French Malbec suffers from some deep self-esteem issues. It is the Rodney Dangerfield of the wine world, for, like the late, great comedian, “it don’t get no respect.” (Never mind the double negative.) And it has serious familial rivalry problems with its cousins in Argentina. Even a cursory glance at
Is it fair to compare a grape produced in the old world, with centuries of history, to one made in the New World, thousands of miles away? Or is it better to appreciate them for what they are – unique in their own ways? Is it fair to compare Malbecs
Think of the area’s 18 appellations as an archipelago of isolated vinous enclaves. In many ways, France’s Southwest wine region makes little sense. Few of its 18 individual appellations – 12 AOPs and 6 IGPs – barely touch each other. Instead, they are isolated by buffers of woodlands or vast
In 2011, winemaker Paul Hobbs oversaw the release of his new Cahors collaboration as well as the expansion of one of his American labels, CrossBarn Wines by Paul Hobbs. His schedule is brutal, but the chance to work in Cahors, the traditional region for French Malbec was too exciting for
One thing is certain about Natalie MacLean: she can sure spin a yarn. Unquenchable, the latest book by this popular Canadian author with a keen sense of self-promotion and a remarkable level of energy, is full of entertaining stories. For example, there is a hilarious, semi-terrifying car ride with German
Så här var jag, förra våren, i full konversation med den nyligen bortgågne vinodlaren från Beaujolais, Marcel Lapierre, som hade varit en de mest framstående personer inom rörelsen för naturlig vinodling på det mest strikta sätt – organiskt i vingården, vin-read more-
When people think of Malbec, they're unlikely to associate it with the words “subtle,” “delicate,” or “floral.” The Argentines have made their version into a powerful, tannic, intense drink, and Cahors still refers to its Malbec as “black wine.” If-read more-
Arriving at the Challenge As my companions and I drove slowly around the estate, passing the 17th Century pigeon house that stood as a portent of what had brought me to Château Lagrézette, I took a good look around me-read more-