Can you believe it has been a week since we closed the doors on the final event of our national, five-city tour of LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine Eighth Edition? Over 2500 guests, RIEDEL glass in hand, took to the red carpet, passed the Vintec Wine Cabinets and tasted from the 4837 opened bottles of Australia's best and finest wines as we landed what are, without doubt, the best wine-tasting events in Australia. We are immensely grateful to our winery and industry partners for helping us deliver this mammoth effort. We have been waiting to host these events since we last did so in 2018. And the wines. Oh! The wines. Over 100 of them. A is for Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged. We like to open our events with fizz, and, naturally, we were at the top of the tree for the Classification series. B is for Bass Phillip tasted next to Bindi, an elite-level masterclass in distinct Australian terroirs. C is for Classified Chardonnay, a tasting that took us from east to west with the deep energy of Cullen Kevin John to the tense, acrobatic balance of Tyrrell's Vat 47. Next to Shiraz. But where to start? Barossa Valley? Eden Valley? Hunter Valley? Or Beechworth or Canberra or Sunbury or Yarra or Grampians. Australia does Shiraz well and in many different styles and places. Following that with Cabernets felt like artillery being rolled out as Coonawarra and Margaret River staked their claims for regional dominance. Yarra Valley and Tasmania asked serious questions with flagship offerings that had punters sniffing, sipping, oohing and aahing as they got into deep discussions with one eye on the clock. Being in the fine wine auction business, we know what rarity does for demand. Six years since our last Classification event feels like a very long time. However, LANGTONS Classification is a guide for buyers to secondary market trends for Australian fine wine. The time between drinks allows us to map great changes in Australian fine wine rather than vintage variation. And what a pleasure it was to spend time with the Australian fine wine community, makers and tasters alike. RIEDEL - The Wine Glass Company Vintec The Australian
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Professor emeritus, food and beverage writer, consultant to the restaurant industry,and book reviewer
BORDEAUX SECOND LABELS REPRESENT VALUE For centuries. Famous Bordeaux estates made their premier cru, and sold it at the highest price they can. Bordeaux are always blends, and the premier cru are the best barrel’s blends, the remaining lots are still very fine wines, and in many cases they are sold as second labels under a different name. Some chateaux make even third labels. Chateau Margaux, a classified premier grand cru, uses 33 percent of the crop for its prestige blend, another 33 precedent goes into the second label, and third portion into the third blend. Some second labels cost a fraction of the prestige bottle, and most wine enthusiasts wait eagerly for them to appear in wine shops. Here are some second labels you can try, when they are available. Chateau Lafite Rothschild second label Caruades de Lafite Chateau Latour Les Forts de Latour Chatau Margaux Pavillon Rouge Chateau Mouton Rothschild Le Petit Mouton Chateau Brane Cantenac Le Baron de Brane There are many other classified Bordeaux chateaux that produce second labels The L C B O occasionally offers second labels.
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Learn more about how Santa Julia is "Reimagining the Winery Experience" and how they are able to express the terroir of Mendoza through their wines and hospitality. https://lnkd.in/dbV5vbz9
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Learn more about how Santa Julia is "Reimagining the Winery Experience" and how they are able to express the terroir of Mendoza through their wines and hospitality. https://lnkd.in/dbV5vbz9
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Learn more about how Santa Julia is "Reimagining the Winery Experience" and how they are able to express the terroir of Mendoza through their wines and hospitality. https://lnkd.in/dbV5vbz9
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Concours Mondial de Bruxelles comes to Guanajuato, Mexico In a few days Mexico will host the 31st Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, the event will take place from 7 to 9 June in the city of Leon in the colorful state of Guanajuato, cradle of Mexican national independence, as well as the birthplace of the great painter-muralist Diego Rivera . It is the first time that the CMB lands in American lands even if the state of Guanajuato has already hosted important international events related to wine (2017,2021,2022). It is no coincidence that the choice fell on Mexico, the per capita consumption of wine is constantly increasing, as is the production and quality of Mexican wine, we remember that the oldest winery on the American continent is Casa Madero founded in 1597 located in the Valley of Parras in the state of Coahuila, furthermore excellent qualitative productions can be attributed to the Guadalupe Valley and Ensenada in the state of Baja California Nord, also the state of Guanajuato produces excellent wines... just to name a few. https://lnkd.in/gnUQt2Tt
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As Bordeaux En-Primuer 2024 comes to an end, I will try and summarise my thoughts on the vintage. The growing season was challenging with severe mildew issues and a freakish rainstorm hitting mainly the upper left bank on the 20th of September. Those who dared (and could afford to risk it) left the Cabernet out and they have no doubt made the best wines. The domaines who rushed to get the grapes off have produced wines with not so pleasant green, underripe Cabernet. Having said that I definitely think it’s a Cabernet vintage. Most of the top wines have good amounts of Cabernet in them and a beautiful spine of good tannins and acidity with a bright freshness. In comparing ‘22 and ‘23, the 2022 had much more fruit density where the 2023’s are more open and have left space for you to walk in and search for the identity. I compare to a newly produced music album versus an open analog recording from the early 60’s. There can be no doubt that the vintage is no 2022 but overall it is good. We are hearing that wines will start to get released on Monday and it will be a fast and intense campaign, expected to have finished by the time of Vinexpo Hong Kong on the 27th of May. I can’t remember the last time we had wrapped up before June but I’m all for it. I’ve spoken to Chateau’s who have hinted at lowering the prices but also one who was confident that they would increase! Let’s make it clear, this is not a vintage to take any risks with pricing and given the issues facing Bordeaux and premium wine world wide it would be madness not to lower the prices. We will see on Monday! Some of my highlights of the tastings in no particular order: Chateau Haut Bailly Chateau Margaux Chateau Pichon-Longueville (Comtesse) Chateau Figeac Chateau Pontet Canet Chateau Cheval Blanc Chateau Belair-Monange Chateau Trotanoy Chateau Montrose Chateau La Lagune (QPR of the year?) Chateau Branaire-Ducru Domaine de Chevalier (Blanc)
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When you miss your own party! 😔 Anyways here is why I am here! After the AEC African Energy Week, my friend Grace Orife surprised me with a winery visit. The setting was serene, with lush vineyards and a cozy terrace. We had an amazing meal at the des overlooking the beautiful landscape, tasted exquisite wines, and I bought a few bottles to take home. It was relaxing, thoughtful, and something I’d gladly do again. Recommendations for Visiting a Winery • Take a Guided Tour: Learn about the winemaking process. • Try Wine Tasting: Sample different varieties to discover your favorites. • Choose Outdoor Seating: Enjoy the view and fresh air. • Ask Questions: Engage with staff about pairings and flavors. • Buy Quality Wine: Take a piece of the experience home. Take pictures- especially like me…😜
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Hospitality Leader | Restaurant & Bar Development Expert | Michelin-Starred Experience | Asset Management Specialist | Luxury Dining & Beverage Operations Strategist
Crafting timeless experiences in hospitality requires a delicate balance of tradition and innovation – a lesson perfectly illustrated by Château Léoville Las Cases. As Florent Fresse shared during a tasting at the New York Wine Experience, expertly covered by Owen Dugan for Wine Spectator Léoville Las Cases remains steadfastly traditional yet embraces state-of-the-art technology to refine its process. The result? Consistent excellence across decades, much like the hospitality experiences we strive to create. In hospitality, it’s not just about staying relevant but remaining remarkable. Just as a great wine evolves, so must our approach to guest experiences. After all, the best hospitality – like the finest vintages – should only improve with time. #HospitalityLeadership #LuxuryExperience #WineWisdom #GuestExperience #TimelessHospitality #Innovation #WineSpectator #HospitalityIndustry #ChateauLeovilleLasCases #NYWineExperience
From the 2024 NY Wine Experience - Four Vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases: Domaines Delon’s Florent Fresse traced the story of the second-growth estate with a vertical tasting of St.-Julien reds across 40 years
Tasting Château Léoville Las Cases Across Four Decades
winespectator.com
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🌍 Beyond Borders: A Journey Through the World's Most Fascinating Wine Regions Ever wondered what makes these wine regions truly special? Let me take you on a journey that goes beyond the bottle... 🇫🇷 BURGUNDY Where a single hectare in Vosne-Romanée costs more than prime Monaco real estate. The entire Romanée-Conti vineyard? Smaller than most public parks, yet producing wines that make collectors weak at the knees! 🏰 BORDEAUX Home to the famous 1855 Classification that still shapes the market today. When we talk about history, Château Lafite's label has barely changed since the 18th century - if it ain't broke, right? ✨ CHAMPAGNE Fun fact: The only region where making wine without bubbles is practically illegal! And here's a twist - Dom Pérignon actually tried to stop the bubbles. Oh, the irony! 🇿🇦 STELLENBOSCH Imagine 300-year-old estates producing wines that rival First Growths at a fraction of the price. Klein Constantia's Vin de Constance was Napoleon's favorite during his exile - talk about a captive audience! What's your favorite wine region story? Let's share some vinous wisdom! 🍷
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🧐 Cracking the Code of French Wine Labels! 🇫🇷🍷 French wine labels can seem complex, but understanding a few key terms helps unlock a whole world of amazing wine. Here's a quick guide to making sense of those elegant labels: - Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC): Defines the region where the wine was produced, ensuring strict quality and authenticity rules. - Vin de France: Wines labeled this way offer more flexibility and may feature non-traditional blends or winemaking styles. - Cru: Refers to vineyards or wine-growing areas recognized for superior quality. - Château vs. Domaine: While both refer to wine estates, a Château typically includes a historic estate or building, while Domaine refers to a family-owned property. 💡 That’s just a small number from the full list we shine a light on 🔦 🎯Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g4WzqgrP #frenchwine #winelabels
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