Wine ChroniclesFirst impressions of Bordeaux 2018 from barrel
Cautious optimism and Petit Verdot By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com (Dear readers, I have since published an update to this initial posting from late March 2019, here: https://wine-chronicles.com/blog/bdx18-barrel-hedonists/) OK, this has been just a first day in Bordeaux – and many other writers and commentators have been here already for over a week to taste. But […]
2017 at Domaine Zind Humbrecht
An excellent vintage, built for aging 14 March 2019 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com It is always a pleasure to taste the latest vintage of wines from Domaine Zind Humbrecht. And so it was on 12 March 2019, at the domain, where I joined various participants, including Paul Liversedge MW, who is based in Zurich. […]
Pessac-Léognan and Graves from bottle 2016
Cannot recall a better Les Carmes Haut Brion red than the 2016. Buy it, today. But many other Graves shined in 2016, including Smith Haut Lafitte, Haut Bailly, Domaine de Chevalier and Malartic Lagravière. Do not hesitate to look at some fine showings from second wines, too, which I had tasted late last year at Château Bouscaut. Cheers!
Assessing 15 vintages of Léoville Poyferré
By Panos Kakaviatos for Wine-Chronicles.com 24 January 2019 Over the last nine years, I have been organizing comprehensive verticals of top Bordeaux estates, sometimes several times in one year, and often in Washington D.C. The most recent, a Friday evening 18 January 2019 dinner at the French embassy in Washington D.C., featured Château Léoville Poyferré, […]
Off to Philly to taste Bordeaux 2016
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 18 January 2019 Dear Readers, I am off to Philly this coming Sunday 20 January to taste many Bordeaux 2016 from bottle. In October and December last year, I already had the chance to taste many Bordeaux 2016 from bottle, so this visit will fill in some gaps, such as […]
Ringing in 2019 with good vintages (not “great”)
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 11 January 2019 After an annual holiday dinner with wine loving pals – this year at the French embassy in Washington D.C. – the overriding theme was “good” vintages. Neither “off” nor “great”, but vintages that sometimes get overlooked by critics seeking to obtain fame with 100 point scores. And […]
Splendid cheese ceremony
For the Bucket List By Panos Kakaviatos 8 December 2018 If you ever find yourself near Basel, Switzerland, do yourself a favor and reserve an evening of the “Cérémonie des Fromages” at the famous Antony Eleveur de Fromages. The sheer talent of owners Bernard and son Jean-François (never – ever say “pasteurized”), shines bright over […]
Montecucco charm and quality
Or why I should have visited Tuscan vineyards earlier 30 November 2018 By Panos Kakaviatos for Wine-Chronicles This is Part I of a three-part article on the Montecucco DOC of Tuscany A three-day, deftly packed visit of wineries earlier this autumn, with comprehensive tastings of Montecucco in Tuscany, proved one of the best wine tours […]
Northern Médoc: Sweet spots confirmed in 2016
A modern era 1986? Great stuff in Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estèphe ? (Bordeaux 2016 from bottle, part 2) 11 November 2018 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Just as we saw how well Pomerol excelled in 2016, another area of consumer interest, also in terms of quality across all price points, is the northern […]
From 1522 to 2018: Enjoying Philipponnat Champagne
Champagne evening at Mirabelle Restaurant in Washington D.C. By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 9 November 2018 When asked by Heidi Arnold of the famous Heart’s Delight Wine Auction here in Washington D.C. if I wanted to join a special Champagne dinner with Charles Philipponnat, I hesitated to reply for … not even a second. Over […]
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