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The 2016 vintage in France (part 1)

It’s here! The long awaited 2016 vintage is starting to appear on the shelves and, apart from having to endure a few freaks of nature, it was another good year in keeping with the excellent 2015 This week we are focusing on how the northern French regions fared from Alsace, Jura, Savoy and Burgundy to Beaujolais, Champagne and the Loire Valley. Alsace Dry whites: 16/20 Sweet wines: 14/20 Reds: 15/20 2016 will go down in history as an as unusual year, particularly concerning the staggering of the harvest from mid-September until the beginning…

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New Crus Bourgeois classification finalised

It's official: the new Crus Bourgeois classification was adopted at the end of 2017. And the outcome is… the reinstatement of the three former categories – Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Superiors and Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel – along with the reintroduction of the five-year ranking in line with the organisation's wishes. The Crus Bourgeois had been talking about it for long enough, and now it's happened. On January 4th, the decree of December 29th was published in the Journal officiel, confirming the change to the Crus Bourgeois classification. The headline news: a return to…

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Champagne & sparkling: still highly seasonal wines!

VinoVision Paris – an international trade show for wines from northern France – has published a fascinating analysis which overturns the received wisdom on the consumption of sparkling wines in France... and makes sobering reading for all the champagne lovers here at iDealwine. In the run-up to its 2nd edition, which is to be held from 12-14 February 2018, VInovision Paris has released a number of interesting statistics on sparkling wine consumption, generated by a study conducted by the Kantar Worldpanel institute. Lovers of champagne or other effervescent wines may find this next…

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Obituary: Robert Wilmers from Haut-Bailly

The proprietor of Château Haut-Bailly, a classified cru vineyard in Graves, died at his home in New York on Saturday, 16th December. The world of wine has paid tribute to this businessman who was CEO of the American M&T Bank Corporation and also a great lover of wine and art and supporter of many French and American cultural institutions. An entrepreneur, Mr Wilmers was both a financier and a wine connoisseur. He was Chief Executive of the American M&T Bank Corporation and acquired Château Haut-Bailly in 1998 and Château Le Pape in 2012.…

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Romanée-Conti 2000: new auction record on iDealwine at €17,146

During the online auction that ended online on 15th November 2017 on iDealwine, a bottle of Romanée-Conti 2000 was auctioned €17,146 to a French amateur. This iconic bottle from La Romanée-Conti is setting the new record for the most expensive wine sold on iDealwine since its foundation! The new most expensive wine in the history of iDealwine auctions since its creation in 2000 is, without much surprise, Grand Cru Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2000. For once, a French amateur purchased this wonderful bottle that is undeniably at the top of fine wines, with…

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Clos de Tart | New owner: good or bad news?

It is now official, the Artémis Group, investment company owned by the Pinault family, bought the 7.53 hectare Clos de Tart, monopoly classified grand cru in Morey-Saint-Denis, Côtes de Nuits. The Mommessin family has been taking good care of this domain since 1932. Therefore, a chapter is closing in Clos de Tart’s history. Thunderclap in the calm world of wine: the Clos de Tart changes hands. This domain has only known three families of owners over nearly a millennium, underlining how endearing it is. Since its founding in 1141 by the Cistercian nuns,…

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Lafite: selling a Chinese wine in 2018?

A few days ago, Decanter revealed unpublished information on the upcoming commercialization of the first Chinese vintage of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). This announcement encouraged us to push the investigation a little further... After Chile and Argentina, Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite) conquers China! A country that the group knows well, and for a long time: Christophe Salin, its CEO does not spare his energy to travel the world - especially China – allowing people to discover and taste the wines from Château Lafite, the most prestigious name for Chinese connoisseurs. But…

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Top 20 of Burgundy wines

Our Tour de France of the most expensive wines is coming to an end. But we still haven’t spoken of Burgundy and its grands crus, although at auction, it represents 31% in volume and 46% in value. Our series of rankings ends on a grand final with one of the most fantasised regions during this first half-year: Burgundy, of course, the kingdom of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As a reminder, in order to establish this first half-year ranking, we decided to keep only the most expensive wine of each property, auctioned on iDealwine.…

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Top 20 of Champagne

Let's continue the regional rankings of grands crus sold at auction during the first half of 2017, with great champagnes. Within this TOP20 we only find vintage (and old) champagnes with renowned names. Our series of regional rankings is not far from being finished, but it was impossible to ignore champagnes. As a reminder, in order to establish this first half-year ranking, we decided to keep only the most expensive wine of each property, auctioned on iDealwine. Moreover, if the wine was sold in a magnum, its price is converted to its bottle…

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Top 20 of Bordeaux wines

Our regional ranking of grands crus sold at auction in the first half of 2017 would obviously not be complete without a focus on Bordeaux wines, a region that still accounts for more than 50% of sales on iDealwine, making it, therefore, the first region in terms of volume traded at auction. As a reminder, in order to establish this first half-year ranking, we decided to keep only the most expensive wine of each property, auctioned on iDealwine. Moreover, if the wine was sold in a magnum, its price is converted to its…

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