Salvatore Vaccaro’s Post

Chateau d’Armailhac 2009 & 2012: The colour is in both cases medium ruby. On the nose also pretty similar. Both display an aroma of herbs, red and black berries, with the addition of leather and tobacco for the 2009, and coffee and chocolate for the 2012. In the mouth they are both very elegant. The tannins of the 2012 are edgier. The aftertaste medium long in both cases. This the first impression, with the bottles just opened. After a while, the superiority of the 2009 vintage clearly shows off. In fact, 2009 was a great year for Bordeaux, while the 2012 is considered a classic vintage. The 2009 vintage is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The 2012 is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Château Mouton d’Armailhacq was classified as a Fifth Growth in the famous 1855 classification drawn up by Bordeaux wine brokers. Count Adrien de Ferrand, "son-in-law of Armailhacq", acquired the estate in 1878. Following the difficulties created by mildew, phylloxera, WWI and the 1929 crash, in 1930 some Médoc’s Chateaux were auctioned or sold off cheaply. In this financially difficult context for the entire vineyard, in 1931 the Count of Ferrand created the “Société anonyme du Domaine de Mouton d'Armailhacq”. A back then young Baron Philippe de Rothschild became a minority shareholder. In 1933 he bought all the shares. In 1956 Mouton d’Armailhacq was renamed Mouton Baron Philippe, then Mouton Baronne Philippe until the vintage 1988. In 1989 Baroness Philippine decided to restore Mouton d’Armailhacq to its original identity and renamed it Château d’Armailhac. I bought both wines En Primeur. I paid 39.20 EUR for the 2012 and 46.80 EUR for the 2009. Nowadays they sell for 60 EUR (+50%), respectively 80 EUR (+70%). An appreciation of roughly 3.8% a year each.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... 😉 Recently A good friend of mine raised an exiting question about Champagne, which gave some food for thought. What is perceived to be the top 5 Champagnes worldwide? It is a difficult question and I believe, after contemplating, there is no right or wrong answer. It lies in a number of things, namely price, exclusivity or critic’s choices... However you could also go with a different approach. If to choose on what is exclusive and therefore expensive, some marketing comes into play. A great example is ‘Ace of Spades’! Jay-Z officially purchased Armand de Brignac in November 2014. Since the celebrity’s acquisition, the popularity of the brand has skyrocketed! The bottles do have the bling factor, however the quality of the champagne itself is under constant scrutiny. If size does matter its 30 liter Midas secured its place on the market as the one and only! The famous champagne houses have more funds to market their sparkly elixir, and thus are often perceived as ‘better’ champagnes. For me, consistency and complexity is key in tasting champagne. Since the drink itself means celebration, I would like to taste similarities in my new milestone’s and remember the old whenever we pop a bottle. I close my eyes, take the first sip.. and memories flow.. My personal top 5 is this: 1. Krug Clos du Mesnil 2000 or Krug in general 2. Ruinart ‘Blancs des Blancs’ 3. Bollinger La Grande Année 2007 4. Billecart-Salmon Rosé 5. Dom Perignon 1998 On my bucket list I have untried treasures: 1. Salon Champagne 1947 2. Salon Cuvée ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 2002 What is your Top 5 of Champagnes? 🥂 As John Maynard Keynes said: “My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough Champagne.” 🍾 #Champagne #Maynard #BlancdeBlancs #Krug #BollingerLaGrandeAnnée2007 #SalonChampagne1947 #Jay-Z #BestChampagne #love #passion #wine #winery #wineyard

Still a few bottles left of the exclusive 2008 Dom Pérignon for investment 🍾   The 2008 Dom Pérignon is back and available at a rare price drop, offering a unique investment opportunity! Here’s why you should invest:   Exceptional Quality: Rated as “the finest Dom Pérignon of the decade” by Wine Advocate and scored 97+ points by top critics.   Demand: 2008 Dom Pérignon stands out among few legendary vintages and is among the most traded wines of the year. A bucket-list wine for future wine lovers.   Price Correction: A recent market shift means this vintage is available at an 18% discount compared to last year, making now an ideal time to invest in a champagne icon.   And with the next top champagne vintage years away, demand for 2008 Champagnes rises. Read more below.

Dom Perignon P2 2000 Dom Pérignon was the 17th century Benedictine monk who has gone down in history as the person who "invented" Champagne. His name was originally registered by Eugène Mercier. He sold the brand name to Moët & Chandon, which used it as the name for its prestige cuvée, which was first released in 1937. A rigorous selection process in both the vineyard and winery ensures that only the best grapes go into Dom Pérignon champagne. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are used in roughly equal proportions without one variety dominating the other. There are three plenitudes in the life of a given vintage: the first plenitude spans between seven to eight years after the vintage, which is when Dom Pérignon Vintage is released, while the second one arrives between 12 and 15 years – which was previously the first oenothèque release, but from now will be branded as P2. The third window comes after around 30 years, when the Champagne has spent more than 20 years on its lees, which will now be termed as P3.

The 747 is the new release for Jacquesson's 2024 'Programme,' as they call it. The 700 series represents an interesting approach to non-vintage Champagnes, aiming to release the best cuvée each year anew and no longer adhering to a specific style. The logic behind this decision is apparently that the 700 series represents the best cuvée produced in a given year, and therefore, another cuvée with the same vintage cannot be released. Champagne has a terroir character, which, as a natural product, varies from vintage to vintage, origin, and growing conditions. It focuses on the distinct personality of a vintage, which is then stylistically complemented by noble reserve wines from older vintages. The 742 DT is the second new release for Jacquesson's 2024 'Programme. The 700 series Dégorgement Tardif DT : Since Jacquesson has moved to the philosophy of only releasing the 700 series wine every year, they decided to hold some back each year for an extended aging period on the lees with natural cork (sous-liège) and to release this wine as "Dégorgement Tardif" 5 years later.  Dizy Terres Rouges 2015 is the only lieu-dit new release for Jacquesson's 2024 'Programme. The lieu-dit (single-vineyard) line-up: Jacquesson also produces tiny quantities of its terroir-based cuvées, each from a unique parcel of vines. These Champagnes showcase some of the region’s finest terroirs and is a must buy for collectors and anyone interested in the terroir of Champagne, demonstrating an extraordinary vinosity and expression of place. Now available at the-champagne.ch Zürcher-Gehrig AG since 1987

2004 Krug Vintage – Attractive pricing on magical wine🍾 With a fresh upgrade to 98 points and a drinking window that extends to 2050, this 2004 stands as a top cuvée with great investment potential.   The price is currently 18% lower than just a few years ago, making it an attractive investment opportunity - especially considering that the last ten vintages of Krug Vintage that have been on the market for at least five years have yielded an average return of 48.7% in five years.   This equates to an average annual return of 8.3%. And this is a performance that also includes the last year and a half of price corrections in the wine market.   Want to secure an investment in this champagne legend? Read more below!

Dom Perignon P2 2000 Dom Pérignon was the 17th century Benedictine monk who has gone down in history as the person who "invented" Champagne. His name was originally registered by Eugène Mercier. He sold the brand name to Moët & Chandon, which used it as the name for its prestige cuvée, which was first released in 1937. A rigorous selection process in both the vineyard and winery ensures that only the best grapes go into Dom Pérignon champagne. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are used in roughly equal proportions without one variety dominating the other. There are three plenitudes in the life of a given vintage: the first plenitude spans between seven to eight years after the vintage, which is when Dom Pérignon Vintage is released, while the second one arrives between 12 and 15 years – which was previously the first oenothèque release, but from now will be branded as P2. The third window comes after around 30 years, when the Champagne has spent more than 20 years on its lees, which will now be termed as P3.

The 2023 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, a unique vintage of elegance and strategic pricing, has begun with promising initial releases. Notably, Léoville Las Cases and Pontet-Canet have made bold moves, reducing their prices by 40% and 27%, respectively, from last year's vintage, a significant shift that mirrors the pricing of the highly regarded 2019 vintage. This year's vintage, ranging from good to very good, is marked by elegance, precision, and freshness. With substantial production levels, pricing has emerged as a key strategic element. The shift from exclusivity-driven to value-oriented acquisitions is a significant development, reflecting not only the current economic landscape but also drawing on successful strategies from past vintages in similar market conditions. As we anticipate the rollout of the 2023 vintages' prices during this campaign, we invite wine enthusiasts and investors to register their interest and gain priority access to these exceptional offerings. This is an opportunity to engage with a vintage where quality meets remarkable value. 🍾 Register your interest and discover more here: https://hubs.li/Q02vykVk0 #BDXEP2023 #Bordeaux #EnPrimeur Cult Wines

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is one of the most expensive wine producers in the world. In a 2018 Sotheby auction, a record $558,000 was paid for a 1945 DRC La Romanée-Conti. Their most expensive label averages £20,000 per bottle on the secondary market. It is produced on the a small plot less than 2 hectares in size, unchanged since 1580. At most 6,000 bottles per vintage are produced. Some more facts about DRC: - The first vintage of was released in 1232! - Only 6,000-8,000 cases in total are produced per year. - The average price of a case of DRC across all labels is £20,000 - In 2016, 5 magnums of 1990 Romanée-Conti sold for $269,500. - It's the only Burgundy domaine producing wine exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards. - Two of their vineyards are 'monopoles' (solely controlled): Romanée-Conti and La Tâche. - The estate has 8 Grand Cru vineyards! - In 2018, DRC began producing Corton-Charlemagne, their second white wine. In special vintages, DRC produces two types of brandy: Fine de Bourgogne and Marc de Bourgogne. Tasters describe a powerful aromas often noting violet and cherry, a deep ruby colour, and an exceptionally smooth, refined taste. Exclusive is an understatement. 

Blanc de Blanc Champagne - Unveiling the Meaning Behind the Label If you are into Champagne, check out this article on blanc de blanc for great data on production and style! Learn more here: [Link to the article provided] 🍾 #Champagne #WineLovers