01/04/2017 | Le blog iDealwine

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:20/04/2017

En Primeurs 2016: An Outstanding Vintage!

Every year, the iDealwine team goes to Bordeaux for En Primeur Week. And we can tell you straight away that 2016 has all the signs of a top vintage! Here's a general overview. 2016, temperamental weather turning out ideal in the end Overall, the weather has been kind to the 2016 vintage even though the year started rather badly. As Stéphane Derenoncourt reported on the Figaro Vin website "2016 is like a miracle -the sad film with a happy ending. The beginning of the year was impossible and extremely rainy. It was…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:20/04/2017

Château Latour goes completely organic

Other estates have already done it. After Fonroque, Pontet-Canet and also Smith-Haut-Lafitte, it’s now Château Latour’s turn to announce its complete conversion to organic farming methods. This is headlining news in Bordeaux and it confirms that organic production is gradually making inroads. You may remember that back in 2015 Château Latour, an 1855 classification Premier Grand Cru, announced its intention to completely switch over to organic farming methods. François Pinault, who owns this iconic Pauillac estate, can pride himself on being the first among the Grands Crus to embark upon this adventure…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:19/04/2017

Major Winegrowing Regions in Europe: France on the Podium

Eurostat, the European Union statistics office, has just published its latest figures, based on the most recent EU survey on the structure of the winegrowing sector (carried out every five years). The figures are interesting, and sometimes even rather surprising! 2.4 million holdings cultivating 3.2 million hectares (ha) in the EU: In 2015, the European Union recorded 2.4 million holdings cultivating 3.2 million hectares (ha) of vineyards. The average area per holding was 1.3 hectares, with significant discrepancies between different countries. The overwhelming majority of land, 2.5 million hectares (78%), was dedicated to…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:12/04/2017

Stunning new cellars at Beychevelle and Kirwan

One by one, Bordeaux grands crus are updating their technical facilities... and their first step has been to make a call to the big names in the world of architecture. The latest to join this trend are Châteaux Beychevelle and Kirwan. Some of the finest Bordeaux Grands Crus have been undergoing something of a metamorphosis over the last decade. Their doors, previously firmly shut to visitors, are now being prised open in response to the wave of wine tourism sweeping across the vineyards. And the cellar makeover is a key pillar of…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:08/04/2017

Bordeaux, a renewed interest | Auction report

The auction that ended on 29 March on iDealwine demonstrated the recent success of several grands crus from Bordeaux. A sign of a renewed interest for the region just as the 2016 En Primeur campaign starts. Bordeaux, in its diversity, finds the favors of amateurs at auction again. The sale that ended on 29 March on iDealwine has proved it once again. Good results have been found in mature vintages, such as Smith Haut Lafitte 2000 (€114, +34%) or Pontet Canet 2003 (€105, +17%). On the right bank, Angélus stands out in the…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:07/04/2017

The Bordeaux En Primeur System

You probably hear about the en primeur each year in the spring. And no doubt you know a little bit about what this expression means. To find out everything you need to know on the subject, read on! To begin with, it's important to understand the difference between the vins primeurs sales and the vins en primeurs sales. The first term refers to wines released for sale before the spring after harvesting. With Beaujolais Nouveau for example, the term "Nouveau” means the wine has been bottled before the next harvest. In this case, it…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:04/04/2017

Musigny Blanc becomes a Grand Cru again

The exceptional Côte de Nuits, Musigny Blanc from Comte Georges de Voguë has been declassified for 22 years from the 1993 to the 2015 vintage as the vines were considered too young for the quality of the iconic appellation. Musigny is an exception in the world of the grands crus from the Côte de Nuits. Totalling 10.77 hectares, it produces some of the most delicate wines of Burgundy. Its unique character can be notably explained by the higher content of red limestone in its sub-soil. The owners of Musigny include very iconic producers…