Jan 14 2012
The terroir and winemaking of Barsac, Chateau Siglas Rabaud
Comming soon…
Dec 19 2011
Two hundred years of Madeira, Blandys with the Madeira Wine Company
When it started
It was around 1807 when John Blandy arrived from England to the island of Madeira. He was 23 years old, as records suggest one of the main reason must have been the good “climate” of the island. He set up a business as a general trader in 1811. Good hundred years latter in 1925 several wine companies joined to form a group and to represent the wines of the island at an even stronger level. In 1981 the name was changed to the current one, Madeira Wine Company, while Blandy’s is still the original and leading brand. The Symington family of Porto was brought in 1989 to join forces, promote Madeira at an even higher level. The Madeira Wine Company’s aim is to promote the wines of the islands and of course their brands. Over 50% of the production goes to the export market and 1/3 of the total production of Madeira wines, comes from the MWC. Continue Reading »
Nov 28 2011
Chateau Prieure – Lichine direct sale in Cantenac
Grand history
The Chateau Prieure Lichine has a long history is goes back to the Benedict monks when they started to cultivate 2 ha in the Margaux district. The estate gradually grew when Mr. Lichine took over in 1951, it changed from being 20 ha to 60 ha. Since 1999 it belongs to the Balland group. It is however still very fragmented with lots of individual plots spread around the Margaux appellation.
Nov 02 2011
Emperor of reds around the Lake Balaton, Cezar winery
People spoke about the huge investment close to Little Balaton (Kis Balaton) not far from the spa centres of Hévíz and Zalakaros. An almost 100 ha big terrority, an almost single and non divided plot of land, planted with almost entirely red grapes. And this in the middle of the Zala wine region which is infamous for it’s reds not only because small local producers (more of home wine making then anything) use non vinifera varieties such as Othello and Noah but also reds are less traditional and probably not favoured by the cooler climate. On the other side finding good terroir has not yet been a huge subject just by a handful of producer who deliver consistent quality. I had to see this enterprise for myself…
Oct 21 2011
Barbeito, Madeira from tradition to innovation
Time doesn’t always matter or does it?!
Its one of the younger wineries on the island Vinhos Barbeito founded back in 1946 by Mario Barbeito. I met Ricardo de Freitas back at Germany where he showed me quite a different face of Madeira wines: young, innovative (just look and read the labels for instance), full of power yet with elegance and expression. Perhaps a little bit different? Yes, perhaps, let’s see why…
Sep 21 2011
From Japan to Bordeaux, Chateau Lagrange Saint Julien
Getting started the 3éme Cru Classé
Chateau Lagrange in the St Julien AOC is one of the largest of the class growths, with 115 ha of vineyard land. Yet back in the 19. century the property was even bigger, the economic crisis and phylloxera decimated the vineyards not to mention some parcels where sold off by the previous owners. With Suntory on border a highly quality focused approach got transmitted, into every detail of winemaking which starts in the vineyard and end at the consumer. In the middle of the 80’s a new fermenting room was build and while Mr Bruno Eynard the manager of the chateau says the approach of the winery is modern yet true to the terroir, they’re trying to vinify each terroir, vineyard plot in a separate vat. Continue Reading »
Jul 19 2011
Strictly canteiro, Artur de Barros e Sousa Lda
A lot of people tend to mention only the seven producers on the island Madeira, but there are actually eight. Yet, there are very small and the entire stock is traded just on the island, hence no export aspirations.
Artur de Barros e Sousa is owned today by the two brothers Edmundo and Artur Olim. The story goes back to 1922 when Pedro Jose Lomelino was buying small stocks of Madeira wine, today they produce around 3000 bottles a year just from the white varieties and only through the canteiro system (natural heating). The word canteiro means actually the two wooden bars (see below picture) on which you place the barrel for support, while estufagem could be literally translated as greenhouse. Continue Reading »
Jun 17 2011
Back to back, Szeleshát Vineyards and Winery
“Let’s taste some wines from Hungary” said Steven Spurrier to me. I was expecting everything but not Hungarian wines to taste with Steven on that day and even more suprising they turned out to be from Szekszárd, one of my favourite red wine region in Hungary. While I was hoping to crack some bottles of Grand Cru Classé St Emilion, on the other side I haven’t tasted any Hungarian wines in England for so long, so was still quite happy. It was on the hand I should pay a visit to the winery as well…
May 17 2011
Weinviertel DAC on road show
The Weinviertel (Wine quarter) the Austria’s biggest wine region while some sources mention 15000 ha others go 13500 ha, but this won’t change the fact. Between the Czech and Slovak border and outskirts of Vienna, stretching south along the Thaya river bordering the other regions of Kamptal, Wagram, Carnuntum and of course Vienna (Wien).
Oct 31 2010
The P’s – Puligny and Paul Pernot
Family winery; Domaine Paul Pernot. Classic labels, volume yet precision fruit and great, intelligent oak use. Skip French breakfast – have some Folatieres! Take reds when you want whites, too. Puligny Montrachet the epitome how a Chardonnay should be or is it the unique, inimitable terroir?!
We all heard of the different P’s from the Marketing Communication (marketing-mix) studies, I re-used them in a different way, highlighting; Puligny Montrachet and one of its best producers Paul Pernot and his family domaine. Pernot, Puligny, Powerful, Precise.