Should you decant your wine?
To decant or not to decant – that is the often controversial question. What is the best way to prepare your wine before serving?
Champagne Taittinger: always moving forwards
This prestigious champagne house continues to expand, but their traditions keep them always at home.
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…
®Ludovic Letot
Chambord vineyard resurrected after 500 years
In June 2015, domaine Chambord began replanting the vineyards of King Francis I, 500 years after its introduction to the Loire Valley in 1519. The famous Château de Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley châteaux and a Unesco World Heritage site. It was built for King Francis I in 1519 in the town bearing the same name – on the site of an old château of the counts of Blois and the village’s church – in order to affirm power and to serve as a hunting lodge. At the start of…
iDealwine’s WineDex up 7%
The iDealwine indices appreciated by 0.81% in May, resulting in an overall growth of more than 7% since the beginning of 2015. The iDealwine indices continued its upward trend in May, with Burgundy setting the tone, realising an increase of 1.16% for this regional index. This amounts to an increase of more than 14% over the past 12 months! Angélique de Lencquesaing, deputy managing director of iDealwine, notes that wines from recent vintages included in the index are generally very desirable after their release. This explains the upward trend observed with the great…
Meursault and Marsannay return to the forefront
All French appellations have their "sleeping beauties", those who lack in fame despite their exceptional heritage. Until “Prince Charming” (an investor) comes along, making every effort to produce wines worthy of the pedigree. This has been happening to the châteaux of Meursault and Marsannay since 2012. One such Prince Charming is Olivier Halley, heir to a family shareholder of Carrefour and head of "H Partners" (owner of brands including "Du Pareil au Même" and "Tout Compte Fait"), who bought Château de Marsannay (35 hectares of vineyards in Marsannay and Côte de Nuits) and…
What are the (true) vintages of the century?
Some wine regions claim to produce a great vintage, or even “vintage of the century”, every other year! But despite these commercial declarations, there are still some truly great vintages – those that entice fine wine buyers, especially at auction. But what is a great vintage? Think about it: a winemaker is able to produce an average wine from top quality grapes, but not a top quality wine from average grapes. A great vintage is therefore one that allows a winery to harvest ‘perfect’, top quality grapes. A vineyard can produce ‘perfect’ grapes…