Editorial by Guillaume Jourdan

Chateau de Beaucastel, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Chapoutier…Famous biodynamic wine estates have all learnt from her books and annual sowing and planting calendars. Maria Thun, « grandmother of biodynamics », died at nearly 90 years of age. She had recently published « When Wine Tastes Best: 2012« 

Born near Malburg, Germany, Maria devoted her life to researching and applying the anthroposophic philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. In 1952, Maria Thun noticed some shape differences between radishes that were sown over a 10-day period in a similarly prepared soil. Some plots produced larger roots than others. Other plots produced larger leaves. A third group…

Editorial by Guillaume Jourdan

Fine wine fund managers, private collectors…I received a great amount of e-mails concerning my editorial « Fine Wine Investment Funds: What should they learn from the past to make Great Returns over the Next 10 Years? ». In fact, I understood there was a huge reflexion nowadays on that topic and directions taken by decision makers were not all the same. Of course, results will differ over the next few years (when I write results, I mean return on investment here) but there were some very convincing ideas including a suggestion recently made by a wine fund management specialist: buy the exclusive and underpriced Chateau d’Yquem.

Chateau d’Yquem, the next Lafite? Lunzer Wine Investments predicts rapid rise in value of investments in Chateau d’Yquem. In fact, Lunzer analyzed the impact expected on the wine investment market place…

Rumours in Burgundy say three properties, including the reputed negociant name Vincent Girardin, are up for sale. By « rumours », I mean that sales have not been yet officially declared but it may be just a matter of time. Would chinese companies be interested in acquiring these names? After Bordeaux, Chinese Companies on new Acquisition Spree centered on Burgundy Wine Estates ? It would make sense as Burgundy wines are now playing a more important role in China than a few years ago.

Today, wine lovers in China are discovering the pleasure of having a glass of wine from this region.Having a glass of Burgundy is not only about drinking wine, it is also about drinking History. Chinese investors are discovering this and may certainly have now a closer look to what happens in this region, looking more particularly for acquisition opportunities. Three wine estates up for sale…

Every day, wine news and wine magazines are delivering a flow of information about industry consolidation and international developments. The world of fine wine is moving fast. In fact, the luxury wine market is moving faster than ever. Just have a look to the news today in Financial Times with Michael Spencer, chief executive of broking giant Icap, who is making a seven-figure personal investment in Bordeaux Index. What is it for? This investment will strengthen this online wine trading exchange that can already boast 13,000 registered traders and offices in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai.

Today, the luxury wine market enjoys unique and strong opportunities. Mobile marketing and social media (read a related post) are simply changing the way communication was done just two years ago. Applying the techniques and technology of financial markets to fine wines…

An editorial by Guillaume Jourdan

I was recently reading an interesting article in The Drinks Business that said : « The poor quality of the majority of low-alcohol wines in the UK is preventing consumers from making repeat purchases or trying other brands, according to Banrock Station. » In fact, making wine has never been a simple thing. Get wine industry professionals around a table and start a brainstorming session to find a way to generate further revenues in new profitable niches.

« What about the low alcohol wine niche? « 

« Great idea ! I read some articles about it and people are fed up with too powerful wines with strong alcohol content. It’s a great idea! » said Eddy, the Chief Marketing Officer. « John, on the production side, how can we achieve this? »

Beaune, 8 o’clock in the morning, streets start to live again. You already feel the agitation that will come during the next few days brought by the long expected Week end of the Hospices de Beaune Sale. It’s cold outside and the only drink you dream about now is a great fine tea. A delicate and unique tea that will remind you of the rare and great bottles shared last night. Yes, Burgundy was right when they started communicating last year that great Burgundy wines are like great teas from China, Japan, India or other fabulous tea regions in the world.

I dream about this wonderful Wu Yi Rougui tasted a few years ago with two old men who were taking care of their tea plantations like Romanee Conti, Rousseau, Roumier or other great prestigious estates would take care of their estate vineyard…

Diwali is popularly known as the festival of lights. It is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For most of the hindus/Indians, this is the biggest festival. There was a time when sweets were bought in bulk, packed in cardboard boxes and covered with coloured cellophane sheets during the festive season. The norm was to distribute either these boxes or dried fruits. Now, among other high-end gifts, more and more indians buy fine wines to show how successful they are. But, in general, wine is still perceived as « elite » as prices are still unfortunately too high !

If some would dream of the day when India will go for a Zero Tax on wines like Hong Kong decided a few years ago…

I was recently reading a comment regarding the new documentary « Wine from Here » about Natural Wine in California. The title of this article was: « Wine From Here documentary proves terroir doesn’t matter » (read here). In fact, I find that all these very interesting interviews put on the website that promotes the film www.winefromhere.com are telling a completely different story. What Paul Draper (Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains), Ted Lemon (Littorai, Sebastobol) and many others say shows us that natural winemaking enhances taste and pleasure because it enhances the major assets of each vineyard such as soil and grape varieties’ expression. As Shawn Robinson (Renaissance, Sierra Foothills) and Mike Dash (Dashe Cellars, Oakland) put it : « Natural wines give more back in terms of individuality (…) the composition of the flavours is more complex » or « Natural wines are more interesting, distinctive, more complex « 

(Editorial from Guillaume Jourdan)

Quand un expert en vin de chez Fauchon vous présente un vin à 500 euros, devez vous lui faire confiance? Voilà en résumé ce que l’on pourrait retenir du reportage « The trouble with experts » diffusé ce jeudi 29 sur la chaîne canadienne CBC. Car en visionnant l’extrait de 2 minutes présentant ce documentaire, j’en connais déjà le contenu. Et pour une seule et simple raison: je faisais partie du groupe ce soir là chez Fauchon. (cliquez ici pour voir la présentation)

Ce reportage « The trouble with experts » va donc montrer des dégustateurs qui n’arrivent pas à faire la différence entre un vin à 30 euros et un autre à 500 euros. Seul du groupe à avoir constamment répété que le vin que l’on nous servait ne correspondait pas à l’étiquette de la bouteille que l’on nous présentait, je souhaiterais apporter quelques précisions sur cette dégustation organisée chez Fauchon il y a quelques mois.

1) La maison Fauchon nous accueille pour déguster de grands vins dont un premier grand cru classé de Bordeaux. Nous n’avons jamais vu de premier grand cru classé dans nos verres…

(Editorial from Guillaume Jourdan)

(Version française)

When a wine expert at Fauchon recommends a 500 euros wine, should you trust him? This is the conclusion we could draw from the documentary « The trouble with experts  » screened on CBC in Canada on Thursday 29. I only watched the 2mn presentation but I can figure out the full content for one simple reason: I was part of this group on that night at Fauchon. (click here to watch the presentation)

This documentary from Josh Freed shows that « experts » can not tell the difference between a wine at 30 euros and another at 500 euros. Being the only person in the group to have constantly repeated that the wines we were served did not correspond to the label they were showing us, I would like to clarify…