Martin Lam: The chef that writes wine lists
Which comes first: the celebrity chef’s animated persona or their success in television? Martin Lam has largely eschewed the media over his 45 years in the restaurant business. Perhaps it’s how he’s remained so down-to-earth; at 62, he has…
Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s rock n’ roll excess
When I listen to electro I crave Riesling. The precise polished perfection of the sound somehow recalls the technicolour citrus acidity of the wine. Châteauneuf-du-Pape however suggests the gothic aesthetic, excess and volume of hard rock and early metal – Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Uriah Heep.…
New Zealand’s hothouse Syrah
In 1984, a man called Dr Alan Limmer was doing some work at a government viticultural research station on North Island, New Zealand. One day he heard it was about to be closed down due to lack of funds and the vineyards bulldozed. He raced over there to see what…
Coming of age
Orange wine. Grower Champagne. Biodynamics. Trends come and go in wine like anything else. Some are clearly gimmicks (blue wine, anyone?) Others, like Natural wine, feel more significant. One global trend in red wines has taken hold over the past ten years with all the inevitability of a…
My first week in New Zealand
Sunday 29th January
New Zealand is a friendly place. Before I’d even landed in Auckland, a guy in the passport queue had taken my details and promised to send me a list of…
Decanter Regional Profile: Hermitage
It's hard to beat Syrah from the greatest sites in the Rhône, but I've tasted a few from New Zealand recently that have been really impressive. I'm on my way over there…
How the other half drinks
Is there a quicker way to get to know someone than by flicking through their music collection or browsing their bookshelves? Both feel like a little glimpse into their soul. For wine lovers, rifling through someone's cellar can be equally…
2015 Rhône: bargain buys from a stellar vintage
The best value Rhône I've drunk this year
"I do believe that it is a year where the 'lesser' terroirs will shine, as we have great colour, concentration, fruit and balance pretty much everywhere. A…
Producer profile: Clos des Papes
Vincent Avril, owner and winemaker of Clos des Papes, on the right
I'm currently putting the finishing touches to my annual Rhône Report - over 1,000 2015s tasted, just some final analysis to…