Chateauneuf

As autumn is drawing to a close and the wine presses have been washed and put away, the first wines tasted before being blended confirm what had been sensed: 2016 is going to be a fabulous vintage! And if some compare it to the magnificent 2010, some others do not hesitate to go as far as the famous star-vintage 1990… Either way, the evidence that we are witnessing the making of a great vintage is clear.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the largest appellation in the Southern Rhône, which can make it hard to handle. Matt Walls suggests some ways of breaking it down to make it more accessible.

Christophe Tassan is interviewed by Decanter Magazine’s Andrew Jefford about the Rhône Valley and its wines. “I was born in the dining room, in hospitality,” Christophe tells us, which seems appropriate, as this interview took place in a San Francisco restaurant around the corner from The Battery, where he is currently the wine director.

Summary: Regenerative Viticulture is one of the most exciting developments in wine sustainability in a generation. Here we showcase three fantastic French producers who have taken the leap and converted their vineyards to this method of farming. All the details of the wines are downloadable in the pdf above, along with some links to further information you may enjoy. About the Speaker: Justin Martindale is the Wine Scholar Guild Membership Manager