Tag Archives: Wine tasting

A brief introduction to fine wine at Lincoln College

Posted on October 30, 2012 by James

I recently presented a tasting for the Lincoln College graduate students. We covered three different white wines, three reds and a dessert wine, all tasted blind to begin with. Here’s a précis of some of the tasting information covered along … Continue reading →

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The art of tasting wine

Posted on September 12, 2012 by James

I’m now reworking, reposting and writing some new material for an international food and beverage site: The Rambling Epicure. Don’t worry, I’ll continue to post to the Oxford Wine Blog (more so once my PhD thesis is safely tucked away in … Continue reading →

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Getting more out of your wine

Posted on March 26, 2012 by James

An academic article titled Wine Expertise Predicts Taste Phenotype was recently published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. It received a lot of attention in the press mainly due to the finding that those who gravitate towards wine … Continue reading →

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Should we write about wines we don’t like?

Posted on February 19, 2012 by James

For a while now I’ve been slightly annoyed by the conventional 20- or 100-point scales used frequently in the wine media to rank or rate a wine. Yes, I can understand that with a commodity as complex and hugely varied … Continue reading →

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Launch of the Oxford Course on Wine

Posted on September 3, 2011 by James

I first started this blog as I was becoming interested in blind wine tasting. The main focus of this blog was to promote education about wine in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. The wine business is complicated, with a history … Continue reading →

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Wines of Alsace

Posted on August 7, 2011 by James

In the 18 months or so that I have been blind tasting, I have occasionally seen a (generally more-experienced) taster stick their nose into a glass and exclaim, “Smells Alsatian“. They then have a taste, swirl the wine around their … Continue reading →

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It’s all in the vine

Posted on June 19, 2011 by James

I recently attended a tasting at the Oxford Wine Circle presented by Christophe Bristiel from Château La Nerthe. La Nerthe is one of the foremost producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the famous appellation in the southern Rhône. Other than producing fantastic wine, … Continue reading →

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d’Armailhac 1999 & 2003

Posted on June 17, 2011 by James

My notes on the claret from Pauillac, Château d’Armailhac, for the vintages 1999 and 2003. Tasted blind 13/5/11 as part of a Left Bank claret tasting. Château d’Armailhac 1999, Pauillac, Bordeaux. Medium-deep ruby in appearance, with a warm magenta rim; … Continue reading →

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New Zealand highlights at the Decanter New World Fine Wine Encounter

Posted on June 15, 2011 by James

As I mentioned earlier, there were six New Zealand producers represented at the recent Decanter New World Fine Wine Encounter. I wrote extensively on my impressions of Marlborough Pinot Noir. Here are some of my other highlights from these producers. … Continue reading →

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Marlborough Pinot Noir

Posted on June 11, 2011 by James

There were six New Zealand producers represented at last month’s Decanter New World Fine Wine Encounter: Nautilus, Dog Point, Brancott Estate, Saint Clair, Mud House, and Mt Beautiful. The first four of these producers are based in Marlborough, and Mud … Continue reading →

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