pictures and the list of the good Riesling wines that I tasted last Monday at Colmar in Alsace! Je suis très amateur du cépage Riesling. C’est pourquoi je me suis concentré …

Ode aux vins grecs

Notre invité de ce samedi est Sébastien Durand-Viel (Connaître & Apprécier). Historien de formation, il remonte pour nous à une des grandes sources de la culture viticole européenne, la Grèce, sur la base d'une dégustation qui ne remonte pas aux calendes, mais au 14 mai dernier... Deux dégustations avaient lieu le même jour à Paris …

Domaine Chiroulet, how to make Gascony great (and good)

The church of Heux, in Tanarèze, next to Domaine Chiroulet. Looks like a house with a bell-tower, welcoming you. With my apologies both to Philippe Fezas and to the current US President for using and abusing a slogan of the latter’s campaign. Fezas is (thankfully) in no way comparable to Donald Trump, so do not …