Natalie MacLean's Blog

Introduction How can vines for wine thrive in Mount Etna’s rocky, volcanic soils on the island of Sicily? Mount Etna is a perpetual baby in terms of its vineyard soils; constant rejuvenation of the soil through ash and lava impacts the vine’s health and the resulting grape characteristics. The lava flows are centuries old and vary widely. So, how would a producer choose one flow over another for planting? How does Mount Etna still have pre-phylloxera vines that are over 200 years old? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Spencer, the award-winning author of […]

The post How do vines thrive in Mount Etna’s rocky, volcanic soils on the island of Sicily? appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Introduction How do elevation and slope influence the style of volcanic wines of Mount Etna? What can volcanic wine made on Mount Etna in Sicily teach us about life? How is Mount Etna’s wine scene evolving? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Spencer, the award-winning author of The New Wines of Mount Etna. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. […]

The post The New Volcanic Wines of Sicily’s Mount Etna with Ben Spencer appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

  You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for  August 16th  These are just some of the benefits of supporting our wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious about […]

The post Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: August 30, 2025 appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Introduction Why can’t we smell sweetness in sparkling wine? How much of what we “taste” in wine is influenced by its appearance and our expectations? What makes copper both a savior and a threat to viticulture? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Sunny Hodge, author of the terrific new book, The Cynic’s Guide to Wine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Sunny Hodge’s terrific new book, The Cynic’s Guide to Wine.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do […]

The post Why can’t we taste sweetness in sparkling wine and mistake black and white pepper aromas? appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

  You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for  August 2nd  These are just some of the benefits of supporting our wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious […]

The post Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: August 16, 2025 appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Introduction Can you really taste “minerality” in wine? What gives Champagne and traditional method wines their signature bready flavor and creamy texture? How has natural wine sparked deeper conversations about how we farm and produce food and drink? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Sunny Hodge You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Sunny Hodge’s terrific new book, The Cynic’s Guide to Wine.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you’ve […]

The post Can you really taste “minerality” in wine? Sunny Hodge offers a Cynic’s Guide to Wine appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Introduction How does your perspective change when you start looking at life one vintage at a time, divided into seasons? What does it look like when wine is so deeply connected to a region that it shapes work, landscape, community, and what a culture values most? Why is Languedoc becoming a popular choice for organic, biodynamic, and natural winemaking? What makes a “bon moment” and why is it worth taking seriously? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Steve Hoffman, who has written an award-winning memoir called A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other […]

The post Why is Languedoc a Popular Choice for Organic, Biodynamic, and Natural Winemaking? appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

  You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for  July 19th  These are just some of the benefits of supporting our wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious about […]

The post Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: August 2, 2025 appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Introduction How can you create a life you don’t need a vacation from? What can we learn from the French about slowing down, savoring meals, and making conversation the heart of gatherings? What’s it like living in the “other southern France”? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Steve Hoffman, who has written an award-winning memoir called A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Steve Hoffman’s terrific new book, A Season for […]

The post What’s It Like Moving Your Family Thousands of Miles to Live in the Wine Region of Languedoc, France? Steve Hoffman Shares Stories appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Introduction How does music, even types you dislike, make wine more enjoyable? Can curated playlists in tasting rooms and wine bars influence how customers drink, eat, and experience wine? What happens when you stop overthinking wine and music and just enjoy? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Susan Lin, a Master of Wine and a Master of Fine Arts in Classical Piano and Musicology. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern […]

The post Does Mozart or Metallica make wine taste better? appeared first on Natalie MacLean.