Wednesday Wines

Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 179 – 100 Best Launch

100 Best Australian Wines Report 2023/24 Launch at Australia House 26th September 2023 The Report is now available to download on this website for Members and Professional Members The Honourable Stephen Smith High Commission and Deputy Head of Mission Elisabeth Bowes Larry Cherubino - Winery of the Year RAISE YOUR GLASSES TO AUSTRALIAN FINE…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 178 – Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay Collection

Last month, Hawke’s Bay Wine sent me a dozen Chardonnays from the 2021 vintage.  This fascinating selection is the third vintage in which they have kindly sent the very best wines from the region to international wine writers to assess. The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association, also in Hawke’s Bay, has curated an annual mixed case of 12…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 176 – An Indian Summer

2021 Aurva, Shiraz, Chandon, Nashik, India 14% alc. Aurva means ‘of the earth’ in Sanskrit.  This exciting new wine hails from the Chandon India winery of Moët Hennessy, and it is made by Kaushal Khairnar.  I have tasted a good few Indian wines over the years, and I often find myself writing/thinking, ‘pretty good for an Indian wine’,…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 175 – An English Wine Newsflash!

I was fortunate to taste a handful of sneak preview English wines the other day, and six were worthy of particular note.  Some of these wines have yet to hit the market, so I have listed the pricing for the previous vintages.  The website addresses are all correct, so keep your eyes peeled for these new wines hitting the market. Biddenden Vineyards 2022…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 174 – Idris Elba’s superb celeb wines

Porte Noire Most people are a little suspicious of celebrities moving into fields other than their own to boost their bank balances.  The assumption of expertise and great taste in multiple fields often seems like a bridge too far.  We see it all the time, and while some brands fail, others explode, catapulting famous actors, sporting stars,…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 173 – World’s End Preview

The End of the World is Nigh The name World’s End refers to the district of Chelsea in Jonathan Maltus’s hometown of London. He names his World’s End wines after his favourite rock songs from Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Led Zeppelin, and this is because he believes each track beats out an individual rhythm that chimes with the Napa Valley vineyards…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 172 – A Collection of Stunning Sparklers

Bollinger, PN AYC18, Champagne, France (£92.00 per bottle, reduced to £86.00 each in a mixed dozen, www.thefinestbubble.com). Technical Info Vineyards: Grands Crus: Aÿ & Verzenay; Premiers Crus: Tauxières & Avenay-Val-d’Or Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir Fermentation: More than 50% vinified in oak barrels Reserve Wines: 47% from…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 171 – The Ultimate Mixed Bag!

This week I have trawled through over 160000 words of notes to pick out some remarkable wines that have slipped through the cracks this year. These are all fantastic creations; while some are brand new and yet to be released, others are already on the shelves! Happy drinking.  A legendary pair of wines from Domaine de la Chapelle-Hermitage, Northern…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 170 – Ultima Pietra First Taste

  It was a great privilege to taste the ultra-rare wines from Ultima Pietro this week. This is only the second vintage release of these high-altitude Tuscan wines, and with fewer than 9000 bottles made over the three labels, they are likely to be snapped up. It is always exciting to have a sneak preview of new wines, and it is patently clear…
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Matthew Jukes -Articles- Wednesday Wines

Wednesday Wines – Episode 169 – The Penfolds Collection 2023

Embargoed until 20th July 00:01 AEST The Penfolds Collection tasting is always a show-stopper, and this year a room full of wine brains was assembled, and the great Peter Gago said, in so many (or so few) words, “Get on with it”.  And we did.  Here are my thoughts on this fascinating array of wines.  Ever efficient, Penfolds has provided…
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