195 episodes

This is the podcast of James Suckling, international wine critic with 40 years of experience tasting, critiquing and loving wine! We focus on the great wines of the world including Italy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Australia, New Zealand, California, Chile, and Argentina, but are always open to and looking for surprises. We taste and review thousands of wines each year - 25,000 in 2019 alone! - and meet hundreds of the world's best winemakers along that journey. That's where this podcast comes in - a place to access my conversations with these titans of the wine world, and also my own tasting team as we travel the world to taste amazing wines. I hope you enjoy these podcasts - head to jamessuckling.com for even more reports, videos and articles about how to enjoy wine.

The James Suckling Wine Podcast James Suckling, Wine Critic / Masterclass

    • Arts
    • 3.3 • 25 Ratings

This is the podcast of James Suckling, international wine critic with 40 years of experience tasting, critiquing and loving wine! We focus on the great wines of the world including Italy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Australia, New Zealand, California, Chile, and Argentina, but are always open to and looking for surprises. We taste and review thousands of wines each year - 25,000 in 2019 alone! - and meet hundreds of the world's best winemakers along that journey. That's where this podcast comes in - a place to access my conversations with these titans of the wine world, and also my own tasting team as we travel the world to taste amazing wines. I hope you enjoy these podcasts - head to jamessuckling.com for even more reports, videos and articles about how to enjoy wine.

    FAMILIA DEICAS' SANTIAGO DEICAS ON THEIR CRU D'EXCEPTION 2020 & COFFEE-MAKING APPROACH TO WINE

    FAMILIA DEICAS' SANTIAGO DEICAS ON THEIR CRU D'EXCEPTION 2020 & COFFEE-MAKING APPROACH TO WINE

    JamesSuckling.com Senior Editor Zekun Shuai talks to Santiago Deicas of Bodega Familia Deicas in Uruguay about their recent releases and how winemakers are starting to take albariño more seriously in the country.

    Deicas goes into depth about the Deicas Albariño Maldonado Cru d’Exception 2020, and tells Zekun about their "cold brew" and "espresso" methods of winemaking – two unique approaches to extraction used in their Bizarra Tannat Sierra de Mahoma Espresso 2021 and Cold Brew 2021.

    • 16 min
    'OLD-VINE SPECIALISTS': TORBRECK'S IAN HONGELL ON RECENT VINTAGES & OLD VINES

    'OLD-VINE SPECIALISTS': TORBRECK'S IAN HONGELL ON RECENT VINTAGES & OLD VINES

    In this podcast, Ian Hongell, Torbreck Vintners' general manager and chief winemaker, discusses the winery's recent vintages and the notable quality of 2021, which produced red wines that are both flavorful and fresh. James also shares his thoughts on the wines during the discussion, which covers topics such as Torbreck's old vines and more. Listen to the full podcast at JamesSuckling.com or via the link in the profile.  

    • 11 min
    TASTING FLEUR DE MIRAVAL CHAMPAGNE EXCLUSIVEMENT ROSÉ 3 NV

    TASTING FLEUR DE MIRAVAL CHAMPAGNE EXCLUSIVEMENT ROSÉ 3 NV

    In this new podcast, James discusses the latest release of Fleur de Miraval Champagne Exclusivement Rosé NV in Hong Kong with Alexis Blondel, who works as assistant winemaker for the partners behind the Fleur de Miraval project: Brad Pitt, Pierre Peters Champagnes and the Perrin family of Rhone. 

    Blondel explained what went into what James called the "unique blend," and said the only goal and purpose in making the wine was to make a high-quality rosé Champagne. Listen to the full podcast to hear more. 

    • 8 min
    RARE CHAMPAGNE UNVEILS ITS 13TH MILLÉSIME, WITH ÉMILIEN BOUTILLAT AND MAUD RABIN

    RARE CHAMPAGNE UNVEILS ITS 13TH MILLÉSIME, WITH ÉMILIEN BOUTILLAT AND MAUD RABIN

    Rare Champagne just launched its 2013 Rare Millésime, which will be on the market in June. In this new podcast, chief winemaker Emilien Boutillat and brand director Maud Rabin talk about the 2013 vintage with Associate Editor Claire Nesbitt. The wine is 70 percent chardonnay with 30 percent pinot noir, mostly from the Montagne de Reims, balanced with some fruit from the Cote de Blancs, and 100 percent vinified in stainless steel to focus on the purity of the fruit. Check out the full podcast to find out more about the vintage and the wine.

    • 19 min
    DISCUSSING BOLLINGER RD 2008 - INTERVIEW WITH DENIS BUNNER

    DISCUSSING BOLLINGER RD 2008 - INTERVIEW WITH DENIS BUNNER

    James tasted and rated the new release of Champagne Bollinger RD 2008 in March over Zoom with the cellarmaster Denis Brunner who dialed in from Champagne. It’s an acid-driven, super-structured Champagne highlighting the unique character and winemaking of the house. It’s one of the best RDs James has tasted and rated. Listen to the full conversation to hear Brunner talk about their emphasis on ageability, compare the 2008 to other vintages, their aging process and more.

    • 19 min
    HENSCHKE'S HILL OF GRACE: HISTORY IN THE MAKING

    HENSCHKE'S HILL OF GRACE: HISTORY IN THE MAKING

    Senior Editor Zekun Shuai tasted Henschke's 2018 wines over Zoom with the family and you can hear the full conversation here. 2018 is a wonderful and classic vintage that shows the singularity of these place-oriented wines with stellar length and svelte tannins.

    They are fresh, lush, and concentrated in flavors but not hefty in form. Huge complexity, length, and most importantly harmony in Hill of Grace, and elegance and linearity in Mount Edelstone which has a citrus, bergamot-like freshness.

    Listen to the full discussion and find out their thoughts on the 2018s, their philosophy, what they look for in Hill of Grace and more.

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

3.3 out of 5
25 Ratings

25 Ratings

Hapaboy58 ,

Bad interviews

Very hard to listen to. It feels like the wine producers feel obligated to participate because they got one decent review from James. there has to be some disdain between critics and wine producers, and the kind of comes out in every interview here. So awkward, feels forced. One of the few podcasts I couldn't sit through.

Alexstrath1 ,

One of the greats

James knows his wine and brings on some great guests!

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