Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Thursday 2 October 2014

2014 Loire: acid rot – an unwelcome occasional guest

 A bunch of Chenin Blanc infected with acid rot


The vast majority of the 2014 grapes are very healthy with almost no sign of rot. However, just occasionally, there is a bunch affected with acid rot. This particular bunch (Chenin Blanc) had a very powerful smell – perhaps stench is better – of vinegar. Certainly not something a producer wants to get through to their fermenting vat. Picking by hand, of course, means that there is a better chance that acid rot bunches will be identified and rejected in time. Less easy if you are machine harvesting, although perhaps possible with the latest hi-performance machines.     

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