2017 Recap of value and pricing

Thoreau said "the price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it". Well prices for 2017 seem to be about equal to 'good' vintages that have already matured in bottle and are closer to the exciting time when they are 'ready to drink' and you can pull the cork such as 2006 …

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Seventh Heaven in Bordeaux? as we taste the 2017s

Sevens are notoriously unlucky here in Bordeaux. There has been one outstanding vintage ending in a seven but that was back in 1947. Everyone has heard of the catastrophic very late frosts that hit at the end of April last year when vegetation was well developed (2 weeks in advance than normal). But what is …

2016 Bordeaux looking good

The spring and early summer was cold and wet (filling the water table to the top!). The summer since mid July has been exceptionally hot and dry! The vines are parched that is for sure, particularly the younger ones whose roots don't yet go down that deep. After a very wet Spring, (there has been no …

2015 Bordeaux Caribbean Summer, Indian one to follow?

Temperatures are set to hit 36°C today as everyone prepares for 'la rentrée'. The summer has been long, dry and hot with a break a week ago  with some rain. We are about two weeks in advance of a 'normal' year. The grapes are ripening with levels of sugar higher than normal at this point. Heavier bunches …

Brief Rain Relief in Bordeaux

After three months of no rain, we have had two days of non-stop rain (8th and 9th August). The vines needed particularly the Younger vines whose root systems do not go too far down. Veraison has finished (chaging of the colour) but No 'arret de croissance' yet (when the vine stops growing leaves and switches to …

Long Hot Summer pronounces early good vintage for 2015 Bordeaux

Grapes are changing colour after six weeks of températures in the 30°s (with just the occasional light rain showers). Berries are small with little juice. The dry conditions are starting to stress the Young vines. The harvest will start around 25th September this year. Fingers crossed for a good vintage. Normally vintages with a five are …

Bordeaux Vineyard Map and where to go first?

Bordeaux Vineyard Map and where to go first?.

The 13 Different Aroma Families in Wine

Why do wines smell and taste like other natually ocurring substances like fruits or spices? Because they are made up of the same chemical compounds. These come from several sources. Primary aromas – come from the fruit, within the various grape varieties these aromas exist as non odorous elements that are transformed by fermentation. Each …

Bordeaux 2013 starts late

The unseasonally cold and wet weather in April has held back the vine's development in the early stages of 2013. Normally at the time of the Primeurs the vines are in leaf. This year, despite the Primeurs being a week later (due to an early Easter) the vines were hardly budding and around a month …

Bordeaux 2012: let’s see what we have

Franck Moureau, Château Béard La Chapelle, St Emilion Grand Cru, tasting his 12 vats Aromas of black fruits, deep colour, good acidity (will reduce after malolactic fermentation)...tannins to come The grape juice has now turned into wine which is slowly extracting the tannins, aromatics and colour from the skins. Now is the time for lots …