Latour flies off the shelves
Château Latour is ‘zooming’ off the shelves of one London merchant after releasing at €90 – one third down on 2003.
James Lawther MW is a contributing editor to Decanter as well as an independent wine writer, lecturer and tour guide based in Bordeaux. He retailed wine at Steven Spurrier's Les Caves de la Madeleine in Paris in the 1980s, and his early career also involved stints as a cellar hand in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Roussillon and Western Australia. In 1993, Lawther became a Master of Wine. He is author of The Heart of Bordeaux and The Finest Wines of Bordeaux, and has contributed to books including Dorling Kindersley’s Wines of the World, Oz Clarke’s Bordeaux and Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book.
Château Latour is ‘zooming’ off the shelves of one London merchant after releasing at €90 – one third down on 2003.
Bordeaux 1st growths Châteaux Haut-Brion, Margaux and Mouton-Rothschild have released their 2004 prices – all down a third on 2003.
Cape Mentelle winemaker John Durham is leaving after 21 years in a bid to get ‘back to the coalface’ of winemaking.
The Bordeaux 2004 en primeur campaign is sluggish despite the fact prices are 10-20% lower than the 2003 vintage.
Forget spicy Shiraz from Victoria and blockbuster reds from Barossa. Adelaide Hills is Australia’s most talked about region, with producers discovering its cool, moist climate is great for fresh, elegant wines. By JAMES LAWTHER MW
Château Angélus, among the greatest of St-Emilion’s 13 premiers grands crus classés, certainly deserves its great reputation, and is producing more harmonious wines than ever since 1996. JAMES LAWTHER MW reports.
It’s been a favourite of wine lovers for years, and now Châteauneuf-du-Pape is producing better wines than ever before. Dynamic young producers and a stack of superb vintages have combined to guarantee many great-value new wines. JAMES LAWTHER MW visits.
2002 may have been a tough vintage, but many châteaux succeeded in producing some excellent wines. JAMES LAWTHER MW selects the best.
Millions of rand are being pumped into South Africa’s wineries. But, asks JAMES LAWTHER MW, when will they start producing standout wines?
Bordeaux Supérieur is just one step up from generic AC Bordeaux, but you can find some great value wines. JAMES LAWTHER MW introduces the category, and picks his top 10.
The South African wine industry has been transformed over the last 25 years. John Platter, the country’s most influential wine critic, has witnessed it at close hand, and has firm views on how SA can establish itself as a true global force. JAMES LAWTHER MW is all ears.
CIVB president Christian Delpeuch has urged the Bordeaux wine trade to rapidly reform to avert the present crisis.
Inner Workings; Who contols the Bordeaux market
Earlier ripening Pomerol took the full blast of this hot, dry year. The vine stressed and blocked in zones of sandy-gravel soils, the leaves withering and in certain extremes even falling off. Maturity was thus affected resulting in some wines with hard, dry tannins, dilution or occasionally an alcohol 'burn'. That being said it’s certainly not a disaster as had earlier been predicted. There are few wines with aggressive, vegetal notes and the harvest appears generally clean. Those who worked assiduously in the vineyard have produced attractive fruit, even in the 'lesser' terroirs off the Pomerol plateau (Bellegrave,Taillefer). The stars, generally with a greater percentage of clay soils (Pétrus, Trotanoy), have produced truly stunning wines. It’s a year to be selective. James Lawther MW
Over half of South Africa’s Syrah vines are less than five years old. But that doesn’t meant they can’t produce great wine, says JAMES LAWTHER MW
Hermitage is one of the northern Rhône’s most exclusive appellations...
Château Cos d’Estournel in St-Estèphe is a landmark in more than one way.
The last in a run of four good vintages in the Rhône, 2001 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape produced some great wines with balance and length. JAMES LAWTHER MW picks his best of the year
The unique quality of St-Emilion wines depends to a large extent on the region's various soils. And there are a lot of them. JAMES LAWTHER MW gets his hands dirty
Alongside Bordeaux's historical attractions, the region's barriques are monuments in their own right. JAMES LAWTHER MW charts the history – and future – of these cradles of wine
The Côtes de Bourg landscape – and wines – are full of character. Wine has been made here since Roman times, but a new elegant style and improved quality have transformed the area
The vineyards of Blaye are dotted throughout the area, interspersed with asparagus fields. The wines are traditionally crisper than those of Bourg, with a move towards a riper style.
In the last five years, winemaking stars from Saint-Emilion have been rushing to invest in Castillon. The cool-climate wines produced here today have earned an enviable reputation.
Think of somewhere long, thin, and famous for its white Cadillacs, and Sunset Strip might spring to mind. But in the world of Bordeaux wine, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux fits the bill.
This tiny appellation contains some big names. Its wines are similar to those of Castillon, but with a stronger Cabernet influence. There's also a limited production of good whites.
Château Pape Clément is in a classic style, 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. JAMES LAWTHER MW visits an estate whose wines are better than ever
Château Pape Clément is in a classic style, 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. JAMES LAWTHER MW visits an estate whose wines are better than ever
This was not the easiest of years for Right Bank producers, writes James Lawther MW. A sullen summer, difficult flowering and pressure of rot made it all but a disaster rescued in extremis by September sunshine. The fact that a lean but firm, fruit