News
Bruno Paillard Old Dégorgements Collection
Posted on 25-03-2009
On 24 March, Bruno and Alice Paillard presented five wines from Champagne Bruno Paillard's Old Dégorgements Collection at l'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in London.
Each wine spent 36 months on lees.
Bruno Paillard Brut Première Cuvée - Disgorged July 2008 (8 months ageing after dégorgement)
Fine, persistent mousse. Fresh, grapey nose, with primary aromas to the fore. Deeper flavours on the palate and a dry (6.5-7/g ltr dosage), quite austere finish after the generosity of the front- and mid-palates. A good Brut NV but higher dosage would perhaps lend it more obvious and immediate charm.
Bruno Paillard Brut Première Cuvée - Disgorged July 2005 (44 months ageing after dégorgement)
Mousse as before. More toasty on the nose, but still fresh and fruity. Less concentration than the previous wine, but a dry finish again, with the acidity a bit more conspicuous.
Bruno Paillard Brut Première Cuvée - Disgorged July 2002 (80 months ageing after dégorgement)
Another step up in complexity - spice and ginger aromas. Not as lively or fresh as the first two wines, and quite closed and tight on the nose. Very dry all the way through, with plenty of acidity still to lose. Not as much fun as the other wines - rather clipped and curt by comparison.
Bruno Paillard Brut Première Cuvée - Disgorged May 1999 (118 months ageing after dégorgement)
Very attractive, clean and fresh nose. Toasty but lively palate, retaining fruit and freshness. Dry again but not as curt as the previous wine. Very good - fresh, zippy, lively and complex.
Bruno Paillard Brut Première Cuvée - Disgorged February 1997 (145 months ageing after dégorgement)
Noticeably deeper in colour than the other wines, which were all pale straw gold. Grubby nose...TCA? Second bottle much better. The mousse doesn't persist but the nose is fresh, lively and light on its toes. A bit nutty and toasty, finishing dry and crisp. Very good - impressive for a 12 year old NV wine! Bruno claims that low dosage results in a slower evolution of the wine.
Bruno Paillard wines are available from Bibendum www.bibendum-wine.co.uk
Seventh-Annual Bogart Wine Aficionado Dinner
Posted on 18-03-2009
The Seventh-Annual Wine Aficionado Dinner benefiting the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program will take place on Thursday, May 14th at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. This year’s event is titled “2005: Vintage of the Millennium (so far!)”
Named in memory of Neil Bogart, the late record and film executive who died of lymphoma at the age of 39, the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program’s primary purpose is the financial support of the Bogart Labs at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Bogart is dedicated to continue its support for those programs and projects that are on the cutting edge of "bench to bedside" research. Bogart funds the diagnosis, treatment, care and cure of leukemia, cancer and AIDS by funding on a research development grant basis. This funding enables the foundation to secure more substantial support from other funding sources.
Tickets for the dinner are $1,250 per person or $10,000 per table of ten, and are available for purchase by calling +1 323 330 0520 or email to info@bogartfoundation.org.
Forks & Corks 2009
Posted on 18-03-2009
The 2009 Forcs & Corks food and wine festival will be held May 14-17 in Sarasota, FLA. Venues include The Ringling Museum of Art and the Cá d'Zan Mansion.
The schedule:
May 14 & 16, 6:30PM - 10:00PM
Winemaker Dinners
Location: Various Participating Originals Restaurants
Multi-course winemaker hosted dinner menus paired with exceptional wines.
May 15, 2:00PM - 4:00pm
Trade Tasting
Location: TBA
A restaurant/hotel industry trade tasting.
May 15, 7:00PM - 10:00pm
Cirque Culinaire at the Cà d'Zan
Location: Cà d'Zan at the Ringling Museum of Art
Small dinner plates prepared by The Sarasota-Manatee Originals with live entertainment and dancing, and world-class wines.
Saturday, May 16, 10:00AM - 2:15PM
Forks & Corks University
Location: The University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee Campus
Intimate and interactive seminars led by the finest food and wine dignitaries from around the globe.
Sunday, May 17, Noon - 4:00PM
The Grand Tasting
Location: The Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard
The crème de la crème of the Originals food and visiting winemaker’s wines at an all-inclusive tasting.
For further details visit http://www.freshoriginals.com/forksandcorks/events.php
Wine Symposium at Villa d'Este 30 October-2 November
Posted on 25-02-2009
From Friday 30 October until Monday 2 November 2009, a Wine Symposium will be held at the Villa d’Este, just outside Milan.
The event is organised by François Mauss, President of the European Grand Jury, and comprises meetings, seminars and conferences dedicated to wine. It is sponsored by five prestigious domains: Château Ausone, (Alain Vauthier); Azienda Agricola Gaja (Angelo Gaja); Société Civile du Domaine de la Romanée Conti (Aubert de Villaine); Vega Sicilia (Pablo Alvarez); and Weingut Egon Müller (Egon Müller).
This first summit will bring together the most prestigious domains of Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovenia, the United States, Argentina, Chile, South of Africa, Australia and New Zealand, but also emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil, Japan and Mexico.
For this first edition, wine industry companies such as coopers, glassmakers, insurers, freighters and corkers are also expected, as is the political world and the main national and European leaders in charge of wine issues.
For more information, please contact François Mauss at contact@grandjuryeuropeen.com
Langton's en primeur offer to support Country Fire Authority Victoria
Posted on 20-02-2009
The Australian online wine auctioneer Langton's is offering an En Primeur/futures fundraiser in support of Country Fire Authority Victoria.
The offer was initiated and created by John Ellis (Bellvale Wines), Tom Carson (Serrat and Yabby Lake) and David Bicknell (Oakridge Wines). Barrels have been donated from François Frères; packaging from C-Pak; screwcaps from Alcan; labels from Graphix; and design work from Tucker Design.
When fully subscribed, this special offer of 2009 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir will raise $135,000 for the Country Fire Authority Victoria, the volunteer fire fighting organisation that dealt with the recent bushfires that ravaged Victoria. Proceeds will go towards helping the CFA re-equip and prepare for the next bushfire season.
For more information, please visit www.langtons.com.au.
Cheval Blanc to build new winery
Posted on 17-02-2009
Cheval Blanc is to build a new, "contemporary" winery in 2010/11 that will include a new vinification room, winery, a barrel cellar, tasting room, and landscaped gardens.
Christian de Portzamparc, who designed the LVMH Tower in New York and is currently working on the 90,000m2 Cidade de Musica concert hall and opera house in Rio de Janeiro, will design the new winery.
Wilfred Jaeger's RN74 restaurant to open in April
Posted on 17-02-2009
Wilfred Jaeger, the collector and WFW Editorial Board member, is opening a restaurant and wine bar in San Francisco in partnership with the celebrity chef and restaurateur Michael Mina.
RN74, named after the major road of Burgundy, where Jaeger retains a home and owns vineyards, will open in April. The kitchen will be helmed by Jason Berthold, formerly of the Napa Valley restaurant The French Laundry and who makes wine under the Courier label in Napa and Amador County.
Wines will be selected by Jaeger and sommelier Rajat Parr, Wine Director of the Michael Mina Group of restaurants and creator of the Parr Selections brand. “Our vision is to provide the finest examples of wines across a wide range of appellations and price range,” explains Jaeger. “I like to say that the Mâcons will be delicious and the Richebourgs grand. Every wine on the list will be there because we believe it represents the best of its kind and class.”
RN74 will also make mature wines available to its patrons, with Jaeger providing bottles from his personal cellars. There will be more than forty examples of 1978 red Burgundy and more than thirty of 1961 red Bordeaux, with other very rare wines available, including 1870 Lafite. Despite these stellar offerings, Jaeger insists, “We want to keep our pricing very reasonable, obviously even more important given the current state of the economy.”
Mouton's Freudian slip
Posted on 03-02-2009
Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, the owner of Château Mouton Rothschild, has given the commission for the 2006 vintage’s label to the British painter Lucian Freud. Mouton was highly acclaimed in 2006, with some critics declaring it the wine of the vintage.
In an image far removed from the tormented portraits and nudes for which he is renowned, for Mouton 2006 Freud has depicted the vinestock transformed into a potted palm tree and the drinker into a red and yellow striped zebra.
Every year since 1945, an original artwork by a contemporary painter has illustrated the label of Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, to salute his first vintage bottled entirely at the château, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Baroness Philippine’s father, asked Jean Carlu to create the Mouton label. A bespoke label was not created again until 1945, when the Baron decided to crown the label for the vintage with the “V” for Victory, drawn by the young painter Philippe Jullian.
The artist receives no fee for his work but is given cases of Mouton Rothschild, including of course “their” vintage, which in Freud’s case is 1922, the year that Baron Philippe took over the property.
La Paulée de New York 2009
Posted on 22-01-2009
Tickets are still available for the 2009 La Paulée de New York, Daniel Johnnes’s homage to La Paulée de Meursault, which will be held on Saturday March 7 at the Metropolitan Pavilion.
Participating growers will include Domaine de L’Arlot, Comte Armand, Bouchard Père & Fils, Coche-Dury, Louis Jadot, Comtes Lafon, Domaine Leflaive, Domaine de Montille, and Dr Georges Mugneret. There will also be a themed presentation of the wines of Meursault.
The chef d’honneur, Daniel Boulud, will be joined for the event by other leading chefs, including Michel Troisgros, who will also collaborate on the menu for the festivities.
On Friday March 6, there will be a Collectors Lunch, featuring Domaine Leflaive and Dr Georges Mugneret, at Restaurant Daniel. The restaurant will also host a “pre-Paulée auction” by Zachys Wine Auctions.
The first La Paulée de New York took place in March 2000. Since then, it has also been held in San Francisco and in Aspen, Colorado.
To purchase tickets for La Paulée de New York 2009, visit www.lapaulee.com, email reservations@lapaulee.com, or call +1 212 625 2519.
Château Latour for sale?
Posted on 30-12-2008
On December 28, it was reported in The Sunday Times that Château Latour was discreetly up for sale for €150–200 million, and that its current owner François Pinault was also considering the sale of Christie’s. Pinault’s holding company Artemis apparently has large debts that he wants to pay off.
Bernard Magrez, owner of 22 Bordeaux estates, is apparently a possible buyer for Latour.
Michael Schuster's Spring 2009 programme
Posted on 15-12-2008
WFW Tasting Panel member Michael Schuster has announced his tasting programme for the early part of 2009:
Fine Mature White and Red Burgundy
Wed 11th Feb. 6.30-8.30 pm
Three pairs of white burgundies, from two fine vintages, 2002 and 1995/6. Coche Dury’s Bourgogne Blanc sells for the price of a 1er Cru Meursault, and in fine vintages like 2002 and 1995, even if it is not quite at the level its price suggests, it is up with the very best Meursault Village wines; Jean-Noël Gagnard’s Chassagnes have been made for well over a decade now by Caroline Gagnard and their top Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru, Les Caillerets often has a Grand Cru thoroughbred feel to it, even if not a Grand Cru weight - lovely wine. Finally Domaine Leflaive’s Pulignys are deservedly considered benchmarks for the commune with a striking purity of flavour, well demonstrated in the 1er Cru Clavoillon 2002 and 1996. We will finish with a pair of fine 1er Cru reds in early maturity, 1999 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules (Jadot) and 1996 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes (Meo Camuzet).
• 2002, 1995 Bourgogne Blanc, Coche Dury
• 2002, 1995 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets, Jean-Noël Gagnard
• 2002, 1996, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillons, Domaine Leflaive
• 1999 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules (Louis Jadot, Domaine)
1996 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes (Meo-Camuzet)
8 wines, cheeses £85.00
Mature Lesser Icons from Australia & New Zealand
Mon 23rd Feb. 6.30pm
Icons in the sense that their track record has earned them admiration, lesser in that they are not too fancily priced. These are mainly New World red wine ‘blends’ that benefit from cellaring, as we shall see, and repay a relatively modest investment handsomely. In addition to the blended wines (Signature, Mountain Blue, Selection and Terraces) there are, to start with, three varietal wines: a Mosswood Cabernet Sauvignon, and two Henschke Mt Edelstone Shiraz, the 2004 under both cork and screwcap for comparison. The others are in early full maturity, between eight and twelve years old, from first rate vintages.
• 2001, 2004 Henschke Mt Edelstone Barossa Shiraz, the latter under both cork, and screwcap. (Aus.)
• 1997 Mosswood Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia)
• 1998 Rosemount Mountain Blue Mudgee Shiraz-Cabernet (Australia)
• 1996 Yalumba Signature Barossa Cabernet-Shiraz (Australia)
• 2000, 1998, Unison Selection Gimblett Gravels Shiraz-Cabernet+ (New Zealand)
• 1998, 1994 Esk Valley Terraces. One of New Zealand’s most sought after red wines, a blend of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernets, produced in tiny quantities of a few hundred cases.
10 wines, cheesesn£69.00
Fine Wine Pairs, with canapés
Tue. 10th March 6.30pm
Another tasting comprising four pairs of wines, each from a classic region, in the sort of line up one might have at a dinner party. And as before, they will illustrate those differences in style, quality and maturity that are precisely what makes wine so enjoyable. There will be canapés / nibbles to go with each pair.
1. Champagne: non-vintage alongside its particularly luxury cuvée:
Non Vintage Perrier-Jouët Brut; 1996 Perrier-Jouët “La Belle Epoque” in magnum.
2. Alsace Riesling: a fine, youthfully vital 2005 village wine (to use the Burgundy calibration) and one of Alsace’s very finest Rieslings, from a Grand Cru site, and from a great vintage at the peak of maturity:
2005 Riesling Reserve (Trimbach), 1990 Riesling Frédéric Emile (Trimbach)
3. Claret: two lovely classed growth Margaux in very different styles from the ripe, but lighter 1997 vintage, and from the great 1990 - both fully mature:
1997 Durfort-Vivens (a delicate, scented, silky delight) and 1990 Palmer, both in magnum.
4. Vintage Port: a pair from my favourite Single Quinta – Quinta do Vesuvio, in early maturity, showing the wonderful class this wine has, both in the Margauxesque 1996 vintage, and in the quite splendid 1994.
1996 and 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio.
10 Wines and Canapés £95.00
Egon Müller’s Scharzhofberg – a Vertical tasting
Thur. 19th March 6.30pm
Well at least there are two certainties now – I have a definite date, and I have the wines. And when Egon Müller finally invoices me I will have an exact price. But the tasting is going ahead, and I have put a (very flexible) estimate of what I think the final price might be ….! This is a rare and magnificent line up (I have tasted almost all the wines) from what is probably Germany’s greatest individual site, going back twenty five years. Five Kabinett, five Spätlese, and three Auslese, including a Goldkapsel. All the wines have come directly from the property:
• Kabinett: 2006, 2005, 2003, 1999, 1989.
• Spätlese: 2005, 2004, 1995, 1994, 1985.
• Auslese: 1997, 1983, 1983 Goldkapsel.
13 wines – estimate £150–£195 tbc!
For more information or to book tickets, visit www.michaelschusterwine.com, e-mail michael@schuster.f9.co.uk, or call +44 20 7254 9734.
DRC to produce Corton
Posted on 10-12-2008
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has signed a lease agreement with Domaine Prince Florent de Mérode for almost 6 acres of vineyards on the hillside of Corton and will produce three grands crus red wines from the parcels. The first wines will be made from the 2009 harvest.
Under the agreement, which was finalised in November, DRC will work nearly 3 acres of Corton Bressandes, 1.4 acres of Corton Clos du Roi and 1.26 acres of Corton Les Renardes.
Kevin Judd to leave Cloudy Bay
Posted on 10-12-2008
“When I was offered the winemaking role with Cloudy Bay back in 1984 there was no vineyard, no winery and no name," says Kevin Judd. "Things could only progress - and they certainly did! It is with great pride that I hand over the baton to the Cloudy Bay team and with immense thanks to David Hohnen for the opportunity to be a part of the Cloudy Bay story ... it has been a very rewarding, unique and thoroughly enjoyable journey."
At the conclusion of the milestone 2009 vintage (both Cloudy Bay’s and Kevin Judd’s 25th), Judd has decided to pursue his own varied personal interests. It has been agreed with Cloudy Bay that, in July 2009, he will leave the company to establish his own wine label and to develop further his photography business.
In the meantime, from 1 January 2009, Judd will provide Ian Morden, Cloudy Bay’s Estate Director, with the benefit of his guidance and expertise on matters relating to winemaking and viticulture for the 2009 vintage.
La Casa del Habano opens
Posted on 10-12-2008
On 13 November, La Casa del Habano opened for business in Teddington.
Ajay and Bhavna Patel moved from their old premises to this new location in order to accommodate a much larger shop, as well as the UK's first indoor cigar-sampling lounge. The lounge offers clients an opportunity to taste a rare selection of cigars, including some Cubans from the pre-Castro era.
The opening evening also saw the launch of La Gloria Cubana 'Gloriosos', a 6 1/8" inch cigar with a 50 ring gauge. The La Gloria Cubana brand dates back to 1885 and since 1954 has been part of the Partagas family.
In aid of 'The Cuban Hurricane Relief Fund' the first box of La Gloria Cubana 'Gloriosos' was auctioned off. A lady bidder paid £400 for the box.
Guests included the Cuban Ambassador His Excellency Rene Mujica and cigar afficianado and actor Dirk Benedict.
La Casa del Habano is at 76 High Street, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 8JD.
For further details, call +44 208 977 3793 or e-mail cigarlounge@havahavana.com.
Ajay Patel, Dirk Benedict, Bhavna Patel and Stuart George
Young Wine Writer of the Year 2008
Posted on 08-12-2008
At a presentation held at Australia House on Thursday 4 December, the Young Wine Writer Award winner for 2008 was announced.
Andy Lloyd won for his entry on ‘The Grapes of Health.’ Andy has worked in wine retail since 2006. He is currently manager of Majestic Wine Warehouse at Canary Wharf and also studying for his WSET Diploma.
The prizes for the 2008 winner included a £1,000 cheque, presented by Pavilion Books, and a two-week trip to the wine regions of Australia, plus an engraved glass decanter, courtesy of Wine Australia and Qantas.
The runners-up were Richard Hemming and Victoria Daskal, who each received wine presented by Wine Australia. Emily O’Hare and Rebecca Skinner were also shortlisted for their excellent entries.
Oz Clarke with the 2008 Young Wine Writer of the Year Andy Lloyd