Wine ChroniclesValentines Day Pity
Palate shame and pain in a blind tasting By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 14 February 2018 Today is a day of love. I could use some humble pie. A dear friend gathered some people over to his place the other evening for his birthday party and – as he had done two years ago – […]
When is the right time for a wine?
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 28 January 2018 I suppose the short answer is “anytime” but that would be too facile. January has been always a great month for me to hook up with wine loving friends, old and new, in Washington D.C. during the holiday season, when I take an extended holiday break from […]
Current gold indeed
Zind-Humbrecht 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 16 March 2017 In 2015, I reported for Decanter on the Alsace harvest as being warmer than usual. The Alsatian Wine Council (CIVA), for example, had allowed acidification in Alsace for the first time since 2003, because acidities were lower than in previous years. But, acidity is above […]
Domaine Albert Mann: innovative and friendly
Enjoying annual open doors – and trying 2015s By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 5 May 2016 You want great wine at a good value? Sure, you can find that in many wine regions. But in Alsace, where so many grands crus exists, so many complicated names, and confusion over whether a wine is sweet, off […]
Zind Humbrecht shines yet again in 2014
After a superlative 2013, 2014 an excellent follow up By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 26 April 2016 About one year ago, I was singing praises for Zind Humbrecht 2013. Not meaning to be a bore, but I have to sing praises yet again for the 2014. Although overall, I may give a slight edge to 2013, […]
Heady joys of vin chaud
France’s oldest Christmas market and … mulled wine By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 3 December 2015 Here in the heart of Alsace, Strasbourg is known as the Christmas capital. With little wonder. Founded in 1570, the well-known Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie is considered to be the oldest Christmas market in France. Starting in late November, through […]
No more Jubilee
Hugel’s trend towards terroir, over brand 11 October 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com As we have seen with Trimbach, in a previous post from these pages, the historic Alsace estate Hugel also has been critical of the grand cru AOC system established in Alsace in 1975, and revised in the 1980s. Both estates have long preferred […]
Terroir evolution for Maison Trimbach …
… and the just-released 2008 Clos Sainte Hune, among other delights By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Among highlights of my visit on 5 October to this marvelous Alsace producer? Two vintages of the famous Clos Sainte Hune. This exceptional wine is a product of the terroir in the Rosacker grand cru vineyard, located in the […]
Zind Humbrecht 2013: buy it!
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com What a treat it was to taste the 2013 vintage at the legendary Domaine Zind Humbrecht estate near Colmar in Alsace. First of all, it felt like the United Nations. From South Africans to Americans, owner Olivier Humbrecht has hired an international cast of wine pros to help out. Take […]
Alsace appellation “confusion”? Bring it on!
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 20 February 2015 I just had a news article published on decanter.com about plans to add two more appellations to the 53 that already exist. Some posters in social media react with the remark that far more important is for consumers to understand if the wines are sweet or dry. Indeed, […]
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