In the first of a series of blogs from the Bordeaux 2023 en primeur tastings, Simon Field MW sets the meteorological and commercial scene behind the vintage. By Simon Field MW It was 29°C (64°F) in Bordeaux yesterday, Sunday, April 14, with azure skies and the morning freshness gifted by the Atlantic Ocean. A far… Read More »
Mont Ventoux’s prominence in Southern Rhone’s Ventoux appellation cannot be overstated. The renowned mountain, rising to 1912 meters, commands the landscape. This majestic peak is a well-known attraction for cycling enthusiasts globally, being a challenging stage on the Tour de France route. Ventoux appellation, with Mont Ventoux at its core, is one of the major… Read More »
Xavier Vignon, a winemaker and consultant, arrived in the southern Rhône region in 1996 and fell deeply in love with the area. After canceling his planned move to Australia, Xavier began to produce wines for others. In the process, he assessed 50 different caves and initiated a negociant business. Seven years ago, his focus shifted… Read More »
Richard Mayson reports on an impressive tasting that marked 200 years of the Symington-owned property. By Richard Mayson Richard Mayson celebrates 200 years of Quinta do Vesúvio, an estate responsible for some of the greatest Single-Quinta Vintage Ports as well as increasingly fine table wines. The year 1792 was literally a breakthrough for the Douro… Read More »
This recently listed Sonoma wine country property offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape thanks to its wrap-around porch. It also comes with a 0.8-hectare (two acres) Syrah vineyard, according to the listing by Holly Bennett of Sotheby’s International Realty’s Sonoma brokerage, adding that the estate offers the ‘epitome of wine country living’. Photo credit:… Read More »
How a leading wine writer became a Burgundian vigneron. By Paul Day William Kelley, one of the world’s most influential wine critics, is now making his own wine in Burgundy—and the results are extremely impressive, says Paul Day. William Kelley, still in his early 30s and Editor-in-Chief of The Wine Advocate, is one of the… Read More »
Sotheby’s announced that their global wine and spirits auction sales reached a unprecedented $159m (£127m) in 2023, up $1m from the previous year’s total. Remarkably, it marks the third straight year that Sotheby’s has broken its own record for wine and spirits auction sales. This feat comes in the wake of data illustrating a decline… Read More »
Chapoutier Sélections Parcellaires En Primeur 2023 Among Rhône wines, M Chapoutier reigns supreme. Rather than limiting themselves to their native region, Chapoutier has expanded their winemaking to Alsace, Roussillon, and Australia. In keeping with the ‘M’ tradition in their vineyard signage, Michel Chapoutier’s offspring, Maxime and Mathilde, both bear names starting with ‘M’. Mathilde just… Read More »
A two-wheeled tour of some of the leading Chablis producer’s top terroirs. By Sarah Marsh MW Sarah Marsh MW takes an unconventional tour of three climats in the Chablis premier cru of Montmains in the company of Isabelle Raveneau—before enjoying a vertical tasting of Raveneau’s flagship cuvée, Montée de Tonnerre. The scooter was a hefty… Read More »
The Burgundy winemaker who had to leave home in order to return. By Margaret Rand Laurent Delaunay tells Margaret Rand how he made a success of exile in the Languedoc before reclaiming the family name and business in Burgundy. There used to be a party game called, I think, Twister; it involved a large mat… Read More »