Wine ChroniclesCyclades Log: T-OINOS
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 23 September 2019 French-Greek cooperation had been part of T-OINOS Winery since initial vine plantings in 2002 made T-OINOS a pioneer for Assyrtiko production outside of Santorini in Greece’s Cycladic Islands. Located some 460 meters above sea level on the windy island of Tinos, the winery thrust Tinos into the modern […]
Cyclades log: Tinos
Windswept island, great food, superb winery By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 11 September 2019 After several hours cruising from the port of Piraeus near Athens, I arrived to the gusty environment on Tinos Island, whose barren and hilly landscape seems perfect for dystopian cinema. Its beauty is evident from the many windmills and over 50 villages, […]
Krug on Air France
But SAS remains my overall favorite Euro business experience 5 August 2019 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Tis the summer holiday season, and in a recent trip I flew with Air France Business Class to and back from the United States. It was interesting to compare the airplanes: on my way over, it was in […]
Heady wines, heady times
Climate change and the enduring appeal of Châteauneuf du Pape By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 26 June 2019 A joyful ceremony earlier this month to induct 15 new ambassadors to the official fraternity of Châteauneuf-du-Pape – the Eschansonnerie des Papes – ended with soulful singing in the local Occitan dialect. But not before participants gathered in […]
Critics Wine Challenge turns 16
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 11 June 2019 For the third year in a row, I joined several judges in an intense, yet well organized and friendly one and one-half day tasting experience called the Critics Wine Challenge this past weekend, under the direction of Robert Whitley and Rich Cook. This year, 13 judges assessed […]
Hedonism and hard work
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 30 May 2019 I started reflecting on these two words while in Bordeaux during the famous Vinexpo event earlier this month. Every two years, this massive wine and spirits trade fair for professionals includes many fine lunches and dinners. I usually stay for the entire gig, but I was only […]
For hedonists and intellectuals: Bordeaux 2018
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 7 May 2019 My top barrel samples from 2018 Full tasting notes by appellation and area: Pessac-Léognan+Graves (reds) / Médoc-Haut-Médoc-Listrac-Moulis / Margaux / Saint Julien / Pauillac / Saint Estèphe / Saint Emilion / Pomerol / Fronsac and other bargains / Dry whites including Graves / Sauternes & Barsac NOTE […]
Fine Fronsac and more 2018
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 7 May 2019 In a very good vintage, you can find economically priced wines, and 2018 is no exception. Once again, many Fronsacs assessed at the always well organized Grand Cercle tastings – this year at the lovely Château La Dauphine – proved yet again the quality of this appellation. […]
Graves and Pessac-Léognan 2018 (reds)
Noteworthy vintage By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 26 April 2019 The hotter gravely soils of this famous appellation may have been too … gravelly and hot for the vintage. Here is a case where the question of 2016 is quite relevant. In some cases, I do think that 2016 may be a better vintage than […]
Médoc/Haut-Médoc/Moulis/Listrac: 2018 from barrel
by Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 26 April 2019 Some lovely wines from the northern Médoc in 2018. A huge pity for the absence of the great Château La Lagune, as hail devastated the vineyards in 2018. I was able to taste the others that made wine in 2018, with oenologist Christophe Coupez in Pauillac (we […]