What Is Organic and Biodynamic Viticulture?

Organic and biodynamic viticulture consists of producing wine without synthetic chemicals to treat the vines, preserving the soil’s microbial life and ensuring proper vine nourishment. This brings both quality and true terroir expression to the wine.

Whether driven by trend, a return to ancestral methods, or an even deeper pursuit of quality, every reason is a good one to embrace organic farming!

Organic Certification: Ethics vs. Business Strategy

However, caution is warranted: many winemakers are adopting organic farming today to revitalize their estates.

For many of them, organic viticulture represents quality, eco-friendly practices, and the use of healthy, chemical-free products. Yet, there is an even greater incentive for these producers: successfully marketing their wines.

Today, numerous winemakers have transitioned to organic farming to capture market share. Obtaining organic certification allows them to sell their wine more easily—and, above all, at higher prices!

Grand Crus and Organic Farming: When Excellence Doesn’t Need a Label

When it comes to the most prestigious estates—such as Domaine Georges Roumier, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Domaine Leflaive, Jacques Selosse, or Domaine de la Romanée-Conti—organic practices have been in place far longer than with these newer domains and their fresh outlook on the organic world. Yet, you won’t find any official certification or organic logo on their bottle labels. Why is that?

The answer is simple: the relentless pursuit of quality and the expression of terroir remain the ultimate priorities for these world-renowned producers.

Their wines rank among the finest in the world, and displaying an “organic” or “biodynamic” logo holds little appeal for them. Passing down ancestral methods from generation to generation, they perpetuate tradition while showing deep respect for nature.

France: A Global Powerhouse in Organic Wine Production

In terms of production, France stands in the top three global producers of organic wine alongside Spain and Italy. Together, these three countries account for three-quarters of world organic wine output. In France, over 65,000 hectares (representing 8.2% of French vineyards) are now organic—a staggering 188% increase since 2007.

This new “organic era” is attracting a growing number of young winemakers deeply concerned about protecting our planet…

A Philosophy of Living Soils Inspiring Provençal Terroir

This quest for purity and authenticity goes beyond winemaking alone. In Provence, the same respect for the land and artisanal craft inspires modern, exceptional producers. This vision is embodied by Canebiera, which applies the principles of 100% organic cultivation with uncompromising rigor in the heart of the Provençal terroir.

Much like the iconic winemakers, Canebiera emphasizes manual labor, respects natural cycles, and rejects synthetic chemical treatments. This authentic approach proves that a passion for organic practices and a love of the land continue to redefine quality standards across the region.

L’article High demand in organic wines est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

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.

Meanwhile, the first London Sotheby’s wine auction on September 17 and 18, yielded the sum of £1,65 million after an estimation between £1,3 and £1,6 million.
The most exceptional lot was a lot of two Pétrus 1945 magnums, sold £47000, considerably above its estimation: £18000 – 24000.
The second one was a lot of 5 La Tache magnums, sold at one hell of a price – £44650, or three times the estimate (£12000 – 15000).

In Hong Kong, the Acker Merall auction proves one more time the desire of Chinese and Hong Kong collectors to own the best wines in the world – French Grand Crus.

 (source picture: copyright Sotheby’s)

L’article DRC and Pétrus top the auction lists est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The use of pesticides and weed-killers, will, on the contrary, destroy the microorganisms living in the soil making it poorer. The vine will not be able to “feed” itself correctly, affecting directly the grape and hence the wine itself.
The evolution of techniques and equipment has helped the wine maker to maintain his vineyards, and to labor his soil with more simplicity. However, is mechanized labor as efficient as it’s laid out to be?
A century back, tractors didn’t exist, and the plough horse was the main actor in laboring the vineyards.
Nowadays, the tractor has taken over for a majority of the vineyards, allowing the winemaker to gain time on the vineyard’s maintenance.
Certain domains such as Romanée Conti, the horse remains and is the unique means of working the land. The horse tramples the soil and increases the soil’s aeration, without necessarily flattening the ground and this at a great depth, whilst the tractor just with it’s weight and huge wheels, will compact and flatten the soil.
Certain scientists are affirmative, that soil labor will not affect the quality of the grape or the vine, but on the contrary, it would upset more the fragile equilibrium within it.

So, who is right or wrong?

I still think that soil labor is necessary, but in a traditional manner and not mechanically. Otherwise, how can one explain that wines produced by Romanée Conti, maintain themselves amongst the best wines in the world without their horses?
Let’s leave to industrial wines mechanized ploughing, in order to achieve quantity, and leave traditional ploughing for the quality of Grand Crus.
Therefore, dear scientists, shed your white lab coat, leave the laboratory in order to spend more time in the middle of vineyards, with the men and women who make the wine. Your research will probably be less hypothetic and moreover, verifiable.

L’article Does mechanical soil labor, have an influence on the wine? est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

Sotheby’s is organizing an auction in Hong Kong on the 4^th of October of this year, in which this fabulous lot of 114 bottles of Romanée Conti, as well as a private collection of Gran Crus, from Netscape’s founder, Jim Clark, containing a lot of Henri Jayer magnums.
This auction should move the great collectors and Burgundy amateurs in all of Asia. Of the 778 lots proposed, 40% will be represented by Burgundies, weighing for more than 70% of the total value, that’s estimated at in between 4,5 and 6,7 million dollars.

A lot of 114 bottles of Romanée Conti is a unique event, probably in one’s lifetime. This auction should leave it’s mark for years to come.

Acker, Merall Condit’s are organizing an auction in New York on the 6th of September. Again, Bordeaux and Burgundy Grand crus, will have collectors drooling. Such as a vertical of Châteu Lafite, or a lot of 5 “millésimes” from DRC Richebourg, from 1990 and 2006.

Fine and rare wine auctions, are continuously growing, reaching more amateurs and collectors from all over the world.

L’article Auction: an exceptional lot of Romanée Conti est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The sale of the SVEAAS collection reached the sum of 6 800 000 Dollars.
Here below, you will find the first ten, classified by: (name, vintage, sales price, buyer)

– Château Mouton Rothschild 1986, 30×12 bottles, 
USD 288 000 (198 621 €), Europe

– Hermitage La Chapelle, Paul Jaboulet Aîné 1961, 12 bottles, 
 USD 252 000 (173 793€), Europe

– Château d’Yquem 1945, 12 bottles, 
 USD 132 000 (91 034 €), Europe

– Château Latour 1945, 12 bottles,
 USD 126 000 (86 897€), Asia

– Château Mouton Rothschild 1945, 12 bottles, 
USD 120 000 (82 759€), Asia

– La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1978, 12 bottles, 
 USD 78 000 (53 793€), Asia

– Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1991, 12 bottles, 
 USD 78 000 (53 793€), Asia

– Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1993, 12 bottles, 
USD 78 000 (. 53 793€), Asia

– Château Cheval Blanc 1921, 12 bottles, 
 USD 72 000 (49 655€), Europe

– Château Latour 1961, 12 bottles, 
USD 66 000 (45 517€), Europe

A case of 12 bottles of Cheval Blanc from the last century was auctioned by Christie’s in Paris the 6^th of December 2013, this exceptional vintage hit the ceiling; 131.600€ the case of twelve bottles of 1947 Cheval Blanc, it was on this last auction that fell Christie’s auctioneers hammer, setting a new record for this class of product.
Michael Ganne, director of Christie’s department of fine wines, was pleased with the excellent results of this sale, which got together bidders from sixteen countries. A 1989 Pétrus Jéroboam went for 28.200€, at the same time a lot of 9 bottles of this same wine was sold for 23.500€.

A record sale for Vosne-Romanée: Hong Kong loves the wines from Burgundy.

On the tenth of February of this year, took place at Christie’s in Hon Kong the sale of “Fine and Rare wines from Henri Jayer’s private cellar”. The total amount climbed to a sum of 7 million Euros, with a record auction for 12 bottles of 1985 vintage Premier crus “Cros Parantoux” Vosne-Romanée that went for 200.000€. CharlesCurtis, director of the “Asian wine market”, welcomed the sale, declaring: “These record sales, confirm the passion of our Asian clients for Burgundy wines, and Hong Kong’s position as the dominant market place for rare wines”.

27% value increase of Burgundy wines in the Beaune sale.

The 153^rd sale at the Hospices de Beaune under Christie’s auspices, registered a new and important increase of 27,12% in the rates of Burgundy wines. The prices of the reds jumped by 28% thereby doubling the rates. Whites have progressed by 20%. The small harvest of 2013 and its gustative quality, explain this strong progression.  The buyer Ms. Yan Hong Cao, participating for the third time at the Hospice de Beaune sales, is the owner of a chain of shops, tea plantations and jade mines in the south east of China. She acquired for the sum of 131.000€ a 456 liter barrel of Meursault Genevrieres premiers crus, cuvee Phillipe Le Bon, she declared in Chinese that she appreciated the wines from Burgundy. In total this auction has reached the sum of 5,765 million Euros, beating the 2012 edition record of (5,217 million Euros).  “The Burgundy pinot noir has become a rare wine in 2013” explained Roland Masse, manager of the Hospices de Beaune wine estate. “The autumnal weather of this spring added to this, a hailstorm episode in July, has decimated many a vineyard in the Côte de Beaune. 2013 is rare in quantity, but extraordinary due to some small precious nuggets.

“Record sale at Christie’s: 77.000 Euros for a case of wine. A case of French wine has reached the record sum of 109 350 Swiss Francs (77 469 Euros).

An anonymous private Asian buyer has bought a case of six bottles of Hermitage la Chapelle 1961, in these auctions by Christies, exceeding largely the estimates.

Several magnificent Burgundy vintages where put up for sale, such as a Henri Jayer 1990 Vosne-Romanée estimated between 45 000 and 50 000 € or a 1799 Bordeaux Château Laffite estimated between 15 000 and 20 000€.

Around the world, the sales of wines by auction have almost doubled between 2009 and 2010, going from 233 million $ to 408 million $. The 7 most important auction firms in the world (ordered by the turnover realized in wine sales):

–       Acker worldwide-

–       Sotheby’s worldwide-

–       Christies worldwide-

–       Zachys worldwide-

–       Hart Davis Hart Chicago-

–       Spectrum-

–       Bonhams.

The five most sold Bordeaux reds or (Blue chip wines as they are known), in other words, the most reliable values are:

Mouton-Rothschild 1982

–       Mouton-Rothschild 1986-

–       Château Lafite 1996-

–       Château Lafite 1982-

–       Mouton-Rothschild 1995.

$232.692 for a Château Lafite 1869 (Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Oct. 2010)
. 
$310.700 for a jeroboam of Mouton Rothschild 1945 (Sotheby’s New York, Feb. 2007)
. 
$1.051.600 for 50 cases of (75 cl) Mouton Rothschild 1982 (Sotheby’s New York, Jan. 2006). 
Romanée-Conti 1990: $20.211 (New York), $13.452 (Hong Kong), $11.850 (Chicago). 
Pétrus 1982: $4.628 (NY), $5.860 (HK), $2.553 (London), $3.835 (Chicago)
Cheval-Blanc 2000: $1.208 (NY), $1.469 (HK), $1.171 (London), $922 (Chicago)

In 2011 a new record was attained! A château d’Yquem 1811 (from the Napoleonic period), became the world’s most expensive white wine, 85 000€, this record was achieved at an exceptional auction at the Ritz hotel in London in July 2011.

It’s a case of Pétrus 1961that pegged the record price: estimated between 50 000$ and 90 000$ (36 000€ and 65 000€), it was finally sold for 144 000$ (104 200€), a price never before reached by a case of Pommerol in an auction.

Other lots where sold at extremely high prices, such as these 11 bottles of Pétrus sold for 90 000$ (65 000€) to a professional European buyer or a case of Château Lafite 1982 sold for 50 400$ (36 400€) to a private Asian buyer. On this subject, Charles Antin, a specialist for Christie’s in North America declared, “The sale of great and rare wines organized by Christie’s in New York last weekend, has once again proved the extraordinary solidity of the wine auction market. The total turnover has exceeded 2 000 000 $ (1 450 000€). A lot of 12 bottles of Château Pétrus 1961 was the object of the highest bid, with 144 000$ (104 200€), this being the highest price ever reached by a case of Pétrus in an auction”.

“We are also extremely happy with the results of the excellent selection of wines, coming directly from the Marchesi Antinory cellars. All the goods where sold at a 150% rate, above the highest estimates, this being once more proof of the undeniable influence of the wine’s origins on the prices”.

On Saturday 29^th of October, 99% of the lots at this auction found a buyer, sold for 98% of the realized value, in other words, a total of 2 105 340$ (1 523 840€).

In a two-day auction at Sotheby’s of London, which proposed wines from “an exceptional private collection” these attained a total sum of 1 870 682 £ (2 171 735 €) originally estimated before the auction at 2 115 960 £ (2 456 270 €).

It is a case of Château Lafite 1986 which gave the highest sale, going for 13 225 £ (15 350 €). Stephen Mould, Sotheby’s European wine director, declared regarding this auction: “ The rarest vintages of Bordeaux Premiers Grand crus have overreached the highest estimates, and the Château Haut-Brion had a lot of success in all the formats”.

“At the end of the first day, the super second wines had been literally overrun and they had all been sold. This tendency was confirmed the following day. The Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Ducru-Beaucaillou et Palmer, for example, where actively bought by phone and through internet. It is the Château Cheval Blanc that outshone on the Rive Droite. As far as the Pomerol is concerned, the price of the majority of the vintages of the Château Gazin where sold well above the highest estimates”.

This weekend, two auctions, respectively created by Acker Merral& Condit and Christie’s, have again gone on to break more records. The first one, over a two day period in Hon Kong realized by Acker Merrit & Condit, billed almost 8,7 million Euros. Amongst the important lots one finds two cases of 1988 Romanée-Conti, being adjudicated for 74 551 Euros each, eight bottles from the Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, sold for 48.234 Euros and a case of Château Lafleur 1982 gone for 39.467 Euros. The second sale hosted by Christie’s on the 27^th of Mai, was dedicated to Chateau Latour, after a real 8 hour marathon, the auction collected almost 7,76 million Dollars, the star of the event being a 6 liter bottle (Imperial) of Château Latour 1961 sold for 135 000 £ (approx. 155 740 Euros). It is to be noted that of the 392 lots presented 95%, went for, well above the highest estimates.

In 2011 a new record was attained! A château d’Yquem 1811 (from the Napoleonic period), becoming the world’s most expensive white wine, 85 000€, this record was achieved at an exceptional auction at the Ritz hotel in London in July 2011.

The preceding record for a white wine was held by a 1787 Château d’Yquem Sauternes, issued from the same vineyard as the 1811 vintage and costs approximately 60.000 Dollars a bottle. A 1947 Cheval Blanc holds the record for the most expensive bottle, it’s a red wine sold by Christie’s of Geneva, last November for 304.375 Dollars.

The famous Château Cheval Blanc sold through Christie’s in Hong Kong, the bottles came directly from their cellars. This totaled 220 lots, proposed to the public, these being extremely rare since they where in unusual formats. The origin of the bottles directly from the château as well as the atypical formats pushed the high estimates over the wall. 70% of the bottles found a buyer exceeding the expert’s estimates for a total of 1,1 millions Euros. The masterpiece of the sale was a nabuchodonosor of 1998 Cheval Blanc, sold for 34 551 dollars, that’s almost 26 000 Euros. A magnum of 1936 Château Cheval Blanc found a buyer for 10 208 Dollars that’s almost 7 500 Euros, a double magnum of 1974 reached 7 852 Dollars (almost 5 800 Euros) and a 2004 Melchior (equivalent to 18 Liters) reached the sum of 10 993 Dollars  (almost 8 100 Euros). The notoriety of the château stimulated the auction to these incredible levels. This list is not exhaustive, and could fill several chapters if we took the time to present all the results of auctions of Grand crus around the world. But beware; only grand Crus can hope to reach these prices.

It is imperative to remember that investing in Grand Crus isn’t to be undertaken lightly, you have to choose with care how and with whom you operate, otherwise the critics might be right!

L’article The grand crus record placements of all time est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The level of counterfeited bottles took on overwhelming proportions these last few years due to an increase in the demand for fine wines. According to some sources, regarding the wine sold in China, more than 30% are counterfeits, specially since these bottles have become exact replicas of the originals, since labels and capsules, are robbed directly from the domains or chateaux. This has happened to one of the most famous champagne producer in the world, Jacques Selosse, his property was broken into on the 21st of March 2013, 3700 bottles, 16 000 labels, and 12 000 neck labels where taken. All this of course, is destined to a parallel market!

This will probably remind you of one of the biggest Grand crus scam artist, Rudy Kurniawan, condemned for having counterfeited 1000 of the most prestigious French Grand crus bottles such as Romanée Conti, Roumier, Ponsot, Pétrus, and for having sold thousands of bottles to collectors the world over.

This declaration of intention has therefore been signed between China and France, in order to fight counterfeit, and thereby protecting producers, buyers and collectors as well. The General Direction of Customs and of Indirect Taxes and the AQSIQ (Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quality) of China, have opened the hunt for counterfeit wines.

This should re-assure producers and clients from the Asian market, this being the most affected area by counterfeit bottles.

L’article COUNTERFEIT: France and China sign a letter of intention. est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

L’article Burglary attempt, in Michel Jack Chasseuil’s house est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

For the young woman under thirty it would be:

A rose, slightly sweet, fine and light for the aperitif or a light summer luncheon, such as a rose Bonbon from the Diables domain. A fine, dry white wine, very aromatic and lightly unctuous, this can be found in the Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, issued from the Nicolas Joly domain. We then propose an extremely aromatic red wine, with mellow tannins but nevertheless extremely warm, such as the Domaine de Pignan from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards. And to follow, a well-matured and very fresh brut rose Champagne, we suggest L’oeil de predrix from the Dehours domain.

For those aged between thirty and forty, they would be more inclined for:

A powerful and refined rose that is long in taste such as the Made in Provence, from the Domaine Saint Lucie. A mellow white wine, well balanced garnering beautiful freshness and fruity notes, such as the Clos Jesbal, Vendanges Tardives issued from the Zind-Humbrecht domain. An elegant red, with complex aromas like the Burgundy, Gevrey Chambertin 1er crus Les Champeaux, from the Alain Burguet domain. Finishing off with an exceptional white champagne Blanc de Blanc, extremely refined, with creamy bubbles that lingers magnificently in the mouth, such as the unique, Salon Champagne.

Women over their forties, the perfect age, based on experience, having understood the pros and cons of life and knowing how to enjoy it, will tend for:

A woody rose wine, with fine aromas and beautiful texture, wrapped up in a great length in the mouth, a Provence such as the Chateau d’Esclans from the Domaine Sacha Lichine is perfect. A brilliant white wine, having a complex bouquet, solid and well structured with a good acidity, with pure and mineral notes, a Burgundy such as the Corton-Charlemagne from the Georges Roumier domain. A red wine with the following characteristics; complex, lingering in taste, powerful and extremely elegant, a Burgundy such as the Echezeaux, Grand Cru from the Romanée Conti domain. And finally an absolute must, a Blanc de Blanc vintage champagne, capable of transmitting the flavors of an exceptional “terroir”, with a strong personality, of great quality and possessing a fabulous complexity, reflecting nature magnificently, this is perfectly illustrated by the incredible Jacques Selosse champagnes.

Well ladies, what do you think of all this?

L’article What women expect … est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

L’article Pinot Noir est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.