Beauty in youth
Leader: Amy Wislocki, Magazine Editor
A balmy June evening seemed like the perfect time to head to a regional tasting of Picpoul de Pinet. As well as 30 current releases, eight wines were presented in a masterclass that focused on the newish ‘Patience’ concept. To qualify for the unofficial selection, wines must demonstrate gastronomic potential, above average complexity and evident ageing potential. The goal is to elevate Picpoul in the public consciousness, so that it is considered one of the great white wines of the Languedoc. A few back vintages proved that Picpoul can age well, but for me it was a bit hit and miss. And it got me thinking: Why can’t Picpoul de Pinet be deemed a great wine in its delicious, lemony, fresh, saline, youthful expression? It has certainly gained many fans around the world in this incarnation since the appellation was created in 2013. Wines for drinking young can still be complex. Must a wine be capable of cellaring to be deemed ‘great’? Let us know what you think.
See what’s inside Decanter magazine July 2025
In focus
Bordeaux 2024 – the Decanter verdict What to buy from this tricky vintage? After tasting 700+ wines, Georgie Hindle shares her top picks
Against the grain Jonathan Cristaldi learns about California estate Silver Oak’s experiments with American oak
Patagonia The epitome of extreme terroir, South America’s windswept deep south is producing wines of incredible quality, says Ines Salpico
Sincere Sancerre Beverley Blanning MW charts the shift towards terroir-driven wines in this top Loire region
Fridge-door favourites Andrew Jefford and four other experts share their go-to bottles for chilling
All creatures great and not so great Vineyard biodiversity is in flux, creating new challenges for wine-growers, reveals Gemma Hadley
Spirits
Distilled Spirits news
American single malt: it’s official Millie Milliken explores the new official category of US whiskey
Food & travel
What to pair with asado Wines to pair with food cooked on an open fire don’t have to be big and bold, says Fiona Beckett – it’s all about nuance
Travel: A wine lover’s guide to Waiheke Island Olly Smith visits this picturesque New Zealand island
Learning
Books etc Sophie Thorpe on a new book that debunks the minerality myth
Wine wisdom Expert advice, and ‘The Ethical drinker’ on the links between wine and ocean conservation
Buying guide
Editors’ picks Decanter staff share highlights from their recent tastings
Panel tasting: Vintage English sparkling 85 wines tasted, of which eight scored 95 points or above
Panel tasting: Catalonian whites 174 wines tasted in this diverse category, seven rated Outstanding
Expert’s choice: Frappato James Button introduces this irresistible Sicilian summer-drinking red
Weekday wines Decanter’s in-house tasting team brings you 25 top picks, ready to drink and priced at £30 or less
Weekend wines Priced £30-£60, seven standout buys to impress
DWWA 2025 highlights Wines born of fire. A selection of medal-winning drops from volcanic terroirs
Collecting & investing
Marketwatch Auction news and new releases, plus blue-chip Burgundy
Regulars
Writing this month Meet four of the authors from this month’s Decanter
Uncorked News, inspiration & more
Andrew Jefford’s column
Katherine Cole’s column
Guest column Joel Stein waxes lyrical about the joys of a giant-sized bottle
The Last Drop Celebrity bottles, crisps and wine, and more…
Subscribe to the print magazine and enjoy great savings today
Pick up a cut-price subscription to Decanter, wherever in the world you are
or
Get access to this issue and previous issues dating back to 2013 with the Decanter Premium app
Gift a Decanter Premium subscription
Unlimited reviews | Exclusive articles | Recommendations | Priority booking
The post Decanter magazine July 2025: See what’s inside appeared first on Decanter.