Wine ChroniclesSplendid cheese ceremony
For the Bucket List By Panos Kakaviatos 8 December 2018 If you ever find yourself near Basel, Switzerland, do yourself a favor and reserve an evening of the “Cérémonie des Fromages” at the famous Antony Eleveur de Fromages. The sheer talent of owners Bernard and son Jean-François (never – ever say “pasteurized”), shines bright over […]
Alsace: Put dryness levels on the front label
And the grape names, too By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 30 June 2018 This may seem a bit like a rant, but I have been living the better part of the last 20 years in Alsace. And I like Alsatian wine very much. The theme of this post? Info! And with Alsace, customers want (more […]
Divine Alsace
Competitive wine prices and friendly faces By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 14 June 2018 It was an enjoyable wine evening earlier this month, Sunday 10 June, at Domaine Josmeyer in Wintzenheim. Lady winemakers who form the group DiVINes d’Alsace poured their wines. Alsace is so rich in soil types and terroirs that the sheer number […]
Alsace 2016: the paradoxical vintage
Deceptively soft spoken Zind-Humbrecht 19 March 2018 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Another year, and another chance to taste the fine wines crafted at Domaine Zind Humbrecht. Known to produce some of the best Alsatian wines sold in both France and in international markets, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht also offers a “bird’s eye” view of each vintage […]
Lunchtime finesse
Restaurant Review: La Casserole By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 3 March 2018 You want to eat lunch (very) well in Strasbourg? I get plenty of requests on where to dine in this lovely Alsatian capital, and just before the snow started falling yesterday afternoon, I revisited La Casserole at 24 rue des Juifs – Tel +33 […]
Terroirs at Trimbach
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 25 May 2017 Earlier this month, it was great to meet Julien Trimbach, son of Jean Trimbach, and nephew of winemaking director Pierre Trimbach of the celebrated Trimbach Estate in Ribeauvillé in Alsace. Trimbach wines are “go-to” in the sense that you can always rely on a pure, dry expression of Riesling, […]
Current gold indeed
Zind-Humbrecht 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 16 March 2017 In 2015, I reported for Decanter on the Alsace harvest as being warmer than usual. The Alsatian Wine Council (CIVA), for example, had allowed acidification in Alsace for the first time since 2003, because acidities were lower than in previous years. But, acidity is above […]
Domaine Albert Mann: innovative and friendly
Enjoying annual open doors – and trying 2015s By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 5 May 2016 You want great wine at a good value? Sure, you can find that in many wine regions. But in Alsace, where so many grands crus exists, so many complicated names, and confusion over whether a wine is sweet, off […]
Terroir evolution for Maison Trimbach …
… and the just-released 2008 Clos Sainte Hune, among other delights By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Among highlights of my visit on 5 October to this marvelous Alsace producer? Two vintages of the famous Clos Sainte Hune. This exceptional wine is a product of the terroir in the Rosacker grand cru vineyard, located in the […]
Zind Humbrecht 2013: buy it!
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com What a treat it was to taste the 2013 vintage at the legendary Domaine Zind Humbrecht estate near Colmar in Alsace. First of all, it felt like the United Nations. From South Africans to Americans, owner Olivier Humbrecht has hired an international cast of wine pros to help out. Take […]