by Jim Budd – Another UK fine wine company has disappeared from the radar leaving orders unfulfilled – while its director sets up a similar company under another name.
Beaumont Vintners Ltd, a wine investment company set up in June 2010 and registered in Fulham, London, sold a client – who wishes to remain nameless – Chateau Lafite vintages from 2004 through to 2007.
The cases of the 2004 and 2005 never arrived at EWGA Ltd, the Lancashire bonded warehouse used by Beaumont Vintners.
EWGA Ltd told Decanter.com the client was not alone: it had had ‘a number of calls from Beaumont clients whose wine is not in the warehouse and who cannot contact the company, who are not answering the phone.’
A new estate joins the Domaine Clarence Dillon family of wines. Last summer the family company announced the acquisition of a beautiful estate in Saint-Emilion.
An exceptional terroir that has been recognised as such for centuries. The estate naturally wraps around a high promontory which represents the end of the plateau of Saint-Emilion. The vineyard benefits from a majestic panorama extending towards the neighbouring village and across the entire Dordogne valley. It is in this place that, for time immemorial, a watch tower has stood to ensure the defence of the village of Saint-Emilion.
Fünf erstklassige Weingüter präsentieren auf der ProWein 2012 Neuheiten aus Baden, Württemberg und der Pfalz, von der Nahe und der Mosel.
Selten gab es auf 18 x 3 Metern so viel zu entdecken: Auf der ProWein 2012, vom 4. bis 6. März in Düsseldorf, präsentieren sich fünf hochkarätige familienbetriebene Weingüter, fünf ehrgeizige Winzerteams, fünf Vorreiter ihrer jeweiligen Region mit einem Gemeinschaftsauftritt. Wer erleben möchte, was sich im deutschen Weinbau bewegt, sollte diese erstmalig gebotene Gelegenheit nicht verpassen.
VDP Classification Pyramid Adjusted
On 25 January 2012, VDP members met for an extraordinary meeting in Neustadt/Pfalz. The main topic was the ongoing evolution of the VDP classification, a subject of considerable deliberation during recent months.
With its decision to pursue classification in 2002, the VDP helped spark the worldwide renaissance of German wine. Initially, the peak of the VDP classification pyramid was established with the designations “Erste Lage” (cf. Premier Cru in Burgundy) and “Grosses Gewächs”. It was agreed to postpone fleshing out the middle segment in order to glean additional experience by exchanging views with those in the market. To this day, all legally permissible nomenclature as well as inhouse alternatives have been used. The goal of the present resolution on the continuing development of the VDP classification is to keep its value proposition, improve its clarity, and provide consumers with explicit information.
by Adam Lechmere – Renowned Rhone producer Michel Chapoutier has added to the natural wine debate by denouncing natural winemakers as out-of-touch hippies making defective wines.
‘It is a connerie. It is rubbish. It’s like making vinegar, bad vinegar. How can anyone allow toxic yeasts to develop so that these inhabit the wine?’
Moreover the Hermitage producer (pictured), who also makes wine in Australia, Portugal and Alsace, considers those who follow the practice, ‘hippies from another world’.