Penfolds 2016 Grange And G4: Superlative Wines, Well Deserving Of 100 Points. Each!

Ken Gargett thinks that the Penfolds Grange 2016 has a good 50 years ahead of it, for anyone planning their grandkids’ cellar. Giving this wine 100 points is one of the easiest things he has done in ages. And yet, the day after the wine seemed even better. Outstanding. And he rates the G4 as good as it gets. Cheers.

Resonance Watches Compared: F.P. Journe vs. Armin Strom vs. Beat Haldimann, And The Pros And Cons Of Each

Many people believe resonance to be very rare, when in fact every single timekeeping device (yes, even quartz) is a resonant mechanism. But clocks and watches featuring resonance as we generally understand it in watchmaking are few and far between. In the last few decades, less than a handful of highly skilled watchmakers have taken up the challenge of creating a resonance watch. Here, Joshua Munchow looks at the pros and cons of the different approaches taken by the three leaders in this technology.

Grayson Tighe Series 4 for Blancpain

Can Writing Instruments Be As Collectible And Enthusiast-Infused As Watches? – Reprise

Thrill of the chase. Intellectual satisfaction. Investment. There are nearly as many reasons for collecting things as there are things to collect. But when it comes to watches and writing instruments, a variety of shared motivations, perhaps catalyzed by the obvious common characteristics of the objects themselves, make them conspicuous crossovers for collectors.

3 New Pens From Montblanc, Caran d’Ache, And Montegrappa: One Classical, One Magical, And One Sartorial

Nancy Olson highlights three newly introduced pens to get you started on a tasteful journey toward a new normal. They offer a broad range of prices, styles and modes, and she thinks that any, or all, will add real pleasure to the already pleasant experience of writing a card, note, journal, or letter by hand.

Discover The Art Of Invisible Gem Setting (Video)

In this video, our friends at The Watches TV headed to Bunter SA to learn just what the term “invisible setting” means (hint: it is a complicated style of gem setting without visible prongs holding the gems so they look like they are floating). You may find this as interesting as we do.

The Massandra Collection Crimean Wine That Screams Place And History. And What A Story It Tells!

Somewhere in the disorganized depths of Ken Gargett’s cellar lies his favorite bottle of wine. It is almost certainly not his best bottle, nor even possibly his most valuable. It is a bottle that screams place and history. It tells a story and it links him to an extraordinary moment in time when three of the planet’s most famous leaders met to determine the fate of the world. That wine is the Massandra Collection White Muscat 1945 and here is its story.

The writing automaton in the film, Hugo (photo courtesy IMDB)

All About Automata: Mechanical Magic (With Action Videos)

High-end automata today beautifully illustrate that extraordinary engineering can be combined with impressive artistic crafts to wonderful ends. But even in the highest quality examples, the principles of what drives automata are largely the same as they have been for centuries because most are based on very straightforward mechanical principles to create motion. Everything you ever wanted to know about automata is right here.

What I Learned During Quarantine: Flash Shooting With The Hasselblad X1D II And Godox V1 Flash

From the torrent of really well done watch photos appearing on Instagram and other media these days, it appears as though lots of watch enthusiasts have been spending at least some of their time in COVID-19-induced shutdowns polishing their macro photography and wrist shooting. And GaryG is among them. Here he shares a few of the thousands of photos he has taken recently using a new-to-him flash style.

Custom-Built Timepieces By Porsche Design: Revving Up To Your Own Dream Watch

There’s good news for all “Porschephiles” with a penchant for luxury wristwatches: Porsche Design has announced a cool concept with few boundaries for personalization, the online Custom-Built Timepieces Program. Sabine Zwettler takes a closer look at customizing a Porsche for the wrist with thousands of possible options.

Soldera Wines: Sensational Super Tuscans With A Hollywood-Worthy Backstory

The rise of Brunello has been recent. And, arguably, the single most convincingly 100 percent Brunello example of fine wine is Soldera at Case Basse according to Ken Gargett and other wine experts. But Soldera and the region have a dramatic background, one that might not be common knowledge outside Tuscany. Read on for a Hollywood script-worthy story and mouthwatering descriptions of Super Tuscan wines you may not (yet) be acquainted with.