The flavor of wax in wine of Wallonie

Contrary to the current trend in Italy, Montalcino shows no signs of officially designating subzones or specific crus. Yet variations in exposure, altitude and soil make for myriad expressions, even before taking winemaking into account. At Decanter’s first-ever Fine Wine Encounter in New York City, Brunello di Montalcino owned the final masterclass slot of the day. Ten wines from 2013 were carefully selected to discuss the diversity that exists within this revered region. Scroll down to see tas ...

Some Châteauneufs are more reliable than others. When I visit the region to taste the new vintage every year, Domaine de la Janasse’s cuvée Vieilles Vignes regularly features among the best. It’s a particularly dense and concentrated wine when young, and it always strikes me that, even for Châteauneuf, it’s a wine that needs extended ageing to show its best. I was keen to acquire a more complete understanding of how this cuvée develops, so I visited brother-and-sister team Isabelle and Christoph ...

Not so long ago, most Hermitage was a blend of different vineyards from across the hill. However, since the 1990s we’ve seen an increasing range of single-vineyard wines being made. Getting a handle on the most important sites will help guide you to a style you enjoy, and even if you prefer blended wines, becoming familiar with the individual Hermitage lieux-dits will enrich your drinking experience. Scroll down to see Matt Walls’ tasting notes and scores for seven wines from Hermitage lie ...