Wine ChroniclesVisiting Roederer with Jean Baptiste Lecaillon
Posted on April 16, 2016
Assessing positive impact of grower Champagne (see video)
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
16 April 2016
What a great visit to Louis Roederer, at first guided by Maria Garcia Gragera, pictured below, who seemed as if she had been with this famous Champagne house for ages, as she conveyed so much knowledge. As turns out only for a few months. Nice job! It was great to talk with her about the house’s relatively low key publicity approach, when compared to, say, Maison Veuve Clicquot and all its glitzy marketing campaigns like Scream Your Love and sponsorships.
I arrived on 29 February, as part of my research for an article on Champagne sales to appear in the next issue of Meininger’s Wine Business International. This is what I call fun research!
Back in 1845, Louis Roederer acquired 15 hectares in the Grand Cru vineyards of Verzenay. The idea – which was quite unusual at a time when grapes had little value – was to become a wine grower in order to master the entire process of creating his vintage wines, according to literature provided by the estate. Ever since, every Louis Roederer vintage originates exclusively from their own vines, which is rather rare among major Champagne producers. Read More
Making it with Macon, pulling rabbits out of the Pouilly hat
Posted on March 23, 2016
More deals from Burgundy
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
23 March 2016
Just as one can find high calibre, low price octane wines in Chablis, the same can be said for the Mâconnaise region of Burgundy, billed as the Symphonie Mâconnaise during this wine filled Grands Jours de Bourgogne week in late March, a wonderfully festive biennial event for wine professionals and hacks like me.
2014? A no brainer vintage for white Burgundy. And from quality minded producers in the Maconnais like Domaine de la Garenne.
As I have told people many times over, you can find premier cru Puligny Montrachet for $150 a bottle, that is probably going to be very delicious. But what about finding delicious $15 white Burgundy? It is possible. And here some wines that prove that point. Please, people. Wine is not just a status symbol with which to impress your neighbors. It is not a work of art that you hang on your wall so that everyone can say ooh and ah. Well, yes, I love expensive wines that are amazing. Who doesn’t? But is a wine that costs 10 times more necessarily 10 times better? Read More
Clos Vougeot vertical 2005-1985
Posted on March 23, 2016
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
23 March 2016
What better place to taste Clos Vougeot than at Clos Vougeot?
Lovely day to taste, legendary location
Part of the fantastic week here at the Grand Jours de Bourgogne included a media invite for a vertical of this famous appellation, from a variety of estates stretching from 2005 to 1985.
With Norwegian wine taster Christer Byklum
A few months ago, I enjoyed a horizontal of 2013 Clos Vougeot, thanks to Fine+Rare Wine in London. Now, time for a vertical. Wines in bold, I liked in particular. When red and bold, even more. When underlined, too, a kind of nirvana. Read More
Where #winelovers find Burgundy bargains: Chablis
Posted on March 22, 2016
Yes, Virginia, they do exist
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
Here I am, with many #winelovers, in Chablis, to kick of the weeklong biennial event Grand Jours de Bourgogne. A record number here since this shindig started on Monday 21 March, with 2,500 registered professionals in the wine trade, in media, in restaurants among others.
Already on day 1, here in Chablis, I have run into great friends from a group of winelovers I had met in Ukraine to merchants from the U.S.
Video reports from Pichon Comtesse and Pichon Baron
Posted on March 20, 2016
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
20 March 2016
It was great to visit both Pichon estates late last year, to prepare an article that I wrote for Decanter, as published in the April 2016 issue.
The always gorgeous Pichon Baron estate
Dear friend and celebrated author Jane Anson contributed tasting notes.
In deference to the publication, I only post my tasting notes after the article went to press, based on a visit with Jane to Pichon Comtesse, where we were welcomed by director Nicolas Glumineau and on a visit on my own to Pichon Baron, where I tasted through many wines with director Christian Seely who also walked me through the vineyard.
Vertical tasting with Jane Anson organised by Pichon Comtesse director Nicolas Glumineau
As you can see, I include here some video recordings from both visits as well as some pics.
Christian Seely points out the fine terroir of Pichon Baron, in a glorious setting with the nearby Latour, Leoville Las Cases and of course, Pichon Comtesse. Read More
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