Wine bar chains: missing link
Davy's Boot & Flogger, London Bridge
The UK is home to over 400 branches of Nando’s. Greene King runs over 3,100 pubs and restaurants. There are over 2,300 Costa cafes; 12 in…
The future of wine: trend predictions from the experts
New amphora at Clos du Caillou in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
In the 1990s, we drank Aussie Chardonnay. In the 2000s, it was Pinot Grigio. The 2010s have been mostly pink or sparkling. So what’s next?…
Urban wineries: capital ventures
When London's first urban winery opened in 2013, I was cynical. But London Cru is still going strong, having since won multiple awards for its wines and gained listings in Michelin-starred…
Flower power
Domaine Albert Boxler, Alsace
The following is an article written for on-trade drinks magazine Imbibe.
In a world of Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, floral whites are a tough sell. Matt Walls asks top…
The perfect 8/10 vintage
Last week I opened a bottle of 2010 Bordeaux. Nothing fancy – Château La Tour de By, a reliable Cru Bourgeois from the Médoc. Nope; still not ready. It hardly tasted of anything. It’s a ‘great vintage’ in the region, and eventually the wines will be wonderful; but in the meantime, nothing…
2016 Rhône Report out today – and some top whites to try
Today marks the publication of my top 300 Rhône wines of the 2016 vintage! Having whittled down my selection from nearly 1,500 wines tasted, it’s my most in-depth report to date and will be…
Floral testimony
In the car park on my street there is a rose bush. Every so often when walking past I pause to cup one of the red flowers in my hand, bring it to my nose and inhale. The scent of a rose in bloom is as universal a pleasure as birdsong. So why are floral whites…
Red wines to chill
Seems like summer's still with us, at least for now - here's an article I wrote for Decanter on red wines to chill:
Licence to chill: 25 best reds for summer drinking…
Great Red Hope: New Zealand Pinot Noir
Here's an article that I wrote for Imbibe (drinks trade magazine) on New Zealand Pinot Noir...
Helen Masters, winemaker at Ata Rangi, Martinborough, February 2017
If red Burgundy were a car, it…