An 18th century chartreuse chateau has been razed to the ground in error. Chateau Bellevue in Yvrac, only 12 km from Bordeaux has been demolished by mistake without the consent of its new owner. Despite being in the heart of Bordeaux Superieur vineyards I can find no record of the chateau producing wine however it was considered to be … Read more
With the end of the world due next week according to some interpretations of the Mayan Calendar some enterprising wine makers have been busy making the most out of the situation. At the beginning of 2012 I wrote about the little village of Bugarach near Carcassonne in France which is supposed to be one of … Read more
Stéphan Delaux, the deputy at Bordeaux’s city council in charge of tourism, was interviewed at www.20minutes.fr recently about the next venues for the Bordeaux Wine Festival. Delaux apparently ‘wants to creat a mini-wine festival in London’. The Bordeaux Wine Festival is held every 2 years (alternating with Vinexpo which is held for the trade rather than the public). … Read more
The Sud Ouest newspaper has reported on a story about the Battle for Austerlitz – in this case they are not referring to the battle that was one of Napoleon’s greatest victories but a little known – and somewhat forgotten – chateau in Saint Emilion. Chateau Austerlitz lies in what used to be known as Sables Saint Emilion … Read more
Are you looking for something extra special this Christmas? We have a superb Ten Year Old Claret that is drinking perfectly now. Clarets made by the Grand Cru Classé age beautifully when cellared and depending on the particular vintage they each have a drinking window. As these Clarets are meant to be aged in bottle they … Read more
Last year I wrote about ‘The Curious Case of Chateau Badette‘ – an 8 hectare chateau that lies in Saint Christophe des Bardes, one of the satellite wine producing communes of Saint Emilion. Badette is at the centre of a legal battle that has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights. Badette was owned by … Read more
Chateau des Trois Tours has proved to be one of our best selling Clarets and I can well understand why. This is a relatively new Claret to Bordeaux-Undiscovered that I introduced to the UK this year and it really is very fine. Coming from a very good year, the 2009 vintage, Chateau des Trois Tours has an intense … Read more
A week ago The Drinks Business ran a very interesting article entitled ‘Dry Wine Solution To Sauternes ‘Crisis.’ They reported that the Bernard family, owners of Domaine de Chevalier, have unveiled their “recently acquired Sauternes property Clos des Lunes, displaying a focus on dry wines to address the “huge crisis” facing this Bordeaux appellation.” The family purchased the chateau (formerly known … Read more
Chateau Pape Clement, owned by Bernard Magrez, is returning to its 19th century past with the reintroduction of oxen in the vineyards. The two oxen are of the Gascon breed and are 4 year old twin brothers named Marel and Blanc. The two young bulls weigh nearly 400kg (when mature this could be doubled) and are both … Read more
Chateau Haut Brion has finally acquired its little neighbour Domaine Allary Haut Brion – which sits practically on its doorstep. This 3.3 acre vineyard had been owned by the Allary family for over 90 years and for most of the succeeding years it was leased by Haut Brion, the Allary family being paid their rent in wine. This … Read more
