Is Blue Frank the world's best red wine grape?

What makes a high quality variety, plus notes from a once in a lifetime tasting

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If you read my little rant against fine wine last week, you might remember Simon Tam’s comment that “you don’t have to be Cabernet or Pinot to succeed in Asia”. The examples he gave were Pingus, made from oh-so exotic Tempranillo and Sine Qua Non, a Californian winery focusing on those little known obscurities Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.

I’m fairly sure, though, that the fine wine world remains untroubled by my personal favourite, which has its spiritual home in Austria. Why? The icon wine drinker who thinks Sassacaia is entry level and Krug is mouthwash probably doesn’t even credit the idea that wine is made outside the bastions of France, Italy, Spain or Napa.