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Burgundy 2021 En Primeur

This is certainly a vintage that will live long in the memories of the vignerons of Burgundy. Throughout the regions of France, the story of 2021 follows a familiar pattern. The word ‘atypical’ was often used to describe the vintage, and that is certainly true for Burgundy in the context of the past decade.

Grand Cru Chardonnay Wrap up

We've just kicked off the annual Grand Cru Chardonnay events which happen across the month of September. Last week's Sydney event was a fantastic evening, and a full house! The broad spectrum of the grape that is Chardonnay was expertly presented by our own staff and representatives from some of our suppliers. With an incredibly diverse collection of wines from South Africa, America, Chablis, Burgundy, Margaret River, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong (along wit...

Your Grape Guide: Picpoul de Pinet

Kissing the Mediterranean Sea from low-lying land, Picpoul de Pinet is an appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) within the Languedoc region in southern France. The area gained its prestigious AOC status in 2013 and takes its name from the indigenous grape variety Piquepoul Blanc. (Confusingly, the appellation uses the spelling P-i-c-p-o-u-l, whereas the grape is often spelled P-i-q-u-e-p-o-u-l.) Picpoul de Pinet is one of a very few regions in France that i...

Bordeaux En Primeur Spotlight: Haut-Médoc

Comprising just more than 4,500 hectares – and 28% of the Médoc vineyard area – the Haut-Médoc appellation d’origine controllée (AOC) is a genuine gem of the Left Bank. Stretching more than 50 kilometres from the north of Saint-Estèphe to the suburbs of Bordeaux, the area is home to five Cru Classé estates and a plethora of Cru Bourgeois.

Burgundy: a captivating paradox

Burgundy. Just say the name and wine lovers swoon. But what is it about this special French wine region that is so captivating? For many, such as Jancis Robinson, MW, it was a bottle of Burgundy that was their ‘lightning-bolt moment’ in wine – an unforgettable wine that made them sit up and take notice. Indeed, the very best wines of the region have the capacity to sneak up on you, enchanting with their haunting fragrance, then slowly teasing you as they ...

Sustainable grapegrowing: Could this experiment work in Australia?

A recent article out of Central Valley wine region of California highlights a farmer whose bold water experiment is setting an example for other flood- and drought-prone grapegrowers. Don Cameron is flooding his vineyards with floodwaters to replenish the underground aquifer.

What is En Primeur?

En Primeur is a long-established system in the French wine market. Essentially, it offers customers the opportunity to purchase/invest in a vintage before the wine is bottled. Although historically and most famously associated with Bordeaux, the system has also been replicated in Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Port, and some other New World regions.

Bordeaux En Primeur Spotlight: Sauternes

Sauternes is home to some of the finest, most unctuous, gourmand, and previously most sought-after wines in the world. In recent times, these wines have been somewhat overshadowed by the red wines of the region. The good news is that it has made them all the more affordable.

Georgia on my mind: Discovering the cradle of wine

When it comes to wine, I love discovering new frontiers. And when it comes to going ‘off-road’ in the world of wine, few places offer so many exciting new adventures as Georgia.

En Primeur report: Bordeaux 2021 and Burgundy 2020

It is, of course, too early to give a definitive evaluation of the 2021 vintage in Bordeaux. We have yet to taste the wines En Primeur; however, read on for a review of the vintage conditions that producers encountered in both Bordeaux and Burgundy and an assessment of what we might expect. Would it be a good idea to have the line here “We’ll be sending several emails in the near future once we have tested the wines to give you the inside word on what they ...

Autumn is here – time to swap over your ‘wine wardrobe’

As autumn sets in, the air gets crisper, and the nights cooler, it’s a good time to swap over your ‘wine wardrobe’. At the same time you start donning an extra layer in the evenings and trading your thongs for sneakers, it also makes sense to start replacing some of your lighter, fresher summer wines with a new selection of autumn favourites.

The Importance of Wine Scores

Wine scores have become an institution, and yes, they can serve as excellent guides when you’re trying and buying wine. However, they represent just one piece of the wine-selection puzzle. It’s important to go beyond the numbers and the medals when you’re choosing wine – to consider opinions from fellow wine consumers, the stories behind the wines, and, most important, your personal preferences. Here, we look not only at the benefits of and issues with ...

The En-Primeur Insider: Eighth Edition, with Alistair Cooper MW

Cotes de Castillon is another one of those Right Bank appellations (along with Fronsac) that does well in very hot vintages such as 2020. This is largely due to its limestone soils as well as the huge amount of biodynamic estates in the area. Unsurprisingly for me the standout performer was Clos Puy Arnaud in this year’s Castillon offerings.

The En-Primeur Insider: Seventh Edition, with Alistair Cooper MW

The largest of the communal appellations in The Médoc, Margaux is also the only one to boast 1855 classified estates at all rankings from first to fifth. Generalisations abound with regards style and regional typicity in Bordeaux, but there is certainly some truth to these stereotypes. Margaux is often touted as the most feminine, aromatic and perfumed of the top appellations on the Left Bank. There is certainly truth in this statement and the wines can be ext...

The En-Primeur Insider: Sixth Edition, with Alistair Cooper MW

The Left Bank of Bordeaux is littered with famous names, both villages as well as estates. However, it’s widely accepted that the most famous village and home to three of the five lauded First Growths (Lafite, Latour and Mouton-Rothschild) is Pauillac. Here Cabernet is king and is famed for producing powerful, concentrated and intensely cassis laden wines with cigar box, pencil shavings and graphite characteristics. These are the most long-lived of the wines ...

The En-Primeur Insider: Fifth Edition, with Alistair Cooper MW

Today our Bordeaux En Primeur Team will be introducing you to one of the hidden gems of one of the smallest but mightiest Appellations in Bordeaux; Chateau Taillefer from Pomerol.

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