ABOUT WINE – Page 91 – Le blog iDealwine

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:24 May 2017

Maison Albert Bichot: United in Diversity

Maison Albert Bichot was founded in 1831. Over the years the company has developed and expanded considerably to become one of Burgundy's most prestigious winemakers. Much of its success can be attributed to the philosophy of Albéric Bichot. Somewhat echoing the motto of the European Union, he firmly believes that that each of his wine estates should keep to a human scale and have autonomy: in varietate concordia! On Monday, 15th May, the whole iDealwine team enjoyed a day trip to Burgundy. Maison Albert Bichot kindly welcomed us to show us around…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:2 May 2017

2017 vintage: French vineyard severely hit by frost

The spring frosts wreaked havoc across a large portion of the vineyards of eastern France, in Champagne, Burgundy, the Loire valley, Alsace, Jura... and even Languedoc-Roussillon and the South-West. Last week – during the night of Wednesday-Thursday 20 April, to be precise – a number of French wine regions were hit by frost. This event caused even more damage because of the precociously advanced state of the vines' vegetation cycle, as a result of the fine weather and high temperatures of previous weeks. Many regions affected by frost; some growers better…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:20 April 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:12 April 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:4 April 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…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:14 March 2017

iDealwine Masterclass at 67 Pall Mall

To celebrate Shrove Tuesday with iDealwine this year, we decided to swap the traditional crepes and cider for a fine wine tasting with forty of our British customers and members of 67 Pall Mall. A format that our guests enjoyed and we’ll repeat it in other cities. A WINE INSTITUTION Pall Mall is one of the most prestigious venues in London, ideally located between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. It combines the most prestigious Members Clubs: Royal Automobile Club, Travellers, Athenaeum… very traditional, men only and with a population whose birth years…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:19 February 2017

Pomerol: vinification outside the appellation authorised

On Friday 27 January, the Conseil d’État (the highest French administrative court) overturned the 2014 decree stating that wines bearing the Pomerol PDO must be vinified within the appellation, thus ruling in favour of seven plaintiffs who own vines in Pomerol but have cellars outside the appellation. To recap, in August 2014, a decree ratifying an amendment to the Pomerol PDO specification stated that cellars used to vinify wines with this appellation must be located within the geographical boundaries of the production area and not in neighbouring appellations, as was sometimes the…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:3 February 2017

Rivesaltes, the perfect birthday gift!

Are you looking for gift ideas for a significant birthday this year? The start of a new decade perhaps? Have you thought about a vintage Rivesaltes? Why these fantastic sweet wines make excellent birthday presents. If someone you know is celebrating their 50th, 60th or 70th birthday this year, you can be sure that a Rivesaltes from their birth year will hit the spot. The big advantage is that no other vintage wine offers such value for money - you can buy a 70-year-old wine for under €100! This is especially good as although…

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:27 November 2016

The Barton family celebrates 190 years in the Médoc

A few days ago, the Barton family celebrated a remarkable anniversary in their own elegant way: the acquisition, 190 years ago, of 50 hectares of land in the Médoc that now forms the Léoville Barton vineyards. A few days ago – first in Paris and then in London – the Barton-Sartorius family gathered to celebrate 190 years of its founding in the Médoc. In the region, that sort of continuity is almost unheard of! The Bartons' Médoc association actually goes back a little further than even that, to 1722, when Irish-born Thomas Barton…

mouton-2014

Post author:iDealwine
Post published:25 November 2016

David Hockney illustrates Mouton 2014

The label for the 2014 vintage of Mouton Rothschild has just been unveiled. In the year of the death of the figurehead owner, Philippine de Rothschild, it was a personal friend of the family, David Hockney, who designed the 69th Mouton-Rothschild label, bearing this message: "in tribute to Philippine". The Mouton labels In 1924, the year in which Baron Philippe de Rothschild bottled his first vintage at the château, he decided to call upon the graphic designer Jean Carlu to create a special label. It met with a mixed reception, and so it…