David
A query earlier this month got me thinking. It was about an unidentifiable bottle dating from the 1870s being overwhelmed by fresh pine and resin flavours. The query was raised by the team (@teamdb on Twitter) at Drinks Business (Europe’s leading drinks trade publication) who had asked if it was plausible that some Bordeaux producers used pine barrels in … Read more
Having had time to review and reflect on the En Primeur 2010 tastings here is my final list of wines that impressed above all others. These wines are, to my mind, are the stars of 2010. Chateau Haut Brion. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Whilst in Bordeaux at En Primeur I am sometimes … Read more
With Royal Wedding fever in full flow I spotted a news story today about a pub in Nottinghamshire that is putting a unique slant on the festivities. Roy Wood, the licensee of the Cross Keys, Upton, Nottinghamshire, has decided to offer drinks at 1981 prices, the year Charles and Diana got married, for the Royal Wedding. … Read more
With the price of of the Bordeaux 2010 vintage likely to remain high it is worthwhile considering the Second Wines of the Grand Cru Classé and their wines from other chateaux owned by the Grand Cru estates. With the exception of the Second Wines from the First Growths – and in particular Carruades de Lafite, which … Read more
There have been a number of reports circulating in the press about fake wine being sold in the UK. Apparently hundreds of bottles of fake Jacobs Creek have been seized recently. At first glance the bottles look like the real thing but on closer inspection the labels have spelling mistakes on them – for example there is a … Read more
I don’t usually write about my itinerary or appointments at the UGC Tastings in Bordeaux but I thought it might be useful for those of you who are interested. It will give you an idea of what I am tasting and if you want to contact me for my opinions on the wine I’ll be pleased … Read more
Chateau Laulan Ducos has been purchased by TESiRO and is now the 5th chateau (as far as I know) to have been acquired by Chinese investors in the past 4 years. The others being Chateaux de Viaud, Latour Laguens, Laffitte Chenu and Richelieu. If you know of any more please let me know. TESiRO is the Chinese joint venture of … Read more
Following on from the news that Chateau Laulan Ducos was purchased by the Chinese jewellery giant TESiRO I spotted that Adams French Vineyards have sold Chateau Lagarosse to Chung Keung Steve Loo, an investor from Hong Kong. This sale managed to slip under my radar and took place in early February. Not much is known about the buyer from Hong … Read more
The press are reporting that an extremely rare vine in St Georgener, Eisenstadt, Austria – thought to be over 500 years old – has been vandalized possibly beyond the point of revival. This vine is of great importance as it is the previously unknown father of Grüner Veltliner – and what’s more it is the only one in … Read more
I spotted a report from Idealwine which piqued my interest as it concerned a battle between Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Lafitte (note the extra ‘t’). The story hails from Pierre-Henri de Menthon’s Blog at Challenges in which he noted that the Court of Appeal at Toulouse noted the withdrawal of the parties (Chateau Lafite Rothschild versus Max Mengin, owner of Chateau Lafitte) on January … Read more
