An auction, presented by Sotheby’s, took place in Hong Kong last Saturday.
An exceptional lot of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has reached a new record equal to $14000 a bottle.
The lot consisted of 114 bottles of Romanée-Conti, 6 bottles of each vintage between 1992 and 2010. A unique opportunity to acquire such an important lot – the most desired wine in the world.

Romanée-Conti became the most expensive wine in the world that has ever been sold at auction, the lot breaking any sale record.

Till that day the record belonged to Château Mouton Rothschild 1982. A lot of 50 cases was sold in New York in 2006 at one hell of a price – 1,05 million dollars.

This auction was the first of the autumn session, the sale rates reaching 96%, 50% of the lots were sold well above their estimates.
The lot of Romanée Conti was acquired by an Asian collector whose name was not disclosed.
With this new sale record, the price of one glass of Romanée Conti would reach $2353, equal to 1870 € (still a little bit expensive for a glass of wine)!

One more time the market demonstrates that fine wines, getting better with time, acquire added value. Their price continues to rise and only the wealthiest buyers will be able to pay themselves a lot like this one day.

L’article Domaine de la Romanée-Conti beats a new record est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

But for Christophe Roumier «There is no Roumier style but rather a Roumier philosophy. This unique vinification process that allows to relieve each terroir, each appellation! »
These wines, recognized by their durability and their astonishing youth are still tasted by the amateurs 60 years after their bottling.
Standing aside from the BIO labels confines, Christophe Roumier doesn’t use any chemical inputs (fertilisers or pesticides) during the vine flowering period and lets the plant draw its resources from the exceptional soils.
The privilege is given to old vines (40 years on average). They do not replant, but transplant to ensure a permanent background of old vines and taste characteristics that only the « aged » vines can provide.

For several generations only indigenous yeasts, found in Chambolle-Musigny Domaine fermenting room are used for winemaking.
New barrels are only used for 10% of Premier Crus with a maximum of 35% for Grands Crus: Musigny and Bonnes Mares.
Regardless of the vintage, Domaine Georges Roumier production is limited in its quantity but never in its quality!

Domaine Georges Roumier ranks number 7 according to Wine Searcher «The World’s best, rarest and most expensive wines» classification of 2014!

For example, the 2010 Grands Crus, as each vintage, remain confidential:

– Bonnes-Mares, 5083 bottles, 160 magnums and 5 jéroboams
– Musigny, 40 bottles, 12 magnums
– Corton Charlemagne, 1198 bottles
– Charmes Chambertin, 584 bottles, 6 magnums
– Ruchottes Chambertin, 1274 bottles, 18 magnums

Guardians of ancestral traditions, Domaine Georges Roumier wines are pure, rare and slowly-maturing with wisdom and serenity to deliver the best of the Burgundy region.

Click to see our Georges Roumier wines selection

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A bit of general culture won’t hurt.

Some three centuries back in time, nobles dined as was then known “à la française”, in other words all the dishes where served at the same time on large tables, similar to a buffet. It was not until the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century that the ambassador of Russia introduced in France a novel way of dining dishes were brought on the table successively, and named “service à la russe”.

For a couple of hundred years, this style dominated Europe and the United States.

Nowadays, modern restaurants on the American continent, are getting into the habit of serving a large variety of foods, at the same time! Therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult to have five or six bottles of wine on the table, in order to have them match with every single type of foods served. Moreover, each person possesses a distinctive palate. This means that some will prefer reds, others whites and even a rose!

Even though all these wines differ, they do have some similarities, especially in the mouth. This can be, freshness, acidity, fruity notes, etc.. Therefore, the object is to find versatile wines, in order to enjoy them with varied types of preparations!

The Grand crus are not within everybody’s reach. Its complexity and aromas, will dominate the meal. More and more North American chefs are now looking at finding wines that are more regular, less complex and more versatile. Grand crus are more of the domain of starred chefs, where the subtleties of their dishes are best suited to these magnificent wines. Like it or not, France remains the gastronomic nation of the world as well as that of great and unique wines. Therefore, let’s leave to the Americans versatile wines, and we will continue to enjoy all the wonderful complexity of our vintages from our beautiful regions!

L’article is it necessary to respect the matching of wines and foods? est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The accident took place during a sumptuous party, thrown to celebrate the 5oth anniversary of Mr. Loeng, Some 200 guests where present including the elite of the Hong-Kong political scene. The celebrity, after a short speech proceeded to open a champagne bottle and was hit violently by the cork, The first reaction was one of laughter, underestimating the extent of the injury, this was followed by a heavy silence. Mr. Loeng remained unconscious. The emergency medics arrived rapidly on the premises. In spite of all their efforts, the death was confirmed less than 20 minutes later, whilst he was being transported to the hospital.

Mr. Loeng was classed as the 51st Hong-Kong fortune, according to Forbes magazine; Mr. Loeng was an extremely successful and eccentric real estate agent, whose fortune was estimated at more than 1 billion Dollars. According to the police, the bottle was a Chinese counterfeit bottle; this seems to be an extremely plausible theory seeing the large quantity of CO2 gas found in the bottle.

For the last few years, counterfeit bottles have become an important preoccupation for the authorities. In fact, several experts estimate the Chinese counterfeit market at 80% in most Chinese cities…

Be safe and order your Grand Crus with all the necessary guarantees of origin through a well-known provider, www.worldgrandscrus.com, or put on a helmet!

L’article A bubbly demise! est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet, Grand Cru, from the Leflaive domain is a beautiful lot of 3,7 acres (the largest of the 8,6 acres, that represent the label) positioned just underneath the Bâtard and against les Pucelles. This gently slopping environment composed of a calcareous soil, of a brown, almost black color, these soils being heavy next to the surface, clearly mark the wines with their aromatic generosity and powerful body, allowing them to be perfectly well kept long periods. Doubtlessly, it’s not the best grand cru in Puligny, suffering the comparison with the Chevallier, much more elegant and fine and the Bâtard, the latter possessing even more energy and aromatic profile. But the mellow texture and it’s volume in the mouth makes for an accessible and refined vintage ideally suited when accompanying fresh water fish or lobster. It compares as far as style is concerned to the middle section of the Charmes de Meursault. (source: Patrick Essa) 2010 is a great Burgundy vintage, marked by their classical style and small yields. The general profile of the 2010 whites is close to the 2008 vintage, with wines combining an excellent maturity, offering fruitiness and a beautiful acidity, offering length and precision. The nuances with respect to her elders, comes from a more accomplished maturity and a slightly less marked acidity, offering more precocious wines, hence being of easier access in their youth, with a promise of a magnificent maturation. It’s more a “terroir” wine rather than a vintage wine, the 2010 will delight all those Burgundy lovers, marked by the uniqueness of each environment. The only downside to this picture is the average drop in production, 40% with regards to the preceding year. The wines from the domain are certified as being issued from biodynamic agriculture since 1998.

L’article Domaine Leflaive – Bienvenue Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2010 est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

A rare wine

Henceforth, in more than a century, only 37 vintages have been produced, that is one every three to four years. The 1943 vintage is certainly the most symbolic one, being Aimé Salons last harvest, before his demise that same year.
Nevertheless, following his death, things have hardly changed. After having belonged to the Pernod Ricard group. The Salon property was bought by Laurent-Perrier in 1988. Michel Depond, the president and Michel Fauconnier, the cellar master of the Laurent Perrier group, are the key men of the Salon estate, as well as the sister estate of the Delamotte champagne, since 1989.
The grape is harvested and pressed at Mesnil-sur-Oger, however the first fermentation is carried out in the Laurent-Perrier establishment, located at Tours-sur-Marne. Following that, the wine returns to the Salon cellars, in order to mature slowly.
For in the Salon establishment, they allow time to have time, even if between the harvest and the commercialization of a vintage, it may take up to ten years, there are no rules, only one, quality.

Simply, the estate follows a reasoned culture process, avoiding wooden barrels and the addition of yeasts in order to insure that the all the aroma proceeds from the grape variety. The champagne is only commercialized when it appears to have reached its optimum maturity; the bottles are disgorged only when they have been ordered, thus ensuring that the wine keeps all its aromas the longest time possible.
The Salon champagne is considered as one of the best in the world. You will only find it on the finest starred tables or the best delicatessen boutiques.
What has made the success of the Salon champagne is its quality. The vintages are selected with precision in order to produce not a simple sparkling wine, but an exceptional Grand Crus.

The 2002 vintage

This new vintage is the first one of the XXI^st century. This 2002 vintage was born following a conjunction of extremely good conditions, in order to produce an excellent vintage, I quote: “In the Champagne region and in particular the Mesnil-sur-Oger area, the alternation between cool, mild, and dry weather on that year is to be particularly noted. There where no terrible periods of frost, no ravaging rain fall, virtually no hailstorms. The vines were extremely healthy. The pollen count during the flowering period predicted almost an over-abundant harvest and the grape bunches where getting too heavy! Quality might not be there? The knowledgeable wine growers, lightened their vines, the big summer season arrived putting all this back on tracks, beautiful warm days concentrates the grape hence making them ideal. The harvest starts at mid-September, the 16^th at Mesnil-sur-Oger, under a brilliant blue sky and a cold nip. The harvested Chardonnay in exact quantities reveals itself as being rich and powerful, each grape keeping the memory of a climate.” (Issued from a press release by Champagne Salon, March 2014)
This vintage, considered as one of the best ever produced, has many a year in front of him. This “adolescent” will refine and exalt itself with the passing of time.
It is complex to the nose, with notes of orange blossom, honey, candied citrus fruit and warm brioche. The taste is long to finish, refined and extremely elegant.

It should marry very well with caviar from Aquitaine, an Iberian cured ham, or even with a scallop Carpaccio or a white truffle risotto. Enough to wake up your taste buds!

L’article Champagne Salon est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The cellars are dug in the rock on three levels. Tens of thousands of bottles are stocked at a constant temperature and perfect hygrometric standards!

The Fallet-Prevostat blanc de blancs Grand crus Extra Brut comes from the 2002 and 2003 vintages, in other words, ten years of aging on slats. The bubbles are extremely fine, enrobed within a superb environment, it is a delicate, airy and flowery champagne.

It is, according to us a great reference that has to be tasted.

Enjoy the degustation!

Clic here to see our  Fallet-Prevostat blanc de blancs Grand crus Extra Brut proposal

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With 0.84 hectares, La Romanée produced 350 cases on average in an abundant year, against 250 cases in the least productive years. Just to give you an idea for comparison, a great Bordeaux wine produces an average of 30,000 cases per year! Romanée represents 1% of the Châteaux Margaux or Chateau Mouton Rothschild  productions.

History :

According to Mr. Liger Belair , the vineyard was already famous in the 14th century , and apparently the walls surrounding it could be dated from this period, despite the restorations. The last 7 generations preceding Mr. Liger Belair, where already linked to La Romanée . On the other hand he says that La Romanée was part of La Romanée Conti at some point of its’ history, despite of the fact that these two vineyards have always been distinct from each other. It is difficult to check the veracity of this statement, because at the time, La Romanée Conti was often called La Romanée. It’s true, that when the confiscation of the Romanée Conti from the Prince de Conti, in order to be sold for” for the benefit of the Republic ” the sales document identified the vineyard as La Romanée. Whatever the ultimate truth, historical documents emphasize that the ancestors of the family Liger Belair acquired 6 plots by marriage, previously known as “Aux Echanges ” in 1815. Over the next 12 years, the five remaining plots where added. It was during the acquisition of the last parcel that the vineyard previously known as “Aux Echange ” was recorded by Louis Liger Belair in Dijon as La Romanée, which is now the monopoly of the family Liger Belair.

The Liger Belair Family was also the owner of “La Tache ” now owned by La Romanée Conti. On the death of the great- grand father of Louis- Michel Liger Belair, in 1924, the estate was passed on to his great-grandmother , who kept it for her grandchildren. But when she died in 1933 , the heirs’ members who did not want to keep the vineyard were forced to sell La Romanée , La Tache and Reignots . Edmund Gaudin bought La Tache in August 1933 , and merged it with the Gaudichots plots in order to create the current La Tache. To save part of the family’s’ patrimony, a priest named Juste Liger Belair bought at an auction that same year La Romanée and Reignots. The vineyard was bequeathed to his nephew, who died in 1941 during the 2nd World War.

From 1946 to 2001, the vineyard was given to a sharecropping family named the Forey family. In 2002, Louis-Michel Liger Belair took over the management of the vineyard and is now responsible for the winemaking of La Romanée , as well as all the work in the vineyard.

Winemaking :

Since he took over, Louis-Michel Liger Belair has changed several viticultural practices such as tillage : using a horse and a light tractor , to avoid compacting the soil too much. It also reduces the use of herbicide. But one of the main points for Louis Michel, is to be extremely careful during the extraction in the vatting process since he doesn’t use enzymes or commercial yeast, and without maceration post- fermentation. The grapes are macerated under a cool and controlled temperature (15 ° C) for 7 days. Once the wine in barrels, the marc is pressed lightly to extract the best quality tannins. “As soon as the wine press resists, I stop pressing to avoid bitter tannins in the final mix.”

The vineyard is located above La Romanée Conti, south of Richebourg and north of the Grande Rue . La Romanée has always shown a lot of similarity to its neighbor, La Romanée Conti. The strong point of La Romanée is its perfect completeness, where no particular aspect dominates another . This wine should be mentioned amongst the elite of Burgundy wines. It belongs to the same category as La Romanée Conti, La Tache , Musigny , Chambertin and Richebourg.

As far as tasting goes, La Romanée requires an effort of the person who tastes and requires a lot of time to express the genius he is capable of delivering. La Romanée requires at least twenty years to reach its peak , but when this bottle is ready to be tasted , you will have there one of the most sublime wines in the world.

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L’article La Romanée, Domaine du Comte Liger Belair est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The bottles are immersed on average one year in shallow water, but as for the bottles in deep water, this is reserved for aging wine bottles uniquely, in which they will spend a much longer time, more or less ten years, when and only the cork is perfectly watertight. An example of conservation, are some of the bottles recovered from more or less famous wrecks such as the Titanic.

On the bottom, the 500 bottle bins equipped with recovery beacons, allowing for a perfect localization and their future recuperation. Every year, two or three bottles are brought up in order to monitor the wine and determine the date of return to the surface.
Grands Crus enthusiasts, collectors and speculators are already in the ranks and have booked the hypothetical nectar from the depths of the ocean.

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