2009 wines rising as Year of the Ox approaches 3rd February, 2021 by Rupert Millar
The Chinese New Year on 12 February this year will usher in the year of the Ox. A previous ‘Ox vintage’ was 2009, and wines from that vintage have been the second most-traded on the Liv-ex platform so far this year.
The year of the Ox has fallen on some much heralded vintages in the past, including 2009, 1985 and 1961.
Liv-ex has noted that buying demand from Asia is driving activity in 2009 vintage wines, especially from Bordeaux which currently accounts for 71% of trade by value in 2009 wines sold.
As it said on its blog: “The critical acclaim of the Bordeaux 2009 vintage, one of Robert Parker’s all-time favourites, has long held a deep allure for Asian buyers. It comes as no surprise then that so far in 2021 the 2009 vintage has lead Bordeaux trade by value (13%) in Asia.”
Graham Gooch’s wine collection for sale 3rd February, 2021 by Rupert Millar
Fine wines from the collection of former England cricketer Graham Gooch have gone on sale through From Vineyards Direct.
A personal friend of chairman Johnny Wheeler and “enthusiastic customer” of the company over the years, Gooch apparently has had a “longstanding interest and passion in ‘better wine’.”
Wheeler commented: “Graham is now looking to offer some of his finest wines for sale and we’re delighted he has chosen us to bring these wines to market. Graham’s wines have been stored in our professional, in-bond facility since shipment.”
Château Fleur Cardinale begins organic conversion 3rd February, 2021 by Rupert Millar
St Emilion grand cru Château Fleur Cardinale has begun its conversion to organic farming which is due to be completed by 2024.
Owners Caroline and Ludovic Decoster made the announcement, saying it was the next step after 10 years of “painstaking work” in the vineyards to improve the estate’s vine-growing practices and reduce the overall environmental impact – a process which while long has apparently brought them “great personal satisfaction” and, they say, much improved wines.
The couple said: “Now that our vineyard has been completely restructured, we have every confidence in the success of this conversion to organic farming, which will be the next logical step following on from everything that we have undertaken at Château Fleur Cardinale and Château Croix Cardinale in term
New lager yeast developed 1st February, 2021 by Rupert Millar
A new way of creating non-GMO lager yeast strains has been found by a bioengineering company, which it says could help “broaden the diversity of commercial lager beer strains” for big and small brewers.
The new strain has been developed by bioengineering company Renaissance BioScience in Vancouver and the paper proposes it be classified as a third group of lager strain.
Currently, as it has been for hundreds of years, there are just two yeast types from which strains can be produced: known as ‘Group I’ and ‘Group II’.
Although genetically different, they produce very similar flavour and aroma profiles, which, argues Renaissance, “play a role in the lack of diversity in commercial lager beer”.
PFV nominates five families for €100,000 prize 27th January, 2021 by Rupert Millar
The wine group Primum Familiae Vini (PFV) has announced its shortlist of five family business, including The Goring Hotel, a Japanese pottery and Michelangelo’s gold leaf provider, for its 2021 ‘Family is Sustainability’ prize.
The group, made of 12 historic European wine producers, has selected five family-run companies (none of them wine related) to receive the prize of €100,000, with the eventual winner set to be announced in March this year.
Matthieu Perrin, current president of the PFV, said: “We in the PFV believe that family companies are the bedrock of regional and national economies and that the best must have a profound commitment to sustainable development.