Winemaking comes back down to earth
Monday 4 August 2014
The last few weeks have been better than most for wine stories in the British press. First, the Daily Mail ran a piece in which a wine expert tasted ten clarets blind and wasn't shown up as an idiot. The surprise was not that the expert was pretty much spot-on in identifying the quality and price level of the wines – because said expert was über-palate Oz Clarke – but that the feature was published at all. Two provocative conclusions could be drawn from it: that knowing about wine makes you better at blind tasting, and expensive wine tastes different...
Become a member to continue reading
Celebrating 25 years of building the world’s most trusted wine community
In honour of our anniversary, enjoy 25% off all annual and gift memberships for a limited time.
Use code HOLIDAY25 to join our community of wine experts and enthusiasts. Valid through 1 January.
Member
$135
/year
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
- Access 285,303 wine reviews & 15,800 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
Ideal for collectors
- Access 285,303 wine reviews & 15,800 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
- Access 285,303 wine reviews & 15,800 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
- Access 285,303 wine reviews & 15,800 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
More Alex on taste
Alex on taste
1 September For today's Throwback Thursday we are publishing free Alex's bi-monthly column for members that was published yesterday. 31...
Alex on taste
In 1989, when the six cast members of anarchic BBC radio comedy I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again reunited for...
Alex on taste
Every February I permit myself a bit of nostalgia when in the middle of the month the annual varsity blind...
Alex on taste
It’s New Year, and that means: quiz time! Publications by the score have been setting festive brainteasers, and I don’t...
More from JancisRobinson.com
Tasting articles
The fine sparkling-wine producers of Oregon are getting organised. Above, Lytle-Barnett’s Windfall vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon (credit: Lester...
Wines of the week
A rare Austrian variety revived and worthy of a place at the table. From €13.15, £20.10, $24.19.
It was pouring...
Tasting articles
More than 120 Greek wines tasted in the Peloponnese and in London. This peacock in the grounds of Mercouri estate...
Book reviews
A scathing take on the wine industry that reminds us to keep asking questions – about wine, and about everything...
Inside information
A look back – and forward – at the world’s oldest wine charity auction, from a former bidder.
On Sunday...
Tasting articles
The wines Brunello producers are most proud of from the 2021 vintage, assessed. See also Walter’s overview of the vintage...
Tasting articles
Wines for the festive season, pulled from our last month of tastings. Above, fog over the California vineyards of Haliotide...
Tasting articles
Following Walter’s overview of the vintage last Friday, here’s the first instalment of his wine reviews. Above, Leonardo Berti, winemaker...