To be or not to be perfectly ripe – secret weapon in the vineyards

There are only one or two days when Alfie the Cocker eats the grapes in the vineyards, when the grapes are perfectly ripe. No need for analysis or even lengthy tasting, he ascertains perfectly when the grapes are at their best.   His puppies will be available for sale in the future.

White harvest finished in Bordeaux, reds to come soon

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/530478/bordeaux-white-harvest-finishes-20-down

The life of a Young Vine – the important choices for the vigneron

As is often said, a vine as it grows older produces less quantity of grapes but of a better quality as they are more concentrated. There is a point however where the old vines need to be replaced by new. Economics dictates this moment but is affected by a number of factors. There is no rule …

New St Emilion Classification 2012 focus changed from terroir to price

The focus of the classification has changed. In the past it was one of the only Bordeaux classifications to be based on terroir, now it is based on price (like everything else) ...... Summarised aptly by Stephane Derenoncourt; "Saint-Émilion était la seule appellation où les crus étaient classés en fonction des terroirs, maintenant on a …

Wind of Change for Bordeaux’s Wine Tourism

First Published in Gilbert & Gaillard International Wine Magazine 'Portes Ouvertes’; Wind of Change for Wine Tourism in Bordeaux In Bordeaux today châteaux doors are opening to welcome wine tourists in their numbers to enjoy an innovative range of wine-related activities. This has not always been the case for the old world capital of wine, …

Lafite and Latour surprise announcements

2011 Prices out early for Lafite 350€/bottle, half of 2010 price  (it was slated on Liv-ex). Latour will pull out of the futures market from the 2012 vintage négotiants were informed by letter last week. It implied that the wines will be sold later when more ready to drink. For more information.... http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2012/04/latour-detonates-bombshell

The ‘Place de Bordeaux’ – Bordeaux’s Wine Trade under scrutiny

First published in the Gilbert & Gaillard magazine Since wines were first produced in Bordeaux in medieval times, they have been sold through wine merchants via brokers. This way of trading is called the ‘Place de Bordeaux’ and still exists today. Is it an ever-changing efficient model that has enabled Bordeaux wines to become so …

Ploughing in St Emilion with horse power

'Surprise' the one tonne Pecheron horse at work in the heart of St Emilion during the 'primeurs'

Spring is here; bud burst in the vines in St Emilion

The vines have burst their buds in the vineyards of St Emilion and the new year, 2012 starts (while producers prepare to show their latest baby, 2011, to the world's press and buyers). The young leaves uncurl showing the a small green growths which will turn into the flowers. It is about average timing but infact …

What makes Bordeaux unique in the world of wine?

First published in the Gilbert & Gaillard International Magazine BORDEAUX Ask any wine consumer the name of a wine region and chances are they will say Bordeaux. Why this is so is not clear but has something perhaps to do with its size, the early recognition of its natural factors giving it a long history …