September 10, 2011
I am listening to Strange Magic by the 1970s arena pop band Electric Light Orchestra, known for its saccharine if endearing pop. It certainly makes me nostalgic for soft focus non-digital movies from the 1970s. Heaven Can Wait, anyone? With Warren Beatty and the stunningly beautiful Julie Christie… When movies were based more on dialogue […]
July 17, 2011
For many years I have participated in tastings of the Bordeaux grouping “Les Cinq” which brought together some fine estates: Chateau Pontet Canet in Pauillac, Chateau Branaire Ducru in St Julien, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac Leognan, Chateau Gazin in Pomerol and Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere in St Emilion. I once organised a tasting […]
July 11, 2011
In June, Bordeaux’s vines are typically in full flower. But in late June 2011, the vines seemed almost a full month ahead of schedule. You can read my related articles in decanter.com here and here. The small bunches of flowers that normally develop around the beginning of the month were actually already there in May. That’s […]
June 30, 2011
One of the most enjoyable Vinexpo dinners was the 12th Tour de France organized by the genial Oliver Bernard and his wife Anne at Domaine de Chevalier. The loose and relaxing approach to the gathering – no assigned seats, guests had to serve themselves – made it, in part, so appealing. We started with outdoor appetizers […]
June 29, 2011
Welcome to the G-1. No, this was not an economic summit. We wine journalists are a spoiled lot. For the fifth Vinexpo in a row, I was invited to the prestige first-growth dinner of St Emilion. Organised by the G-1, the clever new name for the Groupement de Premiers Grands Crus Classés de Saint Emilion, the […]
June 27, 2011
Château Haut Bailly is all about elegance. The chateau is for me one of the very best in Bordeaux, particularly for the Graves region. But prices are reaching the stratosphere – just a few years ago, one could buy a 2000 or 2001 for far less than the 2005, and then the 2010 is set at […]
June 21, 2011
When I think of wines from Bordeaux that are actually underpriced, not many come to mind these days, but one is Chateau Raymond Lafon, made from grapes grown among the choicest spots in the appellation. But five years old when the 1855 classification took place, it was not included. Which means, roughly, if you want […]
June 21, 2011
Every Vinexpo, the Grand Cru Council of the Medoc and Graves organizes a press dinner and this year it was held at none other than Chateau Haut Brion on Sunday, June 19. What an honor it was to meet the Prince Robert of Luxembourg and his lovely American wife Princess Julie. And what a coincidence […]
June 19, 2011
17 June 2011. What an extraordinary time at Chateau Cheval Blanc, where the estate just inaugurated a brand new cellar space, vat room, harvest reception area and tasting room. Many French language news reports out today from yesterday’s event. Such as this one. The design of the space is nothing short of amazing. Upon […]
June 19, 2011
What a party! Vinexpo is a great wine fair, but the real attraction are the evening dinners if you can get an invitation… Highlighting many renovations in Bordeaux – at Cheval Blanc, at Petrus, among others – was the new cellar space at Chateau Soutard, a classified grand cru of St Emilion, which has an […]