Wine Words & Video Tape

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Bordeaux 2014 so far…

Written by David Rowe. Posted in Bordeaux

La Tour de By shotOf course it is far too soon to make an assessment of the 2014 vintage in Bordeaux (the critical month is August), but it is interesting to look at the weather conditions so far to see how they may affect the final outcome. For some unfortunate growers in the northern Médoc, we know already that they will have vastly reduced crops because of the hail storm that struck on Whit Sunday (8 June). In four or five villages to the east of Lesparre-Médoc, nearly 50% of the vineyard was affected and some growers are reporting up to 100% loss. This was the critical flowering period, and hail is very effective at stripping the vines of their leaves. No leaves means no photosynthesis and therefore no crop. Fortunately for other producers, hail is usually very localised. Outside the northern Médoc, others are more upbeat about climatic conditions so far.

Château La Dominique road spill

Written by David Rowe. Posted in Bordeaux

 

un-camion-charge-de-18-000-bouteilles-s-est-renverse-sur_1944522_800x400A lorry carrying 18 000 bottles from Château La Dominique in Saint-Emilion tipped over on Tuesday, when the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle at a roundabout in Bigaroux. The bottles of grand cru classé Château La Dominique 2011, which spilled into a road-side field and appeared to be without labels, were to be collected by hand according to reports in local newspaper Sud-Ouest

Mähler-Besse taken over by the Castéja group

Written by David Rowe. Posted in Bordeaux

Chateau PalmerBordeaux négociant Mähler-Besse was taken over on Friday 11 July by the Castéja family group BCAP, reports David Rowe from Bordeaux. The BCAP group owns négociant Borie-Manoux as well as a handful of prestigious châteaux, including Château Trottevieille in Saint-Emilion, Château Batailley in Pauillac and Domaine de l’Eglise in Pomerol. Ownership of Château Palmer [pictured here], which is shared between individual members of the Mähler-Besse family and Maison Sichel, is not included in this transaction. So it will be business as usual at Palmer.

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