HOUSE NOTES
Notes from 105 Piccadilly, Mayfair.
Our editorial wing and candle-lit corner of conversation. This is where the cork comes out and the stories begin to breathe: dispatches from dinner tables, conversations on travel, taste, art, and the odd beautiful mistake along the way. Think of it as the after-hours lounge of House of Decant — and everyone is welcome.
226 articles
- Advice
Chablis: Burgundy's Crisp, Mineral Other Half
A guide to Chablis: why this northern Burgundy Chardonnay tastes of wet stone, the Petit-Chablis-to-Grand-Cru ladder, and why oysters are the point.
- Insights
Mourvèdre: The Mediterranean's Best-Kept Secret
Mourvèdre is the Mediterranean's best-kept secret, a grape so fundamentally interesting that it shouldn't work as a supporting player. Yet it does, brilliantly, in blends. Finding pure Mourvèdre is like discovering you've been walking past treasure your entire life.
- Insights
Syrah: One Grape, Two Personalities, Infinite Possibilities
The same grape, split across a world. In Burgundy they call it Syrah; in Australia, Shiraz. One sends you into the arms of pepper and earth, the other wraps you in plump berry warmth. Both are endlessly, maddeningly brilliant.
- Advice
Australian Wine: From Barossa Shiraz to Hunter Valley Semillon
A guide to Australian wine: powerhouse Barossa Shiraz, the age-defying secret of Hunter Valley Semillon, and the cool-climate side few expect.
- Advice
Oregon Wine: Pinot Noir Country (and Proud of It)
A guide to Oregon wine: why the cool Willamette Valley became a Pinot Noir haven, its small-scale ethos, and the whites worth trying too.
- Advice
Chilean Wine: Big Value, Bigger Ambitions
A guide to Chilean wine: the vineyard paradise between Andes and Pacific, the lost Bordeaux grape Carmenere, and the premium side worth discovering.
- Advice
Greek Wine: Ancient Vines, Modern Revelations
A guide to Greek wine: the volcanic Assyrtiko of Santorini, the great reds of Xinomavro and Agiorgitiko, and why the strange names are worth it.
- Advice
Sicilian Wine: The Island Everyone's Talking About
A guide to Sicilian wine: the Mount Etna revolution, the island's own grapes like Nero d'Avola and Nerello, and why it's suddenly essential.
- Advice
South African Wine: The World's Most Exciting Vineyards Right Now
A guide to South African wine: the Swartland revolution, why Chenin Blanc is the local hero, and the old bush vines driving the excitement.
- Advice
Loire Valley Wine: France's Most Underrated Region
A guide to Loire Valley wine: the Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc stars, the gentle Cabernet Franc reds, and why the whole region is a bargain.
- Advice
Portuguese Wine: Europe's Best-Value Secret
A guide to Portuguese wine: the wealth of native grapes, the range from spritzy Vinho Verde to powerful Douro reds, and why it's such good value.
- Insights