BKWine Blog

>> Sunday, July 22, 2007

Languedoc - Going Home (test)
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Conference on competition and the future in the wine industry

>> Friday, July 20, 2007

”Competitive Forces Affecting the Wine and Winegrape Industries” is the full title of the conference organised at US Davis wine university in California. Indeed an interesting theme. More info: http://wineconferenceaugust07.ucdavis.edu/

World’s finest collection of Yquem for sale

>> Thursday, July 19, 2007

Do you have a sweet tooth? Then you should note September 28 in your agenda. On that date Nils Stormy will sell his unique collection of Chateau d’Yquem at auction at Zachys in New York. Stormby has over many years amassed the world’s finest collection of the legendary sweet wine from Bordeaux. And now he thinks it is time to sell it – rather than having some less wine interested heirs gulp it down to ice cream… www.zachys.com

Small demonstration in Languedoc against the EU wine reform

Only 300 participants in the demonstration on Monday in Béziers (Languedoc) protesting against the upcoming EU reform of the wine support program. Most producer organisations had preferred to await the official presentation which is expected this week. The demonstrators demanded more protectionist custom barriers and guaranteed minimum prices for the producers. It would perhaps be more productive to focus the energy on making quality wine and on selling it to consumers? MidiLibre.com

France’s oldest vineyard

>> Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Archaeologists have found what is believed to be France’s oldest vineyard dating back to 10 AD. They have identified fragments of the fermentation tanks and water channels that are said to have been used for temperature control. The winery includes a roman villa and a 200m2 swimming pool in the garden. Decanter.com

Moth threatens American grape harvest

>> Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The light-brown apple moth can devastate fruit plantations – both grape crops and other fruit such as apple (obviously), apricots, and tomatoes. The moth has not previously existed in North America but has been spotted in nine different counties in California since the beginning of the year, e.g. in Napa. Wine and fruit growers fear the worst and traps as well as pesticides have started to be used. Telegraph.co.uk. See it here

Moth threatens American grape harvest

EU and Australia writes new wine agreement

A new wine agreement has just been signed by the EU and Australia. It stipulates e.g. that Australian wine producers will no longer be able to use European regulated place names for their wines, such as for example Moselle, Chablis, Champagne or Port. It also says that the EU will recognise Australian wine making practices and will allow wines to be sold in the EU even if they do not follow European regulations, as long as they follow Australian rules (for example, in Australia de-alcoholising wine is allowed but not in the EU). In both cases the rules are reciprocal (i.e. European producers will not be allowed to use Australian place names etc).

Chambertin Grand Cru with screw cap

>> Monday, July 16, 2007

The Burgundy producer Jean-Claude Boisset has launched two top level wines with screw cap: a Chambertin Grand Cru and a Beaune Premier Cru Les Bressandes. Both are from the vintage 2005. Boisset calls it “a provocation?”. Boisset.com

Lower yields = better wines. Or?

The ruling has been confirmed that raises the yield in Champagne to 15,000 kg/ha. Very few people (in France) counts in kg/ha so if we translate it to hectolitres per hectare it equates to 100 hl/ha. (In Bordeaux, as a comparison, the yield is usually around 40-50 hl/ha.) Perhaps it has to do with that champagne is selling just as fast as the corks pop these days and that there is no land to increase the cultivated area, so the only possibility for expansion is higher yields? (For the wine nerd: Rendement de Base is now 12,400 kg/ha (up from 10,400) and the Rendement Butoir is 15,500 kg/ha (up from 13,000).).

Does the minister drink?

>> Friday, July 13, 2007

There was some concern in wine circles in France after the appointment of Christine Lagarde as agricultural minister after the French presidential elections. The magazine L’Express had written that the new minister did not drink wine and wine being one of the main agricultural sectors, it raised questions. However, it turned out that the information was false and that the minister does drink wine (as BKWine can attest, having seen her sip a glass of champagne at a press conference recently). Shortly after, Lagarde was promoted finance minister.

Champagne Duval-Leroy appoints new female winemaker

Not many champagne houses have a female winemaker. But now there is one that is both owned and managed by a woman as well as having a female winemaker. Duval-Leroy recently appointed Sandrine Logette-Jardin to “chef de caves” and thus responsible for the wines at this family-owned house. Logette-Jardin is with Duval-Leroy since 1991. The company is owned and managed by Carol Duval-Leroy.

Wine region-of-the-month: Muscadet

>> Thursday, July 12, 2007

Muscadet is a wine region in the westernmost Loire valley

A total of 13,000 hectares and 91 communes
The appellation was created in 1936. There are now four ACs: Muscadet (3400ha), Muscadet Sèvre et Maine (8800ha), M. Coteaux de la Loire (200 ha), and M Côtes de Grandlieu (300ha)
700,000 hl is produced annually, exclusively from the grape variety Melon de Bourgogne, also called Muscadet
Some Muscadet is made “sur lie”: it requires (for example) that the wine has been kept on the lees until bottling. This should give the wine added freshness and aromas. Some 40% of all Muscadet is sur lie.
The soil is very varied: schist, micaschiste, granite, sand and gravel.

USA tops the cognac list

>> Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The top ten export markets for cognac is quite an interesting read (source BNIC):
- USA
- Singapore
- UK
- Germany
- China
- Russia
- Finland
- Hong-Kong
- Norway
- Japan

All markets grew during 2006, except Finland (-2.1%) and Japan (14.9%). Just over 50% of exports are of the VS (youngest) category.

Still dear Bordeaux?

Many more primeur prices have now (finally) been ”released”. Hardly any bargains for the wine lover. Here are some examples (R = release price from the winery per bottle; C = estimated merchant price in England): Château Mouton-Rothschild (R=270€, C=£3200), Lafite-Rothschild (R=270€, C=£3200), Margaux (R=275€), Latour (R=275€) and Haut Brion (R=275€, C=£2950). And a bit more: Ch Ausone (R=450€, C=£7500). Decanter.com

BKWine Pick: Restaurant Lagmark, Helsingborg

>> Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Lagmark, Helsingborg

A popular watering hole in the coastal town of Helsingborg, open for lunch and dinner, or for just a glass of wine. The popular tapas, called ‘gourmetas’, are world famous in Helsingborg – two or three makes a nice lunch, for example in classic Swedish style with marinated herring and egg, “skagenröra” (with a creamy mix of shrimps), or a thick slice of salmon. Each is charged the very affordable price of 24 kr. If weather is good (so not this summer) you can enjoy sitting outside on the newly renovated square.

Click here for address and more recommendations.

BKWine Pick: Restaurant Le Brandevin, Paris 16

>> Monday, July 09, 2007

Le Brandevin, Paris 16

A classic Parisian neighbourhood bistro – crowded and with a great and friendly atmosphere and good service. The emphasis is on classic French cuisine – main courses are mostly meat, for example côte de Boeuf (T-bone steak style), entrecôte, escalope de veau (veal with morel sauce), steak tartare, filet de boeuf. Prices for a main course vary between 18 and 22 euro, starters around 7 euro

Click here for address and more recommendations.

BKWine Pick: Domaine de Triennes

>> Sunday, July 08, 2007

Domaine de Triennes, Provence

Triennes is a property that has attracted quite a lot of attention lately although it carries the quite modest appellation of Vin de Pays du Var. But you should not be fooled by the humble origin – the wines are excellent and interesting and we would be surprised if they were not. The winery was founded by two Burgundy legends: Aubert de Villaine (Domaine de la Romanée Conti), Jacques Seysses (Domaine Dujac in Morey St Denis), together with Michel Macaux. In 1990 they bought a rather run-down property between Aix-en-Provence and Brignoles and gave it the name Triennes, after the name used for a roman wine feast (and perhaps the fact that they were three partners?). They did some replanting with Chardonnay on soil that was similar to Burgundy, Syrah on soil that was more iron and clay rich, and Merlot on a flat but well drained plot that reminded them of St Emilion. Domaine de Triennes now makes very good wines at very affordable prices – the powerful and well structured Cuvée Sainte Auguste, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Les Auréliens from Syrah and Cabernet, and the white Sainte Fleure from Viognier, a full-bodied wine with a fresh acidity and notes of ripe apricot and flowers.

Click here for address and more recommendations.