Another Empty Glass: Rugra Nivö, Nibiö 2011

In a desperate attempt to get some scribbles down, here is one of the wines I've tippled of late that has really caught my attention and brought me to care for a small flutter of words. Nivö; a Nibiö or rather Dolcetto, though not as you know it however, as this Dolcetto is Nibiö.
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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh. Being a balanced, multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well, having passed his WSET L3 with distinction. Rob is also a deft hand at circumlocution. If you'd still like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com

Bruichladdich: Another Chance for a Wee Ramble about Terroir, Part I

So, the storm* has settled and I've a wee chance to rattle a few thoughts out and there is no more prime a subject for me than that of whisky and terroir. These wee notions, the subject of the ramble, have been summoned by nothing less than a wee jolly out to Islay to be shown the works of Bruichladdich. A distillery ringing the chimes for a doctrine that they believe terroir matters. "Terroir"**, I can hear the wails, "Oh for fucks sake", as whisky geeks bemoan visions of wine nobbery and mythicism poisoning their egalitarian and rigid science. Is this the case?

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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh, He's somehow found himself as the President of the @IWSScotland. Being a balanced, multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well, having passed his WSET L3 with distinction, not to mention Rob has a fondness for having his ego stroked, demonstrated the purring he made while receiving a WSET Scholarship. Rob is also a deft hand at circumlocution. If you'd still like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com

Smoke and Substance; Pietradolce, Archineri, Etna Rosso 2008

As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, it was confirmed. The other half had sped off into the distance and popped over to the Emerald Isle. I, the abnormally big child, was home alone for the weekend. That meant wine. I reasoned, what better way to spend time than being bowled over by a big fire breathing red. So, knocking off work nice and early on Saturday I had only one burning question; what wine was going to get my weekend alone flowing?

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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh where he runs @Wine_Edinburgh and somehow has found time to be Vice-President of the @IWSScotland. Being a balanced, multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well having passed with distinction his WSET L3. If you'd like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com 

Empty and Full; The Stop, Start Nature of Empty

[Hey there folks, we are having some issues with Empty on Wordpress, so just temporarily I will get this up here - Rob]

It’s been a long time since I’ve written in a way reminiscent of my old prolific empty self. There are a million excuses I could make as to why, but, very simply it boils down to one factor; passion. I have been working in ‘wine’ retail for quite a while now and if there is one thing I am certain of it is that there is a negative correlation between the amount of £6 wine one sells and your passion for wine. Thankfully, I am finding, there is a two step remedy; acceptance and focusing on the good wine in life. This leads me to writing this post; I have been really complacent with this passion of mine and I think it’s about time I start writing about it again.

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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh where he runs @Wine_Edinburgh and somehow has found time to be Vice-President of the @IWSScotland. Being a balanced multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well having passed with distinction his WSET L3. If you'd like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com 

Ara: A Pathway to Marlborough

While New Zealand is a toddler in the world of viticulture, Marlborough is younger still and yet despite this, it has managed its fair share of veterans. None more noted that the creator of the Marlborough's first "Grand Cru" estate, ARA, Jeff Clarke. Despite, Marlborough's haphazard discovery as a terroirist dream as recently as the late sixties, Jeff has a long history of involvement in the budding Kiwi wine industry, punching in well over 50 vintages with the Kiwi wine industry. To boot, he's ex-Penfolds and has been at the helm of Brancott during what could be called it's quality peak. Think you'll agree this guy doesn't submit to the term green.

The Italian Job: Tenuta Santini Toscana Caricello 2006

Having found myself at the hands of a rather nasty bottle-shocking of travel from Maynooth to Monaghan over a tedious repetitive money-leeching meaningless "religious ceremony". I decided post-confirmation Rob was going to need something rather nice to cheer him up. Unfortunately, I was in Monaghan, and while it is where I hail from, it is the greatest hole on earth when it comes to wine, or so I thought... 

Château De Pierreux, Brouilly 2010

 I decided I would challenge a wine prejudice I have built up over the years recently. Beaujolais. Not only did I allow the challenge but I also give the wine a fighting chance by giving a healthy budget for it of around €18. So armed with my typical good will, an open mind  I set out to taste none other than a Brouilly that I had heard only good things about. Was this about to shatter my little wine world?