Matt Walls
Freelance wine expert. Contributing Editor @Decanter. Regional Chair for the Rhône @DecanterAwards. New book, The Wines of The Rhône, out now!
Articles
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2 weeks ago |
decanter.com | Matt Walls
As I snaked my way uphill through vineyards of Viognier and Syrah towards Domaine Verzier in Chavanay, I saw a lone figure silhouetted at the top of the hill. When I eventually pulled into the driveway, there she was again, to my left: a tall statue of the Virgin Mary – the Madone d’Izeras – surveying the vines beneath her. To my right, taller still, stood a crane, pulling up new buildings. Ahead of me – between the old world and the new – was the current Verzier winery.
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1 month ago |
decanter.com | Matt Walls
Let me begin with a quick story about a different winery – the anti-Beaurenard, if you like. I won’t mention its name, but it’s Italian. I drank one of its wines that was so delicious I shared a photo of the bottle with friends in a WhatsApp group. Fresh, structured, with an array of herbs and dried flowers – they should look out for it, I said. ‘Oh THAT guy,’ came the replies. It turned out the winemaker had made some vile comments on Facebook. I searched them up and read them for myself.
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2 months ago |
decanter.com | Matt Walls
When it comes to extreme vintages, I’m pretty circumspect. I was never a great fan of wines from 2003, which was an exceptionally hot and dry year. But a recent tasting of 50 2022 St-Josephs painted a picture of a surprisingly strong vintage despite an even more severe growing season than 2003. In 2003, winemakers didn’t know how to react to the extreme heat. But 2022 came after a succession of roasting years, during which winemakers honed their methods. This time, they were ready.
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2 months ago |
decanter.com | Matt Walls
The cost of the ambitious Château de Beaucastel cellar project was €12m (£10m), and an inauguration date of 21 May 2025 has been set. The intention was to extend the winery in readiness for greater capacity in the coming years, but they have used the opportunity to harness the elements – earth, air, sun and water – to greatly reduce their water and energy needs. To achieve this, they employed a range of ancient and modern methods.
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2 months ago |
decanter.com | Matt Walls
As you drive south from the northern Rhône, you won’t see a sign saying ‘Welcome to the southern Rhône’. There’s no need – you know when you’ve arrived thanks to the sudden prevalence of olive trees. Olives and olive oil are a cornerstone of Provençal cuisine, particularly in the village of Nyons.
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New column, up today - a vision of a possible future for the Northern Rhone, at Domaine Verzier https://t.co/1110ZFyinv
Rhône Roots tasting booklet now available to view! https://t.co/7XMRleXoHu Consumer session now sold out... Trade session - a few tickets left here, DM for details
RT @TheBuyer11: There was a buzz about white Rhône Valley wines at this year's Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône – that even the Trump's tarif…