Key releases in the Bordeaux 2023 en primeur campaign on Wednesday (5 June) include: St-Émilion’s Château Pavie Macquin 2023 (96pts) has also been released at £576 (12x75cl IB) in a busy week of big-name releases, which have included Pichon Baron and Pavie out yesterday (4 June), as well as Pichon Comtesse and Palmer making their… Read More »
Has Andrew Caillard MW produced the definitive history of Australian wine? By Nick Ryan Nick Ryan reviews The Australian Ark: The Story of Australian Wine by Andrew Caillard MW. Before anything else, a disclaimer: The impartiality a reviewer requires is beyond me here. The first time I held this work in my hands, tears came.… Read More »
Website: https://www.smfw.co.za/ Sakkie Mouton was raised on the west coast of the Cape in Vredendal. He mentions, ‘I attended school in that area and it wasn’t until my studies at Elsenberg that I left.’ He adds, ‘However, becoming a musician was my initial dream.’ Music remains a significant part of his life, though not professionally.… Read More »
Pauillac-based Château Pichon Baron and top-tier St-Émilion estate Château Pavie were among the latest big names to join the Bordeaux 2023 en primeur campaign this morning (4 June), alongside Château Giscours and Château L’Eglise-Clinet. Year-on-year price reductions have continued, with prices down in the region of 18-25% on an ex-Bordeaux négociant basis. Other highlights this… Read More »
A 49-year-old Dalmore single malt Scotch whisky, encased in a singular glass artwork by Zaha Hadid Architects, was auctioned for £93,500 at Sotheby’s. The entire £75,000 hammer price will be contributed to the Victoria & Albert (V&A) design museum in Dundee, supported by the Dalmore’s four-year collaboration with V&A Dundee started in 2020 to honor… Read More »
How well will a heterogeneous vintage sell? By Simon Field MW Two questions underpin every en primeur campaign: What is the quality of the wine, and how is the campaign going? One of the increasingly obvious anomalies, and one which should at the very least be a cause for concern, is the lack of correlation… Read More »
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2023 was introduced with a discount of over 30% compared to its 2022 vintage during last year’s en primeur sale. Highly praised by Decanter among others, this release is set to attract attention in an anticipated flurry of activity in the Bordeaux en primeur campaign, which follows a break… Read More »
Pierre Hugot, continuing his family’s tradition of winegrowing in Cramant since 1891, honed his skills across prestigious French domains such as Comte Liger-Belair and Jean-Marc Roulot. Returning to manage the family’s modest estate in the Côtes des Blancs, he has embraced sustainable and biodynamic practices. His initial release, a 2017 vintage cuvée, limited to 2000… Read More »
Nowadays, very few restaurants maintain a wine cellar due to the high costs involved, though some admirable exceptions still exist. Wine collectors, on the other hand, often have remarkable bottles they are eager to savor with outstanding food and friends. Usually, home cooking might not rise to the occasion, underscoring the appeal of enjoying one’s… Read More »
Website: https://boschendal.com/ Boschendal holds a significant position in South Africa’s wine industry, serving as a bridge between large-scale brands and smaller niche markets. These are high-quality wines crafted for both big retail environments and specialized wine merchants. Recently, Boschendal’s premier wines have seen impressive performance in competitive tastings. I had the opportunity to meet with… Read More »