Harvesting began on September 5th, 2008 this year in Bordeaux. It is averaging two weeks later than most years due to the lack of sunshine. Chateau Carbonnieux in Pessac Leognan was the first to start This year there is less rot in the vineyards due to good weather in the last two weeks of August. Decanter has the story.
Talking about the awards, Steven Spurrier, notes, "My role as Chairman is not to judge, but to observe. When a panel cannot agree, I am asked to mediate on a wine, offering an opinion which generally confirms where they were going in the first place. Each and every wine is judged equally, fully discussed by the panels and no wine is given the benefit of the doubt. The results speak for themselves." Steven Spurrier gives us a peek into the Awards Dinner and the wines that accompanied the meal.
As we hit harvest times in Europe, one region doesn't seem to be fairing too well thanks to difficult weather. Apparently, grapes in Burgundy were affected by a cold and wet spring and may not ripen appropriately. Two hailstorms in July and early August only made matters worse. Pictured to the left is the label of Romanée-Conti, one of the most exclusive wines in the world.
For example, you may learn that at Christie’s in 1808, 12 bottles of “Hock” (Rieslings from Hochheim) sold for 10 British pounds, which was the highest price paid for any wine between 1766 and 1880.
The next time you're planning a vacation, consider a trip to Bordeaux - one of the most sacred of wine regions in the world. With packaged tours and guides available to take you to your favorite vineyards and help learn about historic cities like St. Emillion (listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage), you'll find the wine holiday both engaging, different and enjoyable.
One such tour operator to consider is 33 Tours with their charming guides. We've tried them and have been suitably impressed.
If you're looking to buy first growth wines en primeur but have always found them to be too expensive, you now have another alternative. Sharecase.com lets you buy fine wines enprimeur, by the bottle allowing you to mix your cases to build a diverse and eclectic cellar of the world's greatest wines. However, they currently ship to the UK only.
The first Official Pairing Guide of ICCCW was launched on Monday, July 28th 2008. The guide, itself, is a composite of the proceedings of the inaugural International Congress of Chinese Cuisine & Wine, 23 to 25 May 2008 held at China World Hotel Beijing, China. Sommelier India Publisher, Reva Singh was a special invitee. Download the guide and watch the interview with Ch'ng Poh Tiong.
Here’s news that may be of interest to the Indian food/beverages and hospitality industries. The Australian Trade Commission is organising a trade delegation of Indian buyers and inviting participation from F&B importers and distributors; hospitality chains and food processors to explore sourcing and business tie-ups with Australian firms at Fine Food Australia.
Two summer visitor attractions in the UK are giving champagne-lovers a taste of the high life. Observation wheels offering rides in a private capsule with a bottle of Moet & Chandon Réserve included have been set up at London’s Greenwich, close to the Prime Meridian, and also near Windsor Castle.
Pio Cesare is no stranger to us. We, at SI -The Wine Magazine, have had the privilege and pleasure of meeting the producer Pio Boffa and tasting his wines on his last visit to the capital. The occasion was a special wine dinner orchestrated at the Hyatt with their usual panache. Now we've just learned that the 2004 vintage of Barolo, Barolo Ornato, Barbaresco and Barbaresco Il Bricco have been highly rated by Wine Spectator magazine.
Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the celebrated photographer of “Earth from Above” (published in 30 languages with 3 million copies in print), has produced a modern and original view of the 1855 great classified growths. He presents a personalized view of 86 bottles from Bordeaux’s most prestigious winemaking properties on a poster priced at 20 euros (of which 1 euro will go to the “GoodPlanet” association.)
After much debate and controversy, the St. Emilion classification has finally been ruled invalid. Chateaux must remove the classifications of Premier Grand Cru Classé A or B, or Grand Cru Classé - which should have applied from the 2006 vintage up to 2016 - from labels on wines dating from the 2006 vintage.
The judge blamed the mechanism and not the tasters for the problem. Wine producers see this as a catastrophe. In the old system Chateau Cheval Blanc and Ausone were the only two Premiers Grands Crus Classés A. The Telegraph, AFP and Decanter have the story.
Constellation Brands Inc. said Tuesday its fiscal first-quarter profit jumped 50 percent, lifted by price increases as well as strong sales of new higher-margin wine brands such as Clos du Bois and Wild Horse. he company's 300-plus brands run from jug wines to coveted California reds, beer imports such as Corona and St. Pauli Girl and liquors like Fleischmann's vodka and Black Velvet Canadian whiskey. Associated Press has the story.
In another chapter of the controversy surrounding Brunello di Montalcino, the US embargo is still scheduled to take effect starting June 23rd, 2008. However, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has now dropped its stipulation that all imports be lab tested and scientifically certified.
A few months ago while lunching at Le Bernardin in New York, I had a brief but illuminating conversation with the Sommelier, a certain Aldo Sohm. Little did I know that a few months later he'd win the title of Best Sommelier in the World in a competition organized by the Italian World Sommelier Association.
