Happy New Year! I hope it's a good one for all of you. I've got exciting plans in store for timatkin.com in 2012, beginning with two reports on Argentina and the 2010 Burgundies. I will also be announcing a new addition to the team later this month. Look out for my photos, too, the latest of which can be viewed here. To kick start the new year, read my predictions for the world of wine in 2012. Tim Atkin MW
Vosne-Romanée. © Tim Atkin MWBurgundy week has become such an established feature of the annual tasting circuit – half of London’s livery halls, art galleries and old court rooms seem to be taken over by growers pouring samples – that no one ever stops to question the status quo. Even the New Zealanders conceded defeat this year, putting back their tasting in the face of the Burgundian invasion. My view is that, however pleasurable it may be, the whole exercise has become too bloated. This...
Paololeo is one of the most exciting producers of Primitivo in Puglia, making stylish, modern, concentrated wines that aspire to match the quality of southern Italy's best reds, especially at a price like this. Figs and pepper spice on the nose, with sweet vanilla oak, flavours of dark chocolate, plum and fresh tobacco and a refreshing, yet structured finish. The wine looks as good as it tastes, which is saying a good deal. Drink now to 5 years.
90 points
2011 Louis Roederer Awards, International Wine Website of the Year
2010 Born Digital Awards, Best Online Editorial Content
2009 Louis Roederer Awards, International Wine Columnist of the Year
2009 London's Best Wine Courses, Time Out
2009 PPA Awards Business Media Columnist of the Year (Highly Commended)
2007 IWSC Communicator of the Year
2007 World Food Media Awards, Best Drink Journalist
2006, 2004, 1993, 1990, 1988 Glenfiddich Wine Writer of the Year
2005 Wines of Portugal Award
2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 Lanson Wine Writer of the Year
1996, 1994, 1992, 1991 Wine Guild of the UK Wine Columnist of the Year
1995 The Bunch Wine Writer of the Year
1994 Wines of France Award