Sauternes might be the most distinctive wine on the planet. Its combination of power, unctuosity and aromatic complexity is unparalleled. These extraordinary wines consistently compete with the finest wines made anywhere in the world. But unlike most wines of the world, Sauternes’s journey from vine to bottle is a tumultuous affair. Typically, over half the…
Château Haut-Brion is one of the oldest and best-known names in fine wine. The Bordeaux First Growth estate was created by Jean de Pontac, back in 1533, and its wines were among the first to be exported. Records detail 169 bottles of the wine (then as “Hobriono”) served to guests in 1660 by King Charles II.…
Calon Ségur was my first ever en primeur purchase. There was such hype around the 2005 vintage and I was desperate to get my hands on something, anything. At the time I was a delivery driver for a small wine merchant and it was a luxury, but I could just afford a 12-bottle case of Calon…
Since Bruno-Eugène Borie took over Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou in 2003, the estate has become one of the best-known and most-loved properties in Bordeaux. The 2023 vintage will be his 20th at the helm – during which time the estate, and the region, have been transformed. “Everything has changed, and nothing has changed,” Borie says, laughing. “Go all the way…
Formed of layers of négociants, courtiers and châteaux, La Place de Bordeaux is not a place at all, but the complex distribution system for the region’s wines – and increasingly the top wines from around the world. Here’s everything you need to know about how it works In Bordeaux, you can’t buy wine directly from…
Saint-Emilion is arguably Bordeaux’s most idiosyncratic appellation. But, as Cheval Blanc’s Pierre-Olivier Clouet tells us, it’s the region’s heterogeneity that makes it so exciting. We caught up with the dynamic winemaker about how to define the undefinable – and why it’s determined to lead the appellation into a new era Saint-Emilion has always been difficult…
With the 2022 crop picked and in the winery, we visited a handful of Bordeaux’s leading estates to dig into the year. Sophie Thorpe reports on the vintage and its extraordinary potential. The 2022 vintage may only just have made it into the winery, but it’s already one for the record books. “Unique”, “historic”, “completely…
Now that Bordeaux en primeur 2021 tastings have wrapped, collectors and investors are eager to know how the vintage is faring. The good news is that many wines from renowned First Growth estates are showing great promise this year. The wines are refreshing, graceful and elegant — and the best have great potential for long-term aging.
When you think of investing in wine, you might imagine bidding on a bottle at auction or heading to a wine shop to look at whatever is on the shelf. But did you know that some of the most investment-worthy wines are sold before they’ve even been bottled? Wine futures (specifically, Bordeaux wine futures) are highly sought-after because they’re one of the best ways to secure your investments long before a wine sells out on the wider market. This is also one of the most cost-effective ways to invest in blue-chip Bordeaux.
Whether you’re starting a collection from scratch or you want to improve your fine wine knowledge, here are ten of the most important Cabernet Sauvignon facts every collector should know.
With a history spanning centuries, Château d’Yquem has crafted some exceptionally fine wines in its time. However, few vintages stand out more than the lauded 2001 Château d’Yquem. This vintage established a new benchmark for high-quality sweet wines, and many Sauternes enthusiasts continue to praise it more than 20 years after its harvest. While this…
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Louis Roederer -Krug -Dominus -Château Montrose -Château Léoville Poyferré Now that a new year is upon us, it’s the perfect time to refresh your collection with some exciting wines. This year, there are dozens of top-quality vintages to get excited about, from well-known Old-World estates to up-and-coming New-World producers. In this…