Recent Posts

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:24 June 2016

Slowdown in price for Burgundy grands crus?

iDealwine's iDealwine indices recorded a token increase of 0.11% in May, taking their performance since the beginning of 2016 to 4.60%. The month of May saw a slight fall in the prices of wines from Burgundy. It may well be a one-off, but in May wines from Burgundy experienced something of a quiet spell in terms of auction prices. Having long been the main driver of growth in the iDealwine wine indices, they fell back slightly during May. The fall may have been tiny (-0.02%), but it contrasts sharply with the trends noted…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:2 June 2016

How good is the 2013 vintage?

Our "Vintage Guide" section has been updated to include comments and scores for 2013. Find out more about a year that was marked by precarious climatic conditions. At iDealwine, we are not content just to share our finest wine discoveries with you. We also want to arm you with the information you need to navigate this complex world and to choose well. Every year, we carry out a region by region review of France's winegrowing areas and allocate a score to each vineyard and wine colour. A time lag is to be expected…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:2 June 2016

Auction report: Dagueneau grabs headlines

The auctions of 11th May included their share of treasures from all regions… not least in the Loire valley, where Dagueneau was particularly well represented. Let's take a closer look at the world of rare wines. Each of France's main wine regions has its own little hidden gems – a fact well known to eager connoisseurs, prompting a number of lively battles at the online auctions of 11 May. As wine lovers will tell you, the Loire valley is home to two superstars: Clos Rougeard in Saumur-Champigny, and Dagueneau in Pouilly-Fumé. And it was…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:29 May 2016

Ruinart, the very first Champagne house – since 1729

Ruinart is known internationally for the quality of its chardonnay grapes and the purity and aromatic finesse of its cuvées. This illustrious Champagne house has been in business since the beginning of the 18th Century. The history of this renowned Champagne house spans more than three centuries. The story began in the era of Louis XIV with a Benedictine monk, Dom Thierry Ruinart (1657-1709). Originally from Champagne, Dom Thierry worked in t he Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris where he became aware of worldly society and the "bubbling wine" much loved by young…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:19 May 2016

iDealwine’s WineDex® 100 remains stable in April and up 4.48% in 2016

iDealwine's wine indexes showed little movement in April. However, they have kept ahead of the CAC 40 index since the start of the 2016 financial year. On the auction front, a "wait and see" approach is always required in this "pre-primeur" period, and prices of recent vintages, most of which are listed in iDealwine's indices iDealwineindexes, remained stable in April: the iDealwine indice100 rose slightly to 0.42%, driven mainly by wines from the Rhône valley (+ 0.63% for iDealwine indiceRhône) and also by Burgundy wines (+ 0.49%) . In Bordeaux, stable rates are…

Continue ReadingiDealwine’s WineDex® 100 remains stable in April and up 4.48% in 2016

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:18 May 2016

Château Palmer white wines go on sale for the first time

The news may have slipped under the wine world's radar, but Château Palmer has just released its 2014 white (the first time these wines have carried a price tag)… on the Hong Kong market. Have you had the chance to try a white Château Palmer yet? This tiny production, launched in 2007, had until now been reserved for the estate's owners, and served at private receptions. The fact is that hardly any Médoc châteaux produce white wines, although some have been taking steps towards doing so over the last few years. There is,…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:13 May 2016

Auction Report: top bids for 1966, prestige Champagne & old Yquem

Prices for Bordeaux and Burgundy wines have calmed down, but wine lovers seem keener than ever on rare and prestige vintages from Champagne, the Rhône, Alsace and the Loire. And with a number of bottles celebrating their 50th birthday this year, our bidders seem ready for anything… The top sale at this auction was a case of high-end Bordeaux 2005 wines - Château Margaux, Lafite Rothschild, Cheval Blanc, Petrus, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Congratulations to the Swiss buyer who walked off with this much in demand lot for €6300 (+11% on its iDealwine…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:13 May 2016

Spring frosts: Loire and Burgundy hit hard

Although it's still too early for a full report, the long-feared spring frosts have taken their toll in northern Burgundy, as well as in the Loire appellations of Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil. We bring you a dispatch from the front line. Given the mild winter and the early appearance of the buds, growers were already on the alert. And their fears were well-founded: the spring frosts hit a number of French vineyard regions hard, mostly (but not all) in northern France. In the Loire, the Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:6 May 2016

Where does the sweet taste of dry white wines come from?

In terms of taste, the balance of a wine depends primarily on the level of acidity and its tannic structure, but equally on its sweetness and smooth taste. This usually relates to “sucrosity”, a neologism which describes a sweet taste unrelated to sugar. But where does the sweetness that can be found in fine dry white wines come from, since it is not the product of residual sugars as is the case with dessert wines? Axel Marchal – who holds a doctorate in wine science from the University of Bordeaux – wrote a…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:5 May 2016

Report from ProWine Asia and thoughts on the Singapore market

Following our last visit to Shanghai in March for the Grand Tasting, we're back in Asia with Alexandra to promote iDealwine at the first edition of ProWine Singapore. Unlike in Shanghai, where the attendees we met were individual wine lovers, the Singapore event was open to professionals only. More than 8,000 delegates came from the region's main countries – including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia – to discover wines from nearly 250 exhibitors, producers, importers and distributors. The market is still a small one, with a population of just over 5 million, but…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:21 April 2016

Auction report: stagnant Bordeaux & Burgundy vs dynamic Champagne & South

The auction closed on 13th April on iDealwine confirmed the stabilisation of prices for the more traditional regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy. In the meantime, Champagne and South of France where much more on demand while Rhone and Loire were in only rising slightly. Besides these main trends, there were some hot lots in all regions with some significant price increase on the most sought after wines. The auction has attracted buyers from many countries outside of France who won half of the lots (Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, Italy, UK, Switzerland,…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:21 April 2016

NEW: find organic wines on iDealwine in just one click

iDealwine has introduced another new function - there is, after all, a reason why we won an award for innovation! From now on, to raise the status of estates that care about the environment and our health, we are listing our wines according to production approach. You can find them in just one click - here's how… Astute iDealwine users that you are, you must have noticed that, for a few days now, our search function has included a filter for production criteria. So, if you want to find wines from organic, biodynamic or…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:19 April 2016

Rhone wines stand by their strategy to move up-market

The Inter Rhône professional association has set its sights firmly on the “premiumisation” of its wines, targeting the mid to high-end market. It is proud of the potential of its terroirs and appellations, and is convinced that this process is crucial to securing the future of the vineyards. At its latest press conferences (on 24 March in Tain-l’Hermitage and 31 March in Avignon), the Interprofession des vins AOC de la vallée du Rhône, confirmed its strategy to move up-market in the next few years. This could already be seen in action with the…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:8 April 2016

Bordeaux mourns the loss of the gentleman of Margaux

In the middle of Easter weekend, it is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Paul Pontallier, the oenlogist, director and spirit of Château Margaux. It is hard to imagine going through the doors of Château Margaux without spotting Paul Pontallier behind a tasting counter, walking through the cellar or strolling the elegant passageways drawn by Norman Foster and recently inaugurated. For more than 30 years, Paul Pontallier, faithful guardian of the temple of Château Margaux, perfectly embodied the style of the wine he brilliantly produced He joined the château…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:8 April 2016

Auction Report 30 March: stable Bordeaux, uneven Burgundy & rising Rhone

The auction closed on 30th March featured a large quantity of fine Bordeaux wines whose prices stabilised. In Rhône, old vintages of Cornas from domains that no longer exist are increasingly sought by bidders from all around the world. Burgundy, however saw contrasted performances. Bordeaux: While the awaited 2015 En Primeur campaign just started, the market for Bordeaux appears relatively stable in the auction closed on 30th March. Even myths like Petrus in Pomerol – a safe bet that has been rising in all previous auctions – has shown sable prices. Some wines…

Continue ReadingAuction Report 30 March: stable Bordeaux, uneven Burgundy & rising Rhone

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:25 March 2016

Auction Report: highlight on Bordeaux & Côte de Nuits

Latest auction closed on 16th March has seen bidders from all around the world trying to win auctions on mature Bordeaux as well as old vintages from the finest domains of Côte de Nuits. Asian bidders have been particularly active in this auction, especially on top Bordeaux wines like Lafite, Margaux (and second wine Pavillon Rouge), Haut Brion, and on the right side, Petrus, Cheval Blanc and Angelus. While prices have been relatively stable on recent vintages, mature wines are still on the rise (+6% for Petrus 1983 at €1,200€, +8% for Lafite 1985 at…

Continue ReadingAuction Report: highlight on Bordeaux & Côte de Nuits

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:25 March 2016

Stars of the 2015 auctions on iDealwine

Here is the rundown of the top bottles auctioned on iDealwine over the course of last year.  This overview provides a snapshot of the year, illustrating on the one hand particular circumstances and on the other some underlying, structural trends. DRC from Burgundy and, to a lesser extent, Bordeaux, dominate the roll call of the 50 bottles that fetched the highest prices at auction in 2015. Although Bordeaux accounted for over 50% of the total value of our sales in 2015, the region does not dominate the list of the 50 priciest bottles, with…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:15 March 2016

Hong Kong, Shanghai: iDealwine continue its development in Asia

A few days ago, iDealwine team took part in the Shanghai Grand Tasting organised by famous duo of French wine journalists Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve. Let’s take a step back and review the presence of iDealwine in Asia and its international development. As you know iDealwine was started to enable wine lovers from all around the world to access fine wines at auction or fixed-price. Already very well represented in the European market, we started reinforcing our presence in Asia since 2010, joining essentially wine fairs as the Hong Kong International Wine…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:15 March 2016

Innovation: iDealwine new home page is live!

iDealwine reveals its new home page. The objective is to make your navigation as smooth as an old claret… See below a snapshot of the changes. End of 2015, iDealwine received the Innovation Award at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris. We were obviously very honoured but what a pressure!!! From this week, you can now discover our new home page, more modern and user friendly than before. Special wine recommendations You’ll still find most of the previous tools you were using but add to this a more tailor made selection of wines grouped under…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:15 March 2016

Auction Report: highlight on Ermitage Cathelin from Jean-Louis Chave

Over 500 buyers took part in this auction closed on 24th February on iDealwine. Overall, they have followed current market trends with a few surprises still as the Cuvée d’ermitage Cathelin from Jean-Louis Chave whose price soared. Same happened to a few other rare vintages in this sale.   In Bordeaux, the « firsts» don’t seem to be suffering from current Bordeaux bashing and the demand remains high. Petrus is still in great demand including in « lesser » vintages, as for example this 1974 increasing by 21% to €1,040 or the 2006 to €1,800 (11%). The…

Continue ReadingAuction Report: highlight on Ermitage Cathelin from Jean-Louis Chave

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:22 February 2016

The history of grape varieties – Episode 4: Northern Rhône

This week we focus on the genealogy and history of the grape varieties of the Northern Rhône. Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier are the only four grape varieties allowed from Tain l’Hermitage to the North end of the Valley: Côte Rôtie, Château Grillet, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray (from North to South).  The family of Serine The four varieties named above are all part of the same family called Serine. In addition to Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, this family also includes Brun Argenté, Chatus, Chichaud, Douche Noire, Etraire de l’Aduï,…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:22 February 2016

Château d’Yquem opens its doors to the public!

Major news on the Bordeaux wine tourism scene: Château d’Yquem is finally opening its doors to wine enthusiasts. Until now, tours of Château d’Yquem were the preserve of a very small circle of people such as wine professionals, journalists, and very special customers. Now, interested parties will be able to go behind the scenes of the only Sauternes premier cru supérieur. We don’t use the word “only” lightly: the classification of Sauternes and Barsac dessert wines, produced in 1855 at the request of Emperor Napoleon III, listed 27 domaines. Château d’Yquem was the only…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:22 February 2016

Auction Report: top mature vintages from Bordeaux to Loire take the lead

iDealwine’s latest auctions ended on January 27. Mature vintages from all regions were much in demand. Here are the full details. Bordeaux’s oldest vintages once again forged ahead. Château Latour in particular stands out with its 1970 vintage selling at €960 (+50%) and its 1995 at €672 (+19%). It was the same story for Lafite with a 1950 going for €1380 (+49%). Even "humbler" vintages from Petrus soared in price with the 1977 reaching €1260 (+30%). Two other trends are worth noting after this sale. First of all, Mouton Rothschild is still the…

Continue ReadingAuction Report: top mature vintages from Bordeaux to Loire take the lead

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:25 January 2016

Auction Report: Strong enthusiasm for Petrus, La Chapelle 1961 & top Champagne

Going against the grain, on a market where Bordeaux wines have remained stable for many months, one wine has stirred up the auctions, and wine enthusiasts - Petrus. The last online auctions of 2015 included the traditional prestige bottles. This year, Petrus has made the headlines, with at least 150 bottles of precious Pomerol sold in their original wooden cases, alongside bottles of big name Champagne, an extremely rare 1961 Hermitage La Chapelle and wines from the Romanée Conti estate. Let’s take a look at the astonishing prices. A rare series of Petrus…

Continue ReadingAuction Report: Strong enthusiasm for Petrus, La Chapelle 1961 & top Champagne

• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:25 January 2016

Climate: winegrowers fear the consequence of a mild winter

In recent weeks, widespread enthusiasm about the quality of 2015 vintages has given way to growing concern about the current mild winter and its implications for the 2016 harvest. Winegrowers had been saying it months before their optimism spread throughout the wine sector when the harvests were over: 2015 was an excellent year for almost all France's vineyards. The long period of warmth in June and July, tempered by the rain in August and followed by good temperatures in September created the ideal conditions for grapes to ripen. There should not be any…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:12 January 2016

Will corked wine soon be a thing of the past?

Research is moving apace to try to resolve the problem of corked wine which leads to millions of hectolitres of wastage per year– something winegrowers and wine enthusiasts alike could happily do without. We review the alternatives available and scientific progress in this area. Every year, 1-3 % of bottles sold are corked when opened. Fortunately, this rate has tended to go down in recent years due to continuous improvements in cork manufacturing techniques. Treatments used on cork and corks have been enhanced to prevent the growth of the molecule responsible for cork…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:12 January 2016

China will be the top wine-consuming country by 2027

According to calculations by Coface (a French export credit insurer), China will be the top market for wine in the world in 2027, ahead of the United States, France, Italy and Germany. World wine consumption should rise by approximately 10% in the same time-frame, but will double in China (to 30 million hectolitres). China currently ranks fifth in the world for wine consumption with 16 million hectolitres drunk in 2014, but a dozen years from now, it will be in first place (it is already the leading consumer of red wine). Wine consumption…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:23 December 2015

Bettane + Desseauve award iDealwine for its innovation in wine!

On Thursday 7 December, at the lavish party at the Quai d’Orsay to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Grand Tasting, iDealwine was awarded the “Grand Prize for Wine Innovation”. This distinction pays tribute to the fruits of fifteen years of work to develop and continuously enhance the online auction platform, iDealwine price database, indices iDealwineindex, and free mobile app. We are very proud to have earned this recognition! It was a memorable evening at the Quai d’Orsay as the bettane+desseauve team celebrated in lavish style the 10th anniversary of a fair which…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:8 December 2015

November 25th Auction Report: Rousseau, Verset, Château-Grillet, Clos Rougeard and Selosse rising

The latest online iDealwine auction, which closed on 25 November, featured an increase in the number of foreign bidders hailing from over 30 countries. They purchased 50% of the available lots – clear proof of the popularity of our vintages on the export market! These include Domaine Armand Rousseau, in Burgundy, where prices have risen again – and it is not alone. We take a closer look. One auction follows hard on the heels of another on iDealwine, and the end-of-year period is particularly fruitful both in terms of the diversity of wines…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:24 November 2015

Changes of ownership at Châteaux de Rayne-Vigneau and La Tour de Mons

  CA Grands Crus, subsidiary of French bank Crédit Agricole and Caisses Régionales d’Aquitaine et du Languedoc, owner since 2004 of the renowned Sauternes Chateau Rayne-Vigneau in Bommes, has just sold the majority of its shares to the group Trésor du Patrimoine. In the same time, CA Grands Crus is becoming sole owner of Chateau La Tour de Mons in Margaux.   Chateau Rayne Vigneau owns 84 hectares of vineyards in one piece, near the legendary Château d'Yquem. Its sub-soil is composed of sandy gravel on clay and is planted with 74% Sémillon,…

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• Post author:iDealwine
• Post published:24 November 2015

November 12th Auction Report: 1990 vintage, Romanée Conti, Jamet…

The proportion of foreign buyers in the latest auctions increased significantly, especially for the rarest and most expensive bottles. In the auction closed on 12th November, we could note a strong demand for the 1990 vintage as well as for special releases and collectors’ bottles.   In Bordeaux, older vintages did particularly well as this bottle of Château Latour à Pomerol 1959 that went for €1,200 to a wine lover from Hong Kong. In Sauternes, a Château d’Yquem 1958 reached €840 (+25%). Beyond the most significant price evolutions, note Château Margaux 1990, sold…

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