Posts Tagged ‘oak’
Yealands defies expectations with New Zealand’s classic varieties
Peter Ranscombe explores the diversity of styles of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir from New Zealand with Yealands’ senior winemaker, Natalie Christensen. Everyone knows New Zealand sauvignon blanc, don’t they? It’s full of gooseberry flavours and paint-stripping acidity, right? If that’s the assumption then it’s time for a rethink. Although the classic Kiwi style certainly…
Read MoreEnd of an era with final mid-80s distillations from Islay
A distillery has released three whiskies which have been described as ‘the last of their kind’. The Bruichladdich bottlings are the final casks from distillations in 1984, 1985 and 1986 have been bottled at the Islay distillery. Adam Hannett, head distiller at Bruichladdich, said: ‘These rare, old single malts are a direct link to our…
Read MoreAgeing gracefully in the Languedoc
Picking older wines to drink doesn’t have to be all about the classics, as Peter Ranscombe reports. WHEN we think of wines that will be laid down in cellars to age, names like Bordeaux and Burgundy or Napa and Gimblett naturally spring to mind. Yet the right ingredients for creating an age-worthy wine – ripe…
Read More‘Forgotten’ distillery releases limited series of contemporary single malt whiskies
A coastal distillery which was once forgotten has unearthed a limited release series of contemporary Highland Single Malt Scotch whiskies. Offering a unique voyage of discovery into a distillery which has been reinvigorated, the latest additions to the series represent a new chapter for Glenglassaugh and include the distillery’s first ever-wood finish expressions. For over…
Read MoreNotebook – November 2017
In the first in a new occasional series of articles, Peter Ranscombe flicks through the pages of his notebook to share some of his vinous highlights from the past month. GETTING to meet winemakers and to sample their wares at tastings is a real privilege, whether in Scotland or London or out in the vineyards.…
Read MoreSingle vineyard garnacha from Rioja
Whether you call it garnacha, grenache or even garnatxa, Peter Ranscombe wants to praise the often-overlooked red grape variety. BLENDING is at the very heart of the winemaking tradition in Rioja. Whether it’s mixing the tempranillo, garnacha and other grape varieties used to make Spain’s most-famous red wine or fusing together wines from the Alta,…
Read MoreBottled up in time for Christmas
Loch Lomond whiskies is offering some bottles of note for Christmas 2017. Set on the shores of Loch Lomond, the Loch Lomond Distillery is inspired by its beautiful location to create an exceptional family of naturally distinctive whiskies. The innovative distillery’s unique combination of straight neck and swan neck stills enable it to craft a…
Read MoreSmall is beautiful at Domaine Ferret
Just because a small producer is owned by a big company doesn’t mean it can’t create incredibly serious wines, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. WRITING about business as well as drinks has made me a bit sceptical when it comes to big-name wines. Time after time, I’ve seen bottles with eye-catching labels and creative monikers, only…
Read MoreNew single malt launched by Highland Park for global travel retail
Kirkwall’s Highland Park distillery has launched a limited-edition single malt whisky exclusively for the global travel retail market. Voyage of the Raven, which has distinctive black packaging, draws on the raven’s position in Norse history and mythology. For the Vikings, the raven was a powerful symbol of victory in battle. The expression is matured in…
Read MoreThe Balvenie releases its latest compendium instalment – including a 55-year-old single malt
Speyside distillery The Balvenie has launched its oldest expression to date, with a 55-year-old single malt whisky. The Secrets of the Stock Model is the third instalment from the compendium, which celebrates the industry’s longest-serving malt master, David Stewart MBE. The range comprises of five ‘extremely rare’ single cask single malt bottlings, including a 55-year-old European…
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