Recent Posts

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:18 November 2017

Champagne Roederer: exceptional tasting discovering the Cristal Vinothèque

The Roederer house organized a few days ago a breath taking vertical tasting of several vintages of the Cristal cuvée, in white and rosé. At the centre, the latest creation of the smart cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon: Cristal Vinothèque 1995, a wine aged for 20 years in the cellars of the house. A legendary moment, enhanced by a lunch concocted by chef Thierry Marx at the Mandarin Oriental. And with the complicity of the brilliant chef sommelier David Biraud to ensure a service of wines in perfect conditions. The opportunity to revive the…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:13 November 2017

Burgundy Grands Crus: prices keep on soaring | Auction report

The sale of the Clos de Tart had not yet been confirmed. However, during the online auctions of 11th and 25th October on iDealwine, many Grands Crus that we thought were already at the top in terms of price, continued to increase. The most prestigious ones indeed reached new thresholds. Is it a simple focus on attractive Burgundy or a sustainable phenomenon? The answer will come in a few months. For now, let's take a look at the exceptional auctions recorded on iDealwine last month. More than €4,000 for a bottle of Montrachet…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:7 November 2017

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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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:2 November 2017

iDealwine in Asia

In November, Arthur de Lencquesaing and Alix Rodarie, from iDealwine’s international department are travelling around Asia to meet customers, take part in wine fairs, masterclasses and present iDealwine to new wine lovers. Asia is the fastest growing market for iDealwine, with 64% growth since January 2017. It represents 13.5% of our turnover. Asian connoisseurs mainly buy Bordeaux or Burgundy grands crus, but have an increasing interest for some niche wines and appellations featured on iDealwine, usually harder to find in traditional Asian distribution networks. In their quest for quality, Asian customers spend, on…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:30 October 2017

Natural wine, Isabelle Legeron MW

Today "natural" wines are moving things and divide connoisseurs. Yet, these wines have their share of mystery. What is basically a natural wine? Isabelle Legeron’s approach is, in this respect, very interesting. This Master of Wine went in the domains, in the fields to lead the investigation: in the light of her tastings and meetings in the French vineyard and around the world, she reports in this book her journey and provides an independent and convinced perspective. Master of Wine Isabelle Legeron is above all a natural wine lover. That's why she wanted…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:26 October 2017

Alcohol easing foreign language conversations

Who hasn’t already felt a little more comfortable speaking a foreign language over a drink? It seems that with moderate consumption, science validates this hypothesis.  Alcohol helping  you to speak a foreign language? This is what Dutch researchers have tried to prove. First of all, don’t worry; we are talking about small quantities of alcohol, of course: this study was conducted with people who had consumed a pint of beer or two glasses of wine. The idea was clearly not to make them drunk, which has rather the opposite effect on your fluency…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:23 October 2017

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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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:20 October 2017

2015 wine: a reference year for Southern French regions

Continuing our saga on the 2015 vintage, let’s head south, with great successes, especially for Bordeaux Grands Crus.

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:19 October 2017

2017: a historically low harvest 

After the superb 2015 and 2016, will the 2017 fall under the curse of the vintages finishing by "7"? If the quality is generally there, the quantities are lacking in certain regions or appellations, with a historically low harvest. Complicated weather conditions On 1st October 2017, the French Department of Agriculture reckoned the harvest was going to be down 18% compared to the five-year average[i]. Wine production is estimated at 36.9 million hectolitres, 19% lower than 2016. The harvest is thus historically low, and even lower than 1991, which also experienced a historic…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:13 October 2017

2015 wine: great scores for Northern French regions

The long-awaited 2015 wine announced as exceptional, is now bottled, and can be bought. To guide you through your purchases, iDealwine reviews the situation region by region. And we start with the vineyards from the north of the hexagon, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Champagne, Alsace, Jura and Savoie. Red Burgundies at the top Like almost everywhere in France, in 2015, Burgundy benefited from good weather conditions.  The tone was set in spring: the vintage will be precocious. Flowering took place early June, announcing grape harvest late August and early September. A year also marked by…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:12 October 2017

Pomerol star of Bordeaux | Auction report

The appellation Pomerol has attracted the appetite of amateurs during the online auction which ended on 29th August. Let’s discuss this world-famous appellation, and more particularly a cru which is starting to draw attention to it, Château La Fleur Petrus. On the scale of Bordeaux, Pomerol is simply microscopic: it covers 813 hectares which represents barely 0.7% of the vines planted in the region. The fabulous terroir of the appellation, identified in Roman times, was later exploited by the order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight's Hospitaller. Pomerol was a popular stopover for…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:12 October 2017

Domaine Leroy: record bids | Auction report

Icon from Côte de Nuits, Domaine Leroy triggers connoisseur’s interest, because of the excellent level of the wines and their rarity; these wines are almost unfindable on the market. The online auction closed on 27th September featured a rare series of grands crus produced by Lalou Bize-Leroy, which inevitably sparked off record bids. The name of Lalou Bize-Leroy and the one of her domain have Grail value in the imagination of wine lovers. As a great figure of the wine world, she enjoys a fine knowledge of Burgundian terroir since she was a…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:28 September 2017

Natural wine: booming at auction

For a few months now, a new phenomenon has emerged on iDealwine online auctions: some marginal wines, called natural wines or “nature” wines have soaring prices. Is this a simple fad or a new long-lasting trend? What should we think of this surprising inflation and will it concern an increasing number of domains? Analysis. Several renowned bottles have seen their prices increase tremendously, like Lafite-Rothschild, Romanée-Conti and Clos Rougeard. For such names to be expensive, it’s quite normal. What’s worrying amateurs is that even lesser very qualitative bottles are becoming more expensive like…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:27 September 2017

Champagne Bourgeois-Diaz: head in the stars

In the kingdom of Pinot Meunier, in Crouttes sur Marne, halfway between Reims and Paris, the vines from Champagne Bourgeois-Diaz have thoroughly become biodynamic, since 2009. Over a few years, Jérôme Diaz became the preacher of this philosophy which glows through his sharp cuvées. Would you like to taste them? Back to basics In his youth, Jérôme Diaz didn’t want to work at the domain. He used to help his parents in the vineyard, but it bored him. He wanted to work in the trade and ended up in an industrial supply company…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:26 September 2017

City Wine Show | Brief recap

iDealwine took part in the City Wine show this weekend. This event in the City of London got several wine producers and merchants together. Little recap of this event, for those who didn’t have the chance to participate or for those who would like to relive the moment! City Wine Show: iDealwine stand iDealwine was present both days on the show, Friday and Saturday. As many New World wines were displayed, iDealwine stood out with its selection of fine wines from France. Some of the bottles really gathered crowds, like the Château Beychevelle…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:25 September 2017

Yquem, Bordeaux 1982, La Tâche, Clos Rougeard | Auction report

The latest auction on iDealwine, which ended on 13th September, was full of rare wines. Focus on some of these exceptional lots. Two auctions per month on iDealwine: the pace is sustained, as nearly 100,000 bottles are sold via our platform at auction. And yet, each sale has its treasures, sourced from Europe finest cellars. The last auction illustrated well this fact. Yquem, huge and exceptional Right in the foreground, this catalog offered an exceptional series of large bottles from the Château d'Yquem. Unsurprisingly, it was the vintage 1990 (Parker points?) – a…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:21 September 2017

Pol Roger, the excellence of champagnes since 1849

With an exemplary regularity, Pol Roger champagnes are recognizable by their winey aromas, depth and roundness; they are often matured for a long time in the house’s cellars and still have a long ageing potential. In 1849, as he was only 18 years old, Pol Roger founded his trading house in Aÿ before settling in Epernay in 1851. In 1855 he began to favour the production of brut champagnes, much appreciated by English consumers. He died in 1899, leaving behind him a house of enviable reputation. At the beginning of the XIXth century,…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:19 September 2017

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret: Burgundy wine between wisdom and ambition

Let’s go to the Côte d'Or, with a focus on Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret located in Vosne-Romanée, between the legendary Château du Clos Vougeot and the small village of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The family has been taking care of the vines for more than eight generations! The story begins in 1620. The reputation of Mongeard-Mugneret is due to its old-age, the finesse of its wines, the subtlety of its terroirs and the extent of its domain. The combination of the vines of Eugène Mongeard and his wife Edmée Mugneret gave birth to an important property of 30…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:11 September 2017

iDealwine WineDex® outperforms CAC40 at the end of summer

iDealwine iDealwine indice100 index has increased by 6.50% since January and outperformed the CAC40, which increased by 5.48% at the end of August 2017. This increase is due to an excellent performance of Burgundy wines. iDealwine’s indices are at the top since the beginning of the year. As a reminder, the iDealwine indices measure the price fluctuations of a selection of top Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhône wines at auction. These indicators are calculated from the iDealwine auction price estimates, and each of the wines included in the indice iDealwine selection are declined in…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:10 September 2017

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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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:7 September 2017

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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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:6 September 2017

Tips and tricks for successful wine auctions 

In a recent article, we explained 10 good reasons to bid on iDealwine. Now let’s turn to tips and tricks, you could find useful to succeed in bidding! Maximum bid function The advantage of online auctions versus physical ones is of course that that you don’t have to be physically present, but also that you can bid whenever you want to, especially on iDealwine with the maximum bid option. With this system, you can place a maximum bid at any time and thus avoid to connect in the last minutes of the closing.…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:3 September 2017

PRESS ARTICLES

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:1 September 2017

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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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:31 August 2017

Top 20 of Jura-Savoie and Alsace wines

Vin Jaune (French for “yellow wines”), great terroirs or exceptional sweet wines: our Tour de France of regional rankings at auction continues with a trip to the vineyards from the East of France, a wine-growing area with very specific characteristics that make them, therefore, very interesting regions. 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 equivalent to allow a…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:30 August 2017

9th Davos of wine on the Lake Como in November

On the theme of the current great ecological evolutions, this ninth edition of Villa d'Este Wine Symposium will take place from 9th to 12th November on the banks of Lake Como. A brief overview of the program of these three days of high-level meetings and exchanges. Every year since 2009 François Mauss, founder of the European Grand Jury and renowned blogger, brings together the top of the crop from the wine world in the exceptional setting of Villa d'Este for three days of meetings, debates and tastings. An unmissable event, also called "Davos…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:29 August 2017

Château Rayas, iconic | Auction report

Both red and white wines from château Rayas have livened up the online auction, which ended on 16th August on iDealwine. Château Rayas occupies a special place in amateurs’ hearts and in the auction landscape. As we have been following the evolution of this mythical domain’s prices from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, for nearly 20 years, we have only very rarely seen them drop. The rarity, of course, and the difficulty of finding wines elsewhere than at the domain (or on iDealwine J) contribute to making Rayas one of the best blue chips among the great…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:24 August 2017

What is a long finish for a wine?

The tasting world can be hard to grasp, so here's our guide to talking about a wine's finish.

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:16 August 2017

Engel, Dujac, Vogüé, Burgundy at the top | Auction report

During July, the auction market was still wide awake! Buyers from all over the world fought for the best wines from Burgundy with continuous rising prices. Beautiful auctions on great Burgundy names During both auctions in July, once again, the famous Burgundy domains have had remarkable performances. Indeed, particularly during the sale that ended on 26th July, Engel, Dujac and Vogüé domains registered prices way above their iDealwine estimates. Domaine René Engel: Domaine René Engel (now called Domaine d’Eugénie since its purchase by François Pinault in 2006) is a vineyard of 7 hectares…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:8 August 2017

Top 20 of wines from Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence and Corsica

After Loire and Rhône rankings, let’s discover how the South of France is doing, with these wonderful wines full of sunshine!  A brief summary of the most expensive wines sold at auction during the first half of 2017 with the top 20 of Languedoc wines and of Roussillon, the top 15 of Provence, and the top 5 of Corsican wines. Languedoc As the region's leader, Domaine de la Grange des Pères now benefits from a worldwide catchment. Its owner, Laurent Vaillé, works according to biodynamic principles, without being certified. If the red cuvée…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:4 August 2017

Top 20 of Loire wines

Let's continue our Tour de France of the rankings of the most expensive wines sold at auction in the first half of 2017, with Loire wines. If the top of the podium is trusted by the regional stars, there are also very confidential and less famous domains. Loire wines are known to be worth their money. Even if prices remain reasonable, some domains saw them soar at auction, like the famous Clos Rougeard, but also other more confidential ones. If we rank the auctions recorded on iDealwine during the first six months of…

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