Greetings,
Firstly, Happy Year of the Ox to everyone!
Maybe the Chinese Lunar New Year is the actual new year we've all been waiting for? 2020's Year of the Rat really lived up to its animal, so one can only hope for a brighter horizon further down the road.
I'm very happy to have started this year with a wealth of articles on regions and wines that are new to me, including a regional report on DO Somontano. This may be new to you as well as they don't export heavily outside of Spain. But there's a lot to love there, so I recommend seeking out their wines.
Speaking of love, I've worked to continue what has now apparently become a series of Definitive Wine Guides to certain holidays. Ruth Spivey did a brilliant job with the one last Christmas and hopefully you'll also enjoy this one that's just out for Valentine's Day!
One last note in that I've been working to consolidate a number of our mailing lists and so some of you may be getting this for the first time (which get sent only once a month). If you're not into it, no problem, use the unsubscribe link below. There are plenty of other ways to get notified of new articles, but if you're on board, welcome!
-Miquel
* articles are free to read
FEATURED ARTICLE
The definitive wine guide for Valentine's Day *
Most definitely a strange time for this, the holiday of love, but according to the New York Times many found romance in a year of tragedy. So to help those of you who are in love, or those who aren't but could use some booze nevertheless, here's the "definitive" guide to the wines for this day so that we shall never need another.
AND NOW THIS
The disclosure issue *
Priorat, new varieties
The Garnacha of Sommos
J. Palacios Bierzo 2019
Different bubbly for Tarragona
An update on Vall Llach
REGIONAL WINE REPORT
Tucked away in the Pyrénées, in the north of Aragón this region has a great deal to offer and, as shown by the accompanying Tasting Report a number of local varieties play very well with imported foreign ones that often don't work in Iberia.
BOOK REVIEWS
“Wine for Normal People” by Elizabeth Schneider *
IN THE GLASS
Cellers de Scala Dei - Artigots 2017
Priorat, Catalunya
André Clouet Brut Millésimé 2008
Champagne, France
Hay Shed Hill Pitchfork Shiraz 2017
Margaret River, Australia