Wine ChroniclesProWein 2015: record number of participants
Although I did not make it to ProWein this year, by all accounts it seemed to have a record number of participants, for example as Harpers Wine & Spirits reported: over 52,000 in total, and 7% more than last year. It happens once a year in Düsseldorf, Germany, which once again underlined its reputation as […]
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, […]
Swiss delights … with higher peaks on the horizon
16 February 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Most wine savvy people know that Swiss wine is not limited to using brisk and inexpensive Fendant to wash down fondue or raclette. Of course it is skiing season. Winter beckons such food and wine in a log cabin with a cosy fireplace on a massive snow covered mountain. Hot […]
Champagne: Spotlight on Pierre Péters
By Christine Havens for wine-chronicles.com 15 February 2015 My first encounter with Pierre Péters happened innocently enough, at a trade tasting, as such encounters often do. “How much is this?” was my knee-jerk response after the first sip. The company’s owners wanted us to keep our opinions to ourselves until the tastings’ end, including questions […]
Business lunch at the one star Buerehiesel
Restaurant review by Panos Kakaviatos for Wine-Chronicles.com 7 February 2015 We were seated in a well-sunlit space, the large windows offering lovely views of the trees in the surrounding Orangerie park on a cold, yet sunny February day. The site was the Restaurant Buerehiesel, located in the heart of Strasbourg’s rather expansive and pastoral park, […]
Bordeaux 2005: high tannin, freshness and balance
Some high alcohol Merlots in Saint Emilion annoy me, but most all wines yield balance and poise, with freshness and opulence By Panos Kakaviatos for Wine-Chronicles.com 3 February 2015 Special note: for tasting notes below, I use a simple system: When bold, I particularly liked the wine. If red and bold, even more. If red, bold and underlined: wine nirvana. […]
Bring prices down in 2014 say Bordeaux buyers: open letter
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles 25 January 2015 Last month, I purchased a bottle of 1966 Chateau Montrose, a top second growth from Bordeaux’s Saint Estephe appellation, which apparently did well in that vintage. The price for the bottle, which I purchased at an auction with apparently very good provenance, was less than $190. I […]
An evening of Château Pichon Longueville Baron: 1989-2010
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 21 January 2015 This was my sixth consecutive annual Bordeaux gala dinner in Washington D.C. The wines of Pichon Baron have been particularly excellent in recent memory since the 2000 vintage. Jean-Rene Matignon – who flew to Washington for this tasting dinner – has been at the helm since 1987 as […]
2012: Bouchard kicks ass. Older vintages, too.
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles 17 January 2015 Bouchard Père & Fils is the largest estate in Burgundy’s famous Côte d’Or. At least since 2003, I have been a regular taster of wines made by Bouchard and appreciate winemaking director Philippe Prost’s aim towards elegance and finesse as an overall style. Indeed, even in hot […]
The empire strikes back: Latour 59 and 62 and why I love Bordeaux
11 January 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Most of 2014 I spent visiting wine regions outside of Bordeaux, from Southern Styria to Nemea, Greece. Like many #wine lovers, I got tired of the escalating prices of top Bordeaux wines. And as much as I love Burgundy, there too, some domains have been jacking their […]
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