Founded by the original “Champagne Charlie”, Champagne Charles Heidsieck is one of the region’s smaller Houses but also one of its most quality-focused. From its Brut Réserve to its prestige cuvée, Blanc des Millénaires, the wines are rich, vinous and complex. There are three Champagne Houses that bear the Heidsieck name: Piper-Heidsieck, Heidsieck & Co…
Earlier this year, Champagne Charles Heidsieck announced that Elise Losfelt would be replacing Cyril Brun as Chef de Cave. We sat down with her to talk about her journey and why patience is most certainly a virtue when it comes to crafting fine Champagne Making Champagne is different. More than any other wine, it’s a…
At first glance, Clos Manou might seem run-of-the-mill. But this small estate in the Médoc is far from it. We sat down with Stéphane Dief to talk about how a hobby became his life, the freedom of a fresh start, and why his family’s wines are worth seeking out “It’s difficult when you don’t have…
Ten years after The New California Wine was published, Jon Bonné has published a new book – an epic tale of France’s revolution. Vinfolio’s Sophie Thorpe caught up with the author to talk about his ambitious project to capture The New French Wine “I can die happy now,” Jon Bonné chuckles to me. The writer…
Domaine Belargus rocketed to fame after receiving a perfect score for one of its very first releases. The Anjou estate was created in 2018 by French financier Ivan Massonnat and is dedicated to celebrating the special terroirs of this special corner of the Loire through the lens of Chenin Blanc. Ivan Massonnat grew up in…
Since it was created in 2018, Domaine Belargus has become a name to watch. Sophie Thorpe sat down with Ivan Massonnat, the man behind the project, to find out more about the Anjou estate and his vision for the region I was hesitant about meeting Ivan Massonnat. The man who created Domaine Belargus seemed to fill easy…
Maligned by many, adored by more, Sauvignon Blanc divides wine-drinkers – and no more so than the wine-drinking elite. But why? Vinfolio’s Sophie Thorpe talks to the people behind some of the world’s best examples to explore the grape’s status today It’s easy to sneer at Sauvignon Blanc. Its success has been its downfall. It’s…
Alvina Pernot – grand-daughter of Puligny-Montrachet-based producer Paul Pernot – established her own label in 2018, with her husband Philippe Abadie. About the Producer Alvina Pernot is one of the most exciting producers of white Burgundy today. Based in Puligny-Montrachet with some incredible vineyards, this is a name to watch – creating taut and mineral…
Château Lafite Rothschild is rightfully revered. The Pauillac First Growth crafts some of the most refined wines in Bordeaux. At a recent dinner hosted by our sister company FINE+RARE, we had the chance to explore the fingerprint of this special estate and its extraordinary ability to age Few wine estates have the history or pedigree…
Under Saskia de Rothschild, things are changing at Domaines Barons de Rothschild. One of the newest members of the team is Juliette Couderc – who took over as Chief Operating Officer at Château l’Evangile in 2020, aged just 29. Sophie Thorpe sat down with the vigneron to talk about Lafite’s Pomerol sibling and the evolution…
There are exceptions to almost every rule in 2022 – and, as ever, it’s essential to asses wines individually. Here, however, we break down the region by commune to offer an overview of how each subregion fared in this fascinating vintage The Left Bank The gravel soils of the Left Bank are beautifully free-draining…
Primeurs is the most anticipated week of the year for the fine wine industry. Bordeaux’s top châteaux open their doors, inviting trade and critics to taste the previous year’s vintage from barrel. Our Senior Buyer Rachael Ryan reports on her first experience of the region, the week and 2022 – a year that shows remarkable…