June 2011
Châteaus Margaux, Cos-d’Estournel and L’Evangile release prices on their 2010s
Posted: Jun 27, 2011 11:00am ET
Today was a busy day in Bordeaux, as several big-name châteaus finally released their 2010 futures prices, including Châteaus Margaux (96-99 points from my 2010 Bordeaux Barrel Tasting), Cos-d'Estournel (96-99) and L'Evangile (94-97).
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The locavore movement has never been stronger, nor Finger Lakes wines ever better, so why don't New York restaurants offer more New York wines?
Posted: Jun 15, 2011 3:00pm ET
The locavore movement has had a huge impact on restaurant kitchens throughout the U.S. No matter what their cuisine, chefs chant the mantra of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. In addition, today’s young food-conscious generation is only happy to oblige by patronizing farmers' markets, getting involved in changing the menus at public schools for the better and more. There’s an organic veggie garden on the White House front lawn now. Bravo.
But the “local” wave often runs dry when it comes to wine—in restaurant cellars, on retail shelves, on the dinner table. And that's a shame.
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Thomas Dô-Chi-Nam replaces Philippe Bascaules
Posted: Jun 10, 2011 11:00am ET
Wine Spectator senior editor James Molesworth reports that Bordeaux first-growth Château Margaux has hired a new technical director, Thomas Dô-Chi-Nam, who is leaving Château Pichon-Longueville-Lalande after nearly 20 years there.
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Châteaus Pontet-Canet and Gruaud-Larose are the first big names to announce their 2010 en primeur prices
Posted: Jun 9, 2011 11:00am ET
With VinExpo approaching—where the business side of the wine world meets before knocking off for summer vacation—what had been a rather sleepy en primeur campaign for the potentially tremendous 2010 vintage suddenly took on new life this week with the release of prices from a few top estates.
Both Châteaus Pontet-Canet (2010 barrel tasting score: 96-99 points) and Gruaud-Larose (93-96) released their 2010 pricing in what should spark many of their colleagues to follow suit. Château Pontet-Canet released its first tranche at 100 euros, a price owner Alfred Tesseron said he derived from the average of three tranches for his 2009, plus 8.3 percent. Château Gruaud-Larose also opened with its pricing and is now being offering at 61 euros by the trade, up from 50 euros for the 2009. The futures prices to U.S. consumers will increase as the wine moves through the distribution chain, with the exchange rate also playing a big role.
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