A Mallorcan summer + Changes
Year 13, No. 06
Warmest of greetings and in case you’re wondering, yes, things are looking a touch different for the newsletter.
We’ve moved the whole shebang from MailChimp to Substack and before you ask, no, you don’t have to do anything as you’re already reading from the new system. If interested in the nitty gritty, you can read the longer details (*) as to why we did this.
Suffice to say, after following
and now (amongst many others), it seemed time to make the switch. That and things are simply easier here, like if you want the full archive of all the newsletters, it’s here: newsletter.hudin.com/archive Easy!Do note that this newsletter, along with the Cul de Cuvée column (now exclusively here), will remain free. For those who want access to the longform articles and wine reviews on Hudin.com, please consider subscribing to support independent wine journalism: www.hudin.com/subscribe
Apologies in advance to people who will have received something of a duplicate email (you might be seeing this article as well) as it was required to merge various lists in the transition, but it’s very easy to unsubscribe from one or the other if desired. Please contact us if you need have any questions!
With that out of the way, let’s move on to what’s new.
(*) Free to read
“Georgia” comes to the UK!
We’re thrilled to announce that my book from the Vinologue series, “Georgia: A Guide to the Cradle of Wine” is now available from the renown wine book publisher, Académie du Vin Library in the UK. So, if you’ve wanted to get your hands on it, but wanted easier delivery, jump on this.
Just to make it even more appealing, pre-orders can get 15% off with the code, ‘INSPIRE15’ which is an introductory, limited-time offer, so Order Now!
The Featured Report
The wines of DO Alella
An enticing dive into an oft-overlooked region that’s nearly in the city of Barcelona it’s so close and with great sea views.
The Featured Essay
“British Sparkling Wine”, a name for all, a name for none? (*)
Guest writer, Andrew Triska looks to the UK and asks the question, will there ever be a single name for their sparkling wines? Do they even need one?
In addition to these extensive deep dives, we continue with a theme on the island of Mallorca. As Spain’s largest island and the seventh-largest in the Mediterranean, perhaps you’re planning a trip there this year or know someone who is? Maybe you just want a quick ‘cheat sheet’ on the wines?
In either case, this is the article for you. Six wines, all unique, and all representative of the island.
But what’s wine without food? Lonely, that’s what.
Thus, along with the wine overview article, as part of the continuing “Food Through Wine” series, we take a look at some choice places to eat on Mallorca (with good wine!) so that you don’t end up dropping 50€ on a plate of humdrum pasta because it was the only thing open.
The Featured Wine
It’s sadly frustrating how easy it is to take potshots at Pinot Noir grown in most of Spain as honestly, most of it is pretty bad or as I like to say, “barely not horrible”.
Why do the bylaws of various Spanish regions allow it at all? Probably because everyone wants to be the next Burgundy, but also because there are the exceedingly-rare examples of it succeeding like with this Acusp from Castell d’Encus up in the pre-Pyrénées.
A solid 93+ points wine if you drink it right now, but it has excellent potential to get even better in short order… if you can wait.
That’s it for this, the latest edition of “The Hudin Letter” in its new home. Stay tuned for the Cul de Cuvée and regular updates.
Drink well, be well.
-Miquel