Tim Atkin MW returns to Ribera del Duero for second 'Special' report

Atkin unveils latest Rioja Report

Harpers columnist Tim Atkin MW has launched the 2022 edition of his Rioja Report – the seventh in-depth study, published via Atkin's website.

Ribera del Duero well positioned to lead on terroir classification in Spain

During an online tasting of the wines of Ribera del Duero held yesterday (27 January), Harpers columnist Tim Atkin MW suggested that the appellation had the potential to embrace a formal terroir classification, as there are fewer ‘political’ barriers than in other Dos.

Ribera del Duero breaks score barrier

The fifth annual Ribera del Duero Top 100 Selection has confirmed the awesome potential of the region, with every wine featured scoring a remarkable 94 points or more for the first time ever.

Ribera del Duero Top 100 Tasting to be hosted by Tim Atkin MW

Tim Atkin MW and Harpers columnist is to host his annual Ribera del Duero Top 100 Tasting, which will showcase the best wines from the region in 2021.

Sud de France: Incredible white diversity on display

Tim Atkin MW has paid homage to huge breadth of white wine available across the Languedoc-Roussillon and the South West, even comparing its diversity to a South American wine cousin.

Chile’s diversity deserves more delineated DOs

The demarcation of Chile’s regions and sub-regions could and should be much clearer, focusing in with smaller local denominations to better reflect the diversity of the country’s winemaking.

Atkin awards first South American perfect score to wine from “best ever” Argentina vintage

Harpers columnist and UK wine writer Tim Atkin MW has given his seal of approval to the 2019 Argentinian vintage, which he says is “the best I’ve tasted” from the country.

Atkin Rioja Report awards first-ever 100 point score to a white

Tim Atkin MW has revealed a perfect score for a wine for Rioja for the first time – and it’s a white.

Tim Atkin MW: A year that changed wine

‘Never A Dull Moment’ is the title of a wonderful book about what its author, David Hepworth, calls “rock’s golden year”. 1971 was indeed an annus mirabilis for music, witnessing the release of landmark albums by David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Yes, The Who and Rod Stewart. For Hepworth, 31 December 1970 marked the end of the Sixties – 12 months late, in one sense – and the start of something very different. It was a turning pint, a line in the sand.

Tim Atkin MW: Spare a thought for the wine tasters that get it right

TIM ATKIN MW

Tim Atkin MW: Sherry deserves applause

TIM ATKIN MW

Tim Atkin MW: Beyond the cellar door

The pencil was as sharp as a tack. The tasting sheets were beautifully designed, with just the right amount of information: geeky, yet precise, containing useful details about vineyards and vinification techniques, but no vapid tasting notes. The water bottle was freshly cooled, the glasses polished and well chosen, the wines at exactly the right temperature. Every tasting should be like this, I found myself thinking, settling into a comfortable chair.

Tim Atkin MW: Fanfare for a Chablis titan

TIM ATKIN MW: Wine critic, broadcaster, co-chair of the IWC

Montblanc named a sponsor of the Louis Roederer Wine Writer Awards

Montblanc is to sponsor the Emerging Wine Writer category at this year's Louis Roederer Wine Writer Awards.

Tim Atkin MW: Celebrating Chenin

TIM ATKIN MW

The week that was

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, here’s a review of the top online news, analysis, opinion and features.

Tim Atkin MW: The dangers of karaoke journalism

The two emails arrived on the same morning. The first was from Mark A, offering me an “exclusive invite” to join Biginfluencers.com and “connect with some of the biggest brands”; the second was a release about the launch of a Standardised Wine Rating System called iS Winescale. In their different ways, they both cut to the core of what it means to be a wine writer today. Are we still relevant? And if so, how and to whom?

Tim Atkin MW: Closing off the cork-vs-cap conundrum

TIM ATKIN MW

Tim Atkin MW: State of the Union Jack

What does the Union Jack symbolise to you? Pride? Shame? Sovereignty? Populism? Peace? Colonialism? All are possible responses and have been almost since the flag was designed in 1800 to reflect the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. As Tim Marshall writes in his recent book, Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flags, “its beauty or otherwise is in the eye, imagination and politics of the beholder”.