Chenin Blanc: Grape of 2008 for Tim Atkin

With three and a half weeks left in 2008, it is that time of the year when everyone feels the need to come up with her/ his 'Best of' list (lists).

Tim Atkin takes it one step further with no less than his 2008 Wine Awards (December 7. The Guardian).

After pointing that many inexpensive offerings are just cheap plonk he notes that "the 2006 white Burgundies, the 2007 German Rieslings, the 2004 Rioja Reservas and especially the 2004 Barolos have all given me a great deal of pleasure and will continue to do so for another decade or more. Add the increasing quality of wines from southern Italy, the Languedoc-Roussillon, Portugal, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina and there are still reasons for optimism." ...