2016 Bordeaux getting nearer

At last we had some rain in Bordeaux. 20mm fell on evening 13th September in a grand storm where 20mm of water fell onto parched vines. It rattled windows and tripped electricity but fortunately no hail fell as predicted. A huge sigh of relief for wine makers here and a deep sleep followed. It just …

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Making sense in St Emilion at biodynamic Fonroque

It takes a person with vision and courage to decide to grow vines in the wet, warm climate of Bordeaux without using fungicide. Or perhaps even a little folly in the days when no-one had heard of biodynamics. Yet this is what Alain Moueix decided to do in 2002 after taking over the family vineyard. …

Vine Life Cycle: life and death

There comes a moment in a vine's life when it is time to go. As a vine ages it produces fewer grapes. For sure better more concentrated juice from 'les vielles vignes' but at around 60 years of age the amount produced starts to become uneconomical whilst the cost of its maintenance remains the same; pruning, fertiliser, spraying, 'effeuillage', green harvest... Either an …

Thoughts of Bordeaux 2012 Merlot St Emilion now its in the vat

Amazing flourescent colour of the wine this year and the wonderful aromas of raspberry. More like a sweet factory than a winery! Alcohol levels around 13.5°C, acidity levels correct, seemingly good colour so far. The key is not to extract the unripe elements from the skins and pips. The success of 2012 comes down to the winemaker's decision of …

Bordeaux 2012; grapes ripen in the autumn sunshine, still some way to go

The grapes are sweet and aromatic, the skins still tough and green tasting and the pips still green and unripe. So far the grapes are in good healthy state. The 2012 is late compared to last year, the weather is sunny and set to continue for the time being. The grape bunches look good with …

Ploughing in St Emilion with horse power

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

Hail hits vineyards in Bordeaux

Some  hot and humid weather was followed by electric storms on Tuesday 12th May at about four in the morning in Bordeaux and environs. Hail stones as large as golf stones ravaged the vineyards in St Emilion, Graves, Blaye  and Margaux. The young buds, just becoming well established and in the areas worst hit the vines …

2005 Bordeaux – Union de Grand Cru Tasting

The third edition 'Le Weekend des Grands Amateurs' Bordeaux on 17th May What a wonderful relaxed tasting which just goes to show how open Bordeaux is becoming. The members  of the Union des Grands Crus are used to this though showing their wines, chatting about the vintages and the breakdown of grape varieties in that …

Bordeaux BBQ Wines!

If I hold my arms up in the air and make the biggest circle I can clasping my hands together - this is the size of the entrecote cooked on an open fire in the garden of Yves-Dominique and Laura Pages. Yves is a specialist in all things wonderful to eat and sells fine wines …

1989 Bordeaux vintage; arrival in Bordeaux in 2CV

It was around lunchtime when I finally arrived in Bordeaux in my English Charleston 2CV (black and Bordeaux colouring of course) onto the Quai de Bacalan. It was 21st August 1989. It was hot and there was not a soul to be seen. Little did I know that it was the hottest summer since 1949 and that the harvest …