In October we visited the Languedoc — our “base” was Agde, a town with 2,600 years worth of history where the River Hérault and the Canal du Midi meet the Mediterranean. From the 5th century BC, the Phocaeans developed this town into a trading station between Marseille and Spain, which expanded in the fullness of [...]

So now after two and a half days of drinking $$$$ of very fine champagne (as a guest!) I am back in New York and looking for something slightly more affordable for Christmas. At Le Bernadin last week, sommelier Aldo Sohm (who won best sommelier in the world competition and is always winning new ones) introduced [...]

  Bruno Paillard is an increasingly popular brand, and the first time I heard about it was during a week I spent as AXA’s guest for winning a competition related to the Masters of Wine programme – it was the wine served in the very elegant ‘drawing room’ of Chateau Pichon-Longueville before dinner. The other [...]

  One of the highlights of a very impressive trip to Champagne was an excellently conducted tutored  tasting of “base wines” at Champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, followed by a “fantasy lunch” at l’Hotel du Marc, a very private, incredibly lavish, Proustian mansion owned by LVMH, complete with beautifully-attired servers and of course the best champagne. [...]

  Drive up to the home/winery of winemaker Francis Boulard — who makes some of the finest Champagne I have ever tasted — and you will see a modest farmhouse, colorful children’s toys in the large driveway, and … a trampoline.   The farmhouse had been purchased by Francis, his wife, and daughter/winemaker Delphine after [...]

Ah, Bollinger … Established in 1829 in Ay, France, it’s almost impossible to know the magic of this incredible Champagne house until one has experienced a tour led by M. Cristian Dennis, a very affable gentlemen who knows all the secrets (yes, and secret passageways as well!) As is the case with every single Champagne [...]

      “How theatrical!” Was the response as we entered the red velvet walls of Le Theatre in Epernay, a charming town with its petite pretty parks and Belle Epoque buildings. 18th century Paris and some modern romantic arty types of pieces (silouttes anyone?) decorated the restaurant’s red walls. “Welcome!” said the movie star [...]

  “I like a good farmer!” says Jeanne-Marie De Champs, owner of Domaines et Saveurs Collection in Burgundy. Jeanne-Marie represents over seventy producers and exports them to various countries, including the USA and my favorite wine stores. Jeanne-Marie is responding to my question about how she chooses the producers she represents. Each one I’ve met [...]

La Maltroye Winemaker and Chateau de la Maltroye owner Jean-Pierre Cournet has the exotic look of a jet-set film star as opens the door and greets us in his gorgeous 18th century Chateau in Chassagne-Montrachet.  It is high on a hill, with a gorgeous view of the village and darkening sky. And there’s something a [...]

  “A French insurance company owns a Chateau?” the woman’s voice says, incredulous. Yes, one can imagine that most people think that a top wine chateau in Bordeaux is owned by a French aristocrat, yet the world has taken quite a turn since the days that this might have been the case. Today the French [...]

  Domaine Meo Camuzet is a gorgeous, very modern looking winery in Vosne-Romanee. For many years I have been very excited to visit, because I know that Jeanne-Marie De Champs, owner of Domaines Et Saveurs Collection who  represents many top Burgundy wineries for export, trusts Meo Camuzet exclusively to elevate the wines she buys at [...]

Nicole Lamarche and her mother “Welcome!” says Nicole Lamarche, a petite, dark haired young woman with a quick, confident manner that silently supports the fact she is a brilliant winemaker. Since 1997 she has taken responsibility for the family’s prestigious line-up of Grands Echezeaux, Echezeaux and Clos Vougeot, and the best of the Vosne 1er [...]

“Welcome,” says the affable Dominique Gallois, owner and winemaker at Domaine Gallois, as his friendly dog wags a greeting. We have just driven through the charming, historic village of Gevrey-Chambertin to arrive at Mr. Gallois’s home and cellar, where a child’s bicycle is parked near the front door and two enthusiastic-looking music and video producers [...]

  “Your grandfather actaually used that press!” I can’t help but exclaim, looking at the large, crude, roughly hewn 12th century wine press in the equally antiquated looking cellar. Anyone might believe it was used by ancient Mesapotanian slaves rather than a hard-toiling Burgundian winemaker atop a small hill in the appellation of Fixin. Yet [...]

  Wine lovers in New York are gearing up for the The 151st Wine Auction of the Hospices de Beaune will take place November 20, 2011 in Beaune. Last night (Monday, October 24th, 2011) I attended a tasting at Christie’s, the auction house, of some of the wines that will be offered — you can see [...]

An absolutely fabulous, one of a kind event at today’s Wine Media Guild lunch, as member sponsor Mark Golodetz arranged for three fabulous speakers from three fabulous Pauillac Chateaux to share stories of their estates, and of course their wine. The venue, a private room at Felidia in New York City, where outside the large [...]

Grapes in Ch Suduiraut’s Press Decanter magazine just reported that Chateau Suduiraut is launching a Sauternes for younger drinkers Les Lions de Suduiraut, which makes its debut this month, is described as a ‘classic Sauternes’ is  produced the same way as it’s “elder” counterpart yet is said to be ‘fresher, fruitier and more vibrant’. The [...]

  Today at the Winebow portfolio tasting I had the good fortune to meet Jean-Michel Chartron, owner and winemaker of Domaine Jean Chartron in Puligny-Montrachet. He walked me through several of his wines and I was impressed by the quality! Even a simple Rully Montmorin 2008 was juicy and delicious, yet I especially liked the [...]

  Today is the first day of Harvest at Brane-Cantenac … one of my favorite wineries in Bordeaux and I must say, I wish I was there! Above is a photograph taken earlier, and the grapes look perfect and ripe! When i think of Bordeaux, I usually think of fun and sun (and wine, of [...]

    Fabulous event at chateau Brane-Cantenac (second growth) in Margaux. One of the most  fabulous things about Vinexpo in Bordeaux is that the Chateaux put on some very creative and fun events. Here, owner/winemaker Henri Lurton (enjoying the concert in the picture above( hosted a musical evening with the famous opera singer Elizabeth Vidal. [...]