Malbec News:
Senior editor James Molesworth is Wine Spectators lead taster for California Cabernet Sauvignon. He recently returned to Napa Valley for more visits with top wineries. And dont miss our Q&A with James on his Napa Cab eureka moments, his scoring philosophy, and what hes up to when hes not tasting wine.When Mark Nelson and Dana Johnson were househunting in Napa in the late 90s, they werent looking for vines. They wanteda turnkey property to relax in. They were nearly done looking, fruitlessly ...
One of the greatest things about Italy is its seemingly endless potential for discovery—from its natural beauty to artistic patrimony to food and wines. Every April I am reminded of just how wildly varied its wine world is as Vinitaly, the countrys premier international wine fair, storms into my adopted hometown of Verona. Held last week, the 53rd Vinitaly was the biggest ever, with 4,600 exhibitors attracting approximately 125,000 visitors from 145 countries. Wine industry members from around t...
I have visited lots of “extreme” terroirs—from mountainside sites harvested with the help of helicopters to cliffside vineyards dangling above the sea, but nothing matches the Venetian lagoon.Venissa, the quixotic wine project started by the Bisol family of Prosecco renown, is now in its 10th vintage on Venice’s Mazzorbo island, adjacent to Burano. It has taken an investment of more than $11 million—for recovering and replanting Venice’s obscure white Dorona variety, building a small wine resort...
Wine Spectator senior editor James Molesworth is in France for his 2018 vintage Bordeaux barrel tastings. While there, hes visiting the châteaus of some of the regions top estates, as well as some up-and-coming new producers.Finishing up my rota of visits, I concluded my annual rounds inPomerol.I started with Hélène Garcin-Lévêque who, along with herhusband, Patrice, handles a few small estates. Clos lÉglise, neighboring LÉglise Clinet and boasting CabernetFranc vines planted prior to the devast...
Wine Spectator senior editor James Molesworth is in France for his 2018 vintage Bordeaux barrel tastings. While there, hes visiting the châteaus of some of the regions top estates, as well as some up-and-coming new producers.While Clos Fourtet seemingly hums along, owner MatthieuCuvelier is nonetheless making some tweaks behind the scenes. Ten percent of thevineyard base here now lies fallow—no small number when you have only 49 acres. In addition, new vats have been brought in to help with smal...
Wine Spectator senior editor James Molesworth is in France for his 2018 vintage Bordeaux barrel tastings. While there, hes visiting the châteaus of some of the regions top estates, as well as some up-and-coming new producers.With Château Margauxs penchant for severe selection, its no surprisethat in a vintage with diminished yields, the result is yet again a relativelytiny amount of wine at this first-growth estate. Mildew pressure was a big issue here in 2018, as it was elsewhere. Even withcopp...