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Robert Parker Pans 2007 Bordeaux Vintage


Bordeaux chateaux are starting to release their prices for the 2007 vintage but there is already bad news. The emperor of wine, famed wine critic Robert Parker has slammed the latest vintage handing out low scores and branding the vintage as overpriced. Wine buyers often look to Parker's scores to see if they should buy wine futures which are sold two years before a vintage's release. In his vintage review titled "2007 Bordeaux: Who Will Buy Them and at What Price?" he has basically told buyers not to bother unless prices are lowered dramatically.

The news is devastating for some Bordeaux producers for whom Parker's scores may mean less sales. Certainly his advice carries considerable weight and may influence wine dealers not to purchase simply because they are afraid they won't be able to sell to wine collectors in the long run. Should any one man have this much power?

Parker gave only three of his coveted 100 point scores this year and all three were for whites, Chateau Pape Clement white and Haut-Brion, were both marked 96-100, and Chateau Climens, a sweet white tasted by Parker's British sidekick Neal Martin, got 98-100. Even Bordeaux's top five, first growth wines didn't even hit 95 with Chateau Margaux earning a 92-94, Chateau Haut-Brion a 91-94, and Mouton-Rothschild a 90-94. Chateau Lafite and Chateau Latour both got a 90-93.

Wine Trails Not Just For California Anymore


Recently the Alabama Wine Trail opened to some controversy. The winery trail, which offers a map to the state's eight wineries has run afoul of a Baptist group which is against the promotion of alcohol. Wineries are driving increased tourism to unlikely places. While California is still the top wine tourism stop in the U.S. and Oregon and Washington are quickly gaining ground, the rest of the country is also working hard to lure wine tourists. With travel expenses running higher and higher, these destinations might be more appealing to those looking for a shorter trip closer to home. New York's Finger Lakes region has a number of different wine trails but some other winery trails are located in Iowa, Indiana and Virgina. Check out our gallery below for a look at wine trails around the country.

Gallery: Wine Trails

Indiana Wine TrailThree Rivers Wine TrailPioneer Wine TrailIndy Wine TrailNiagara Wine Trail

A Ducati For Your Taste Buds

Italian motorcycle company Ducati has a wide variety of licensees, just check out our gallery below for a few, but they have now joined with a winemaker. Desmorosso is a Ducati's first licensed wine which is created with the Le Pignole winery. The first wine is the Desmorosso 2006, a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Carmenere grapes. The grapes come from hillside vineyards in the Colli Berici area, Municipalities of Brendola and Arcugnano. It is only available in six bottle packs which sells for 168 euros (around $260).

[via BallerHouse]

Gallery: For the Love of Ducati

Puma Ducati ShoesDucati LuggageZ Zegna Ducati CologneDucati SanDiskBaby Ducati

Jepson Winery For Sale


Small Califonria winery Jepson Winery north of Hopland in Mendocino County is back on the market. The Press-Deomocrat reports that the listing comes less than three years after the winery was acquired by an investment group that planned to create high-end estates on the 1,200-acre property. Facing a softening real estate market and tough building restrictions, the investment group opted to sell rather than pursue the project.

The property includes a turn key operating winery (which also has a special permit to distill and produce brandy and vodka) and a custom crush facility with 121 acres planted to vineyard under contract consisting of 12 different varietals plus an additional 100 acres plantable. The building also includes a winery building with a permit for 44,000 cases, tasting room, Victorian office/residence, guest house, shop, storage barn, pond and those other 1,000+ acres which can be developed as real estate. The property is listed at $10.5 million with NorCal Vineyards.

Gallery: Jepson Winery

Flavours of the World Wine Tasting Event

Ordinarily I cover wine events in the U.S. but this event n London caught my eye. Estates & Wines, the Moët Hennessy Wine Division (part of the LVMH) will be hosting a new wine event to showcase their collection of "New World" wines. The inaugural 'Discover the Flavours of the World' will take place in London on May 14, 2008 at Il Bottaccio, Grosvenor Place, Belgravia, London, UK . It will feature LVMH brands including Cloudy Bay from New Zealand and its sister winery Cape Mentelle in Australia; Australian sparkling wine Green Point; Terrazas de los Andes from Argentina which plants specific plants at the optimal altitude; Cheval des Andes also in Argentina; and Napa Valley's Newton winery which is a new addition to the LVMH portfolio. I had no idea LVMH had so many New World labels.

A limited number of free tickets are available, and can be reserved when ordering a special case of Moët Hennessy wines (£60 for a case of six bottles, plus p&p in the UK) of either Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec 2006 or Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Chardonnay 2006. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased for £60. For further information, to purchase a case and ticket, please contact Rosalyn.LANE@mhuk.co.uk.

Yellow+Blue, Wine for a Greener World


Tetrapak wines are not the newest thing but I think the typical consumer would assume the wine is cheaply made and would lack the taste of a finer wine. Yellow+Blue begs to differ. Moving towards a greener packaging product (get it -- yellow+blue makes green!) and getting away from heavier shipments which use more gasoline, Yellow+Blue has decided to choose light tetrapak over heavy glass bottles for their new Malbec. The tetrapak is the same kind of material which typically stores juice in boxes for kids -- I guess this means adults have "juice" boxes of their own now! The Argentinian Malbec is set to sell for about $11 per one liter pak which would have cost $20 per bottle. Drinks on the go, good for the earth and less expensive to boot! I'm in for a taste.

Nevada's First Estate Red Wine


The Mojave Desert of Nevada does not make you think of rows of plump vines but surprisingly there is a vineyard there -- Pahrump Valley Winery. Boasting three red wines, three white wines, two blush wines and a sherry, this vineyard even has a restaurant to feed their hungry visitors. Recently, they released their first estate red wine deemed Nevada Ridge, a 2005 Zinfandel made exclusively from grapes grown in Pahrump Valley. Supposedly, this is the first commercial red wine ever made in Nevada which is quite the exciting turning point for the young industry. With only 1,100 bottles expected to be released the $75 Nevada Ridge wine is much anticipated.

Watches for Wine: Magrez Gives Wine Journalists Cartier Presents


Wine tycoon Bernard Magrez has run afoul of journalists by offering them what looks to be a classic bribe. Decanter reports that Magrez and his partner in wine, French actor Gerard Depardieu hosted journalists at a press lunch at the Alain Ducasse restaurant at the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris on March 26. At the end of the lunch, journalists were giving a press kit and a box that contained a Cartier watch worth $2,641.

After what must have been some interesting moments of desire versus ethics, many of the journalists decided to either donate or return the watches. Magrez told Decanter he wasn't trying to buy good press, he was just using the watch as a way to commemorate the special occasion. The French website Backchich certainly isn't buying that. In their article titled The Advantages of Being a Wine Journalist, they feature a cartoon of a woman dressed in sparkling jewelry with a note pad and a glass of wine. My French is a bit rusty but I the caption roughly translates to this wine is rich and generous just like Mr. Depardieu.

Sculpterra: Where Wine and Sculpture Meet


Wine and art are like chocolate and strawberries -- a perfect combination. Who doesn't like the cultural expansion of art with the swirl, sniff, and sip of a fine wine. Under the mild skies of Paso Robles, California, Sculpterra Winery and Vineyard creates a scintillating space where both wine and art can be enjoyed outdoors. Less than five years old, Sculpterra boasts an award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced Chardonnay, refreshing Pinot Grigio and intense Petite Sirah. Most recently, two new blends called Statuesque and Maquette, joined the Sculpterra name. The sculptures have been created by John Jagger and are framed by a path-lined garden where guests can take in the experience.

Gallery: Sculpterra

GQ Asks: "Is It Worth It?"

In the May issue of GQ hitting stands this week, the magazine gets its hands on twelve of the most expensive items of their kind on Earth to evaluate whether they're really worth the price. From the $5,980 Toto Neorest 600 toilet to the $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron, they try to determine the difference between comically overpriced and extremely valuable.

If you have the money, the magazine says, some things are indisputably worth every penny. The Toto toilet for one, as well as the $64,950 Hastens Vividus bed, a $148,000 pair of ugly but awesome Wilson Audio speakers, and, yes, the Veyron.

Things that are more hype than merit, however, include $6,500 Cheval Blanc wine, $600 java made from the excrement of a coffee bean-eating Indonesian civet cat, the $30,000-per-night Ty Warner Suite at the Four Seasons in Manhattan, and $160 Kobe beef rib eye steak. According to author Benjamin Wallace, "I've had $18 bar steaks that gave me more pleasure." We're willing to take his word for it.

Gallery: GQ's Luxury Test

Hastens Mattress. GQ's Verdict: Wlson Audio Alexandria. GQ's Verdict: Ty Warner Four Seasons Suite. GQ's Verdict: Kobe Rib Eye. GQ's Verdict: Cheval Blanc Wine. GQ's Verdict:

Record Wine Lot Sold to Chinese Wine Lover


There may be a global economic crunch these days but fine wine connoisseurs are not feeling its effects. Recently, $500,000 was paid for twenty-seven bottles of various vintages of Romanee Conti. The well-known Burgundy wines are not expected to be kept as an investment for the wealthy Chinese connoisseur that bought the lot which he most likely intends to enjoy himself. His purchase is the highest price paid for a single lot yet to date at the Antique Wine Company in London. If he feels like sharing I would be happy to taste a little Romanee Conti myself.

Historic Champagne Sale in New York

Attention champagne and wine collectors: on April 25th at 6pm at Cru Restaurant on Fifth Street in New York there's going to be an auction of vintage Champagne and rare wines dating back as far as the 1800s. The bottles are from the collection of real estate collector Robert Rosania and will include names like Krug, Dom Perignon, Bollinger, Cristal, and Roederer to name just a few. The total collection going up for auction includes 1,346 bottles, 303 magnums, and 11 jeros of Champagne. No word on why Rosania is looking to sell these valuables other than he's looking to "share these discoveries with others."

Heidi Barrett Joins Fantseca


One of the most respected names in winemaking, Heidi Barrett, has announced her first new project since leaving the famed Screaming Eagle, she will be working with Fantesca Estate & Winery. Barrett, called the "The First Lady of Wine" by the "emperor of wine" critic Robert Parker, Jr., is the only winemaker ever to have received five perfect scores from the top wine critics in the country.

We've covered Fantesca for their Adopt A Grape project before, which offers an inside look at winemaking through a series of films. They will be capturing the entire growing season with bi-monthly high definition films. Heidi Barrett, Vineyard Manager Jim Barbour and owners Susan and Duane Hoff will take the viewer from bud break through harvest on adopt a grape. Visitors can also adopt a grape from one of Fantesca's seven vineyard blocks following it in films, photos, and written updates.

In the Wine Business? Why You Might Want To Sell Soon


If you are looking to sell the family winery you might want to think about doing it soon. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that a recent study indicates that between 500 and 1,000 family-owned wineries in California, Oregon and Washington could be sold in the coming years. The major reasons for this mass sell-off is that the next generation is either unwilling or unprepared to take the reins from their winemaking parents.

Financier Bill Price, a vineyard owner and co-founder of Texas Pacific Group ttold a wine conference in Santa Rosa on Wednesday that if they want to sell they should do it soon. He cited a study conducted by Silicon Valley Bank which showed that 88 percent of wineries in the United States were founded after 1975. Over half of those surveyed, 51 percent, were planning to transition ownership of their business in the next ten years but 45 percent of those said they don't have any one willing to take over. This function of our Baby Boomer culture could lead to a a cycle in which early sellers will get premium prices but those sellers in the heart of the cycle when everyone is selling will have trouble getting their top price and may have to wait until the end of the cycle when the supply plummets and prices start to rise again.

CLIF Bar Wines


CLIF Bar & Company, mostly known for organic and healthful CLIF bars and LUNA bars, is now in the wine business too. Based in Napa Valley their aim is to make high quality wines that remind people to slow down and enjoy life in a way that respects the earth. Sarah Gott joined their team last year as the resident winemaker, and all of their wines are sourced from Napa Valley and the North Coast with an eye towards organic and sustainable farming practices. Prices range from $12.50-$35.

Gallery: CLIF Bar Wine Labels

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