Read our news round-up and find out what’s the latest in the wine market:
Wine news: First Saint-Émilion Chardonnay released
The first official vintage of Chardonnay wines produced in Saint-Émilion has been released. It has been announced that every vintage of the Elena cuvée from Chateau La Grace Dieu des Prieurs will be auctioned for charity, instead of being made available in retail. The money raised from the 2019 vintage will go to a range of charitable foundations that support children with illnesses. Click here to read on.
SUSPECT LOTS WITHDRAWN FROM BONHAM AUCTION
Bonhams auction house was due to host in Hong Kong earlier this month, but a total 607 lots were removed from a fine wine sale after concerns surfaced regarding the authenticity of a large number of bottles.
The concerns were raised by a well-known figure in tracking counterfeit wines, Don Cornwell, who helped compile a report detailing the problems with numerous lots being offered to auction. Click here to read on.
CHINA TARIFFS MAKE MARKET ‘UNVIABLE’ FOR AUSTRALIAN WINE
China will apply tariffs ranging between 107% and 212% on Australian wines – depending on the producer – from 28 November.
Beijing claims Australia is ‘dumping’ Australian wine on the Chinese market which has resulted in “substantial damage” to the domestic industry. There is no fixed end date to the tariffs which were described as “temporary”. Click here to read on.
Domaine Fourrier’s 2019 Chambolle Musigny ‘Les Sentiers’ SELLS FOR £136,400
The 228 litre barrel, the only one produced by the Burgundian estate each year was sold in the US auctioneer’s second UK-based sale this year for £136,400. This has never been made available to the public before. Click here to read on.
SUCKLING NAMES ‘WINE OF THE YEAR’
Critic James Suckling has named an Argentine Pinot Noir, Chacra’s Pinot Noir ‘Patagonia Treinta y Dos 2018 as his ‘Wine of the Year’, in a top 10 shortlist that includes no French wine at all and no Cabernet-dominant wines. Click here to read on.
Spending review: What’s the impact on investors?
Chancellor’s Sunak’s review and spending plans for 2021 set out yesterday made for a sobering reality check. Find out what impact this will have on fine wine investors. Click here to read on.
GIN LAUNCH: Château Climens / Salcombe Distilling Co.
Premier Cru Sauternes producer, Château Climens, has partnered with Devon-based distillery to produce a limited-edition gin finished in Sauternes casks.
Salcombe Gin Voyager Series Phantom spent eight months in barrels that were used to age the 2015 and 2016 vintages of Château Climens Barsac. Click here to read on.
SEASONAL GREETINGS FROM CHAMPAGNE-SERVING ROBOTS
Martin Williams, chief executive of Rare Restaurants, has recruited Champagne-pouring robots to serve diners at London’s high-end M restaurant chain after lockdown.
Two robots, lovingly named Bailey and Sage, will serve drinks, offer seasonal greetings and personalised messages at two M sites in London. Click here to read on.
Beaujolais Nouveau producers ‘forced’ to make hand sanitiser
An estimated 25 million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau are sold in 120 countries around the world, but sadly producers have been left vulnerable after Covid wiped out the highly sociable – and profitable – celebrations surrounding this year’s release. As a result, reports have emerged that producers are dedicating much of their 2020 produce to hand sanister instead. Click here to read on.
Bordeaux’s New Grape Varieties Take Root
In 2019, Bordeaux became the first French region to allow forbidden varieties of grapes to be planted in its soils. This included Petit Manseng, Marselan and Touriga Nacionale. Reports suggest some producers are ready to get stuck in, with some growers have been quick out of the box to take advantage. Click here to read on.
Château Mouton Rothschild 2018 – Who has designed the artwork on the label?
A moment eagerly awaited by wine and art lovers all around the world, the label for the Château Mouton Rothschild 2018 vintage will be revealed next Tuesday.
For years, the world’s leading artists have created original artworks to adorn the labels of Château Mouton Rothschild. The impressive list includes Dalí, Bacon, Picasso, Warhol and, more recently, Annette Messager, William Kentridge and Gerhard Richter. Click here to see the trailer.