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An introduction to iDealwine

The iDealwine team We've come a long way since we first started 18 years ago and, with exciting projects in the pipeline, it's onwards and upwards for iDealwine! We thought we'd take a moment to remind seasoned and new iDealwiners alike of all the great services available for those who are a part of our wine loving community. Read on for a breakdown… Who we are First things first, who are we you might ask? iDealwine was founded in Paris in 2000 by Cyrille Jomand, Angélique de Lencquesaing and Lionel Cuenca, three wine enthusiasts…

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Les Vignes de Paradis, a Savoie domain that goes against the grain

Dominique Lucas has a 7.5 hectares plot in Haute-Savoie. In an effort to keep his freedom, he has ventured into biodynamics and rid himself of the constraints that come with making appellation wine. We were itching to know more about why this Burgundian decided to call Savoie his home… The domain is a stone’s throw from Thonon-les-Bains, south of Lac Léman near the Swiss border. The vines are situated in three appellations: Crépy, Marignan and Marin. Dominique Lucas made the decision to downgrade to the ‘IGP’ (Indication géographique protégée) ‘Vin des Allobroges’, a…

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iDealwine tasting: O brave New World!

Raphaël de Fonscolombe, head of Commercial Development at iDealwine (left) and Gaétan Turner from South World Wines (right). In anticipation of our fixed-price sale of non-French wines, the iDealwine team got together to broaden their horizons and taste some exciting bottles from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina. Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Gaétan Turner to the Paris office who brought with him some delights for us to taste from the New World.  When it comes to wine, we French usually reach for a bottle of something local (who…

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Felton Road: a true expression of ‘somewhereness’

With 20 vintages now under its belt, Felton Road has made a name for itself in Central Otago. Classed as Drinks International’s 13th most admired wine brand in 2017, we take a look at why everyone is falling in love with this Kiwi domain. The Felton Road winery in New Zealand’s Central Otago has established itself as something of an institution in recent years and their biodynamic Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Rieslings have garnered them a loyal following. The northerly facing exposure of their vineyards and their contrasting soil profiles give their wines…

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Wine tasting event: 2015 Bordeaux Grands Crus

Tuesday 15th February saw the annual tasting of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux to present the 2015 vintage. This was the perfect occasion to compare this vintage across the appellations. We sent Marie, Elsa and Raphaël down to meet the producers and, more importantly, taste the wines. Here’s the verdict… As you know, the quality of the 2015 vintage in France was universally lauded, especially in Bordeaux where it has even been described as the “vintage of the century”. We must admit the wines we tasted were thoroughly enjoyable despite their youth.…

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China on course to be the world’s second largest consumer market for wine by 2020

New wine import figures released by the Chinese government give us a glimpse into China’s consumer preferences in this burgeoning market. The latest report from the Chinese government reveals that in 2017 overall imports of bottled wine in China rose by 14.6% in volume and 16.4% in value compared to 2016, putting this country on course to be the second largest market in the wine industry by 2020. The figures also show that the Chinese are still buying French: French wines remain the market leader and account for 40% of the market share.…

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The 2016 vintage in France (part 2)

Following our round up of the 2016 vintage in the northern regions of France, this week we will be focusing on the southern regions including Bordeaux, the Rhône, the Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence and Corsica. Bordeaux Left bank reds: 19/20 Right bank reds: 17/20 Dry whites: 16/20 Sweet whites: 16/20 2016 was a vintage of contrasts in Bordeaux. Many different climatic conditions came together to make this vintage all in all quite difficult. The weather in the first part of the year was (too) humid and the region saw 850mm of rainfall during this…

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Domaine Pinson in Chablis rooted in Kimmeridgian terroir

The Pinson family have cultivated their vines in prestigious Chablis for nearly four centuries now. Laurent Pinson’s grandparents were, in times past, winemakers, but they were also cattle farmers and this mixed farming approach worked well in their three hectares, protecting them from Mother Nature’s occasional hijinks. After the Second World War, the Pinson family decided to devote their full attention to viticulture, and they still do to this day. Read our interview with Laurent Pinson… After completing their studies in viticulture and oenology in Beaune in the 1980s, Christophe and Laurent Pinson…

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Bordeaux: Cos d’Estournel buys back Château Pomys in Saint-Estèphe

Château Cos d'Estournel’s owner has just acquired the neighbouring Château Pomys, once owned by Louis Gaspard d'Estournel. The acquisition is part of a vision to recreate the original complex. Businessman Michel Reybier, owner of Château Cos d'Estournel, a number of hotels and spas, and other vineyards in Champagne and Hungary (Tokaji), has just bought a new property- Château Pomys in Saint-Estèphe. The chateau lies a few hundred metres from the Cos d'Estournel estate and its acquisition is part of   "Cos d’Estournel’s heritage plans. The purchase of Château Pomys pays tribute to the…

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Invest into wine: a few tips

Evidently, visitors to iDealwine are first and foremost devoted connoisseurs who have come to find some really great wines. Even so – and this is entirely understandable – they'd like some reassurance when buying that they can at least resell their wines, should they fall upon straightened circumstances... or need to make room for other wines! This article, therefore, will deal with some common questions we often hear from our customers. Although it isn't iDealwine's usual philosophy to encourage our customers to invest in wine, we are nonetheless in a privileged position from…

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