COMPAGNIE MEDOCAINE DES GRANDS CRUS’ Post

When it comes to wine there is one truism that is rather more true than all the others – Bordeaux is boss. While Burgundy might suck all the oxygen out of the room when it comes to price or prestige, Bordeaux remains the benchmark by which other wines are measured. And as the world's wine trade descends on the Médoc for Bordeaux En Primeur, what better time to take a closer look at Bordeaux's wines?

Bordeaux, the seductive power of great French wines https://lnkd.in/dsCjpV-z

The Bordeaux region of Southwest France is famous for producing some of the most complex and world-renowned wines. With acreage spanning over 112,00 hectares, Bordeaux houses the world’s largest vineyards alongside 7000 châteaux, 300 wine dealerships, and 65 appellations. However, in spite of its impressive heritage, the province has fallen upon tough times in recent years. In fact, Bordeaux’s most distinguished oenologist now claims that the region’s newer wines are beginning to dilute its legacy. At their peak, the Bordeaux estates produced approximately 158 million gallons of wine per year and global demand for a fine vintage was flourishing. However, since 2011, demand, and subsequently prices, have steadily declined in a sign of ongoing difficulties affecting the region. Today, analysts paint a bleak picture. Barrels of claret sit gathering dust as China’s desire for French wine dwindles and political turmoil continues to stoke the fires of economic uncertainty. Whilst a Châteaux Lafite Rothschild vintage would have sold for €834 in 2022, prices have now dropped steeply to €570. The going rate of a Châteaux Léoville-Las Cases has also fallen €202 in this same period. In a statement made earlier this year, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine outlined the reasons behind this recent spike in decreased global demand for fine wines: "Geopolitical tensions and subsequent energy crises, along with global supply chain disruptions, resulted in higher production and distribution costs, leading to significant price increases for consumers and dampening overall demand." Despite these assertions, Bordeaux’s most famed oenologist has declared a fad for fresh and fruity wines is behind the crisis. Michel Rolland laments the shift from the complex, dense clarets that have long defined the region’s prestige, to lighter, more accessible wines aimed at capturing fleeting market trends. Speaking to Le Figaro, Rolland claimed vineyard owners had succumbed to the belief that wine drinkers were no longer after a classic full-bodied red. The fresh and fruity notes ringing through newer Bordeaux wines lack the soul of their rich, robust predecessors Rolland argues, causing a slump in sales despite the highest price cuts in 15 years. “It’s not the consumers who want that. It’s a trend, more down to the media,” he said. Tastes do change, he admitted, but “it is not a reason to lose your soul.” Rolland also criticised Bordeaux’s condescension towards international markets, particularly American consumers, arguing that the vineyards erroneously assume the inherent superiority of their wines. So, it would seem Bordeaux’s estates must rediscover their roots or risk losing their storied heritage in the chase for fleeting trends. It remains to be seen whether this slump in sales will push Bordeaux to redefine its legacy, or drive the region further into somewhat of an identity crisis.    Read the full story via The Times: https://lnkd.in/danS2vVs

Understanding Italian Wines: What is Chianti Rùfina Terraelectae https://lnkd.in/dbg8324i

Last week was a quiet week for Bordeaux 2023 releases as the Bordelais were in HK hosting a very well attended Vinexpo exhibition. The releases started again with a bang this morning in the form of Pauillac stalwart, Pichon Lalande, at a very sensible £1,320/12 ib.  This is yet another spectacular Pichon Lalande from Nicolas Glumineau. We would expect nothing less... Pichon has been on top form, producing wines of First Growth quality for the last decade. 2023 continues this extraordinary sequence with another stunner. The critics are clearly smitten too, with William Kelley describing it as “a brilliant wine that will be worth a special effort to track down” and Neal Martin calling it “outstanding”. However, quality is only part of the story this year and I’m pleased to report that not only is this priced 36% below their superb, sell-out 2022 wine, it’s also 4% below the release price of their epic, sell-out 2019, making Pichon Lalande the first chateau to price their 2023 release below their 2019.  In addition to an exceptional price, the Chateau have also released 20% less wine than last year putting even more pressure on supply.  If you have yet to buy any 2023s, this is an excellent place to start and if you’ve already piled in, then this is one more wine you must own. Of course, I couldn’t mention Pichon Lalande without also mentioning Pichon Comtesse Reserve (£402/12 ib), their second wine.  This wine is classed growth quality in all but name and is the perfect wine to pick up in a variety of formats. I cannot think of anything better to drink while you wait for the grand vin to mature. Find the full Justerini & Brooks offer for both wines here: https://lnkd.in/eW79XKgf

My thoughts on one of my most recent wine tour, tasting and exploration of the extraordinary Italian Wine Landscapes. This time round is a focus on #Altoadige #vernatsch of course on…. The Drinks Business

A Fine Wine Focus on Piedmont and Tuscany. A great time to invest. These two regions produce nearly all of the top-end, investable, wines from Italy and we've got a huge range of them on our Fine Wine List, whether you are looking to invest or drink. #Piedmont is the more traditional of the two, producing #Barolo and #Barbaresco from the Nebbiolo grape. There’s no such thing as a Grand Cru Barolo or Barbaresco, so the name of the vineyard and producer matters hugely. Amongst the most famous Barolo vineyards are #Brunate, #Cannubi and #Monprivato, while the famous producers are @Conterno, Roberto Voerzio, Vietti and many others. Barbaresco is usually considered better value as the wines are less well-known worldwide, but Gaja differs from the norm; his Barbaresco single vineyards (Costa Russi, Sori Tildin and Sori San Lorenzo) release at higher prices than his Barolos and are generally more sought-after. Tuscany still means #Chianti Classico and #Brunello di Montalcino for some, but the prices of the indigenous wines have long been overtaken by the ‘Super Tuscans’. #Sassicaia was the first of the #SuperTuscans, produced when owner Mario Incisa della Rochetta looked to Bordeaux to produce better wine and planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc on his estate. At first the wine was for friends but soon buyers and other producers heard about it and wanted in on the action. Before long, Antinori was producing #Tignanello and #Solaia. The mid 1980s saw the release of #Ornellaia followed by Ornellaia’s Masseto, a 100% Merlot wine with its sights set on emulating Pétrus. Super Tuscan collectors have seen prices rise sharply over the last decade, taking the value of their collections with them. Values have recently softened, so this looks a good time to start or increase your collection of these magical wines before time sees their seemingly inexorable price rises restart. See the wines here https://lnkd.in/eHHX-FyT #privatecellarwine #finewine #independentwinemerchant

WEEKLY TASTING REPORT: Savoring Santa Barbara, Plus Tasmania’s Cool-Weather Wines (Part V) PIEVE SNEAK PREVIEW Senior Editor Aldo Fiordelli attended a special tasting of the new wines bearing the “Pieve” classification, which is set to become an additional geographic unit, or UGA, for Montepulciano, Italy, in early 2025. Pieve wines can only be made from indigenous grapes, predominantly sangiovese (at least 85 percent of any wine) with the rest canaiolo, ciliegiolo, mammol, and colorino (with the latter limited to a maximum of 5 percent). The wines must come from vineyards of at least 15 years old and must age for at least three years in the cellar, including a minimum of 12 months in barrels. The Pieve classification allows for a deeper understanding of Montepulciano’s marine origin and distinct geological attributes, and reflects the varying calcareous, sandy and clay nature of the vineyards. The wines, Aldo said, already show a stylistic clarity and consistency, thanks to the sunny, powerful and balanced 2021 vintage, which will be the first to be bottled under the Pieve label. One of the top wines of the tasting was the Cantina Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Costa Grande 2021, which comes from a cru in the new appellation with a northeastern exposure. It’s a very fresh and deep wine, austere but not without elegance. Another standout was Le Bertille Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve San Biagio 2021. One of the wines that best reflects the calcareous nature of the soil in the San Biagio area, it is poised to represent a true gem of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano because of its layered red fruit notes, minerality and finely tuned tannins. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gV75GqUS #WineTasting #WeeklyTastingReport #WineDiversity #Pieve #UGA #Montepulciano #ItalianWine

Our Best Value wines series takes a sideways step into the wines released in the recent Bordeaux En Primeur campaign.

Discover the enduring legacy of Bordeaux's 1855 wine classification in our latest blog post. This iconic system has not only shaped the heritage of Bordeaux wines but has also influenced the global perception and valuation of fine wines. Learn about its historical significance, the current challenges it faces, and the possibility of its future evolution. Dive into the fascinating world of Bordeaux wines through our comprehensive exploration. https://lnkd.in/g7xyr7aF 🍷