Saturday 28 October 2017

Francois Pinault of Chateau Latour buys Clos de Tart for €40 million per hectare?

Francois Pinault, the 81 year old French billionaire businessman, who owns Chateau Latour, has just confirmed the purchase of Clos de Tart in the Burgundy village of Morey St Denis. This beautiful 7.53 hectare of Grand Cru vines is a Monopole, which means it is under sole ownership, rather than classically being split into multiple ownership.
There was a strong rumour that the Rouzaud family (owners of Champagne Louis Roederer and Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande) were going to buy Clos de Tart.
But Francois Pinault has a history of buying ultimate quality prizes. He bought Chateau Latour in 1993 under the nose of the Wertheimer family, who were under bidders, and took consolation by buying Chateau Rauzan Segla in Margaux and Chateau Canon in Saint Emilion.
Clos de Tart joins Francois Pinault's other burgundy estate Domaine Eugenie (formerly Rene Engel) in Vosne Romanee.
Clos de Tart has some significant neighbours in the village of Morey St Denis in Clos des Lambrays owned by Bernard Arnault's LVMH as well as the excellent Domaine Dujac owned by the Seysses family.
The cost of Clos de Tart has not been released, however the rumour is that the price was between €200-€250 million, valuing the estate at c€40 million per hectare.
Decanter magazine and The Drinks Business have written about the purchase.




Thursday 19 October 2017

Bordeaux 2017: The rich and the poor.

How much does it cost to produce a bottle of Bordeaux wine?
To oak or not to oak? The decision could double the production costs.
Alex Hall at Vineyard Intelligence wrote this interesting article, explaining that the costs for producing a Bordeaux AOC wine is approximately €2.88. It is important to remember that over 55% of the 700 million bottles produced per year in Bordeaux are Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Superieur. (figures from 2010).
However for the top Cru Classe estates in the Medoc, Pomerol, Graves and Saint Emilion the production costs will be slightly more than €2.88. If new oak barrels are used for ageing the wine there is an immediate extra €3 per bottle. There may be additional capital expenditure such as an optical sorting machine. These amazing innovative machines can cost approximately €150,000 for a Bucher Vaslin or X-Tri machine. But these machines reduce the labour costs of sorting grapes, as 6 or 8 people were previously employed over two or three weeks. The current minimum agricultural wage in France is €9.76 per hour. So the cost for employing 8 people over three weeks would be approximately €10,000. The optical sorting machines also process the grapes extremely quickly and precisely.
Of course there is capital expenditure required in any winery, such as replacing fermentation tanks and up grading pumps and cooling equipment. But these costs can be off set over a large wine estate that might be producing over 500,000 bottles per year.
And finally the cost of the bottle (most top Chateaux use a heavier or engraved bottle) as well as the cork (a longer cork is best), and the label.
Some Chateaux are now investing in ambassadors and marketing people in order to support their brand, but the main sales are still controlled by the wine merchants (negociants) in Bordeaux. So there are minimal costs for sales and distribution.
So the approximate cost for producing a bottle of top quality wine in Bordeaux:
€2.88 basic cost (based on volumes above)
€3.00 if using new oak barrels
€2.00 for extra winery costs
€1.00 for extra marketing
Total= €8.88

Of course these figures can vary tremendously depending on the scale of the estate. As an example Chateau Clinet in Pomerol produces +-48,000 bottles per year, whilst Chateau Lascombes in Margaux produces well over 500,000 bottles per year. So the relative costs may be much lower for a larger estate. But if these wines are sold over €50 per bottle (the wholesale/trade price), then there is a decent margin involved, and sufficient financial cover to see the estate through some difficult years.

How much did it cost to produce each bottle of these exquisite wines?
In Bordeaux we now have Chateaux owned by Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Gucci. Some of the humble farmers have produced wines that have become luxury goods and marketed accordingly as re reassuringly expensive ultimate symbols of excellence. But for the majority of Bordeaux who are fighting for survival at the lower end, it is becoming quite tight. Especially with a difficult climatic year such as 2017, when the spring frosts have devastated many vineyards. We are looking at volumes 30-40% lower than average for the current harvest. If we have two or three bad or difficult years, there will be plenty more 'A Vendre' signs outside Chateaux. But most people seem to buy wine estates with their hearts and dreams rather than their heads.
If you are producing Bordeaux AOC wine at €2.88 and you are struggling to survive with minimal margins and slow sales, then you are hit by a drop in production, it will hurt. This is 55% of Bordeaux production.
The irony of 2017 is that most of the top estates on better terroir have not been effected by the frosts, whilst the majority of other estates on the lower vineyard area in Saint Emilion, parts of the Entre Deux Mer in Moulis and Listrac and in the wider Graves area have been hit hardest. This is the volume of Bordeaux production.

It is cheaper to produce dry white wine or rose wine in Bordeaux and the ROI is quicker.


It is more expensive and more risky to produce sweet wines in Bordeaux.
Sauternes sweet wines should be more expensive than the red wines.



Tuesday 10 October 2017

Best value wines from Bordeaux

During the course of the year I taste many many wines. The most intense tasting time is at the beginning of April when I taste the barrel samples in Bordeaux. over the course of two weeks I might taste +- 1000 wines. Of course it is a great pleasure, but it can also be quite tough. Young Bordeaux wines, in particular, are packed with tannins and acidity, which does wonders for your teeth! Also barrel samples are in finished wines, or as Remi Edange (of Domaine de Chevalier) recently described them: 'When you taste barrel samples, it is like buying a part built house. You can see the potential. But the roof and windows have not been finished and the garden is a mess. But maybe in a couple of years it will all come together!'

But I also taste many mature wines during my work. On average at Bella Wine Tours I will taste 10-12 wines per day. Most of these are top Chateaux such as Lafite Rothschild, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Haut Brion, Clinet, Figeac and Yquem. Although it is an extremely pleasant way to spend your day, it is not actually what I drink on a regular basis. Here below are some of my recent value wines from Bordeaux.

In the tasting room at Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
One of the most beautiful Chateaux in Bordeaux.


I have had a link and loyalty to Chateau de la Riviere in Fronsac for over 25 years. The soils are similar to Saint Emilion, the grapes are similar, but the prices are far less. For under €20 you can buy a mature vintage of Chateau de la Riviere. Also they have some large bottles available, which are fantastic for special anniverasies and parties. I bought my son a 15 litre (Nabuchodonosor) bottle from his birth year a couple of years ago.


A standard wine tasting in Bordeaux.
Barton family wines are always consistent
Chateau Leoville Barton was always considered one of the best value Cru Classe wines in the Medoc. Perhaps since 2005 it has become more in line with the other top Saint Julien estates, However it is worth looking out for Langoa Barton (I tasted their 2005 earlier this year in a blind tasting at Farr Vintners and it was exceptional). Also the Barton family have bought a Chateau in Moulis (further south in the Medoc and further inland). Chateau Mauvesin Barton is worth looking out for. The 2014, 2015 and 2016 will be excellent wines for mid term enjoyment. Unfortunately they have been hit heavily by the frost in 2017, so their production will be miniscule, if any.



Sometimes overlooked Chateau Brane Cantenac

It is quite easy to think of the Margaux appellation as Chateau Margaux, Palmer, Rauzan Segla, Giscours and Lascombes. However I adore Chateau d'Issan and Chateau Brane Cantenac as slightly old school quality wines. Both Chateaux have been in family ownership, by prominent Bordeaux families, for many years.....Brane Cantenac is owned by Lucien Lurton and d'Issan is part owned by Emmanuel Cruse.
Chateau Brane Cantenac 2005 and 2010 are exceptional wines.


Not classified, but great quality and value.

There were strong rumours throughout this Summer that Chateau Phelan Segur was up for sale.
I have always rated these wines. Especially the 2009 and 2010. Virtually next door to Chateau Montrose, but a fraction of the price.

A Sunday lunch value selection.

When a good friend, such as Chris Jones, comes for a proper Sunday lunch in Bordeaux, it is always worth trying out different wines. Having purchased our joint of beef (Rosbifs!!!), we browsed the wine selection in Carrefour Cauderan, Bordeaux.
These three wines above were all under €25.
Chateau Meyney has always been a favourite. Next door to Phelan Segur and Montrose. Outstanding value for a quality wine.
Chateau Clarke is the lesser known Rothschild estate in the Medoc. The high percentage of merlot is evident, and this wine is sublime.
Chateau Lespault-Martillac comes from the Bernard stable.....Domaine de Chevalier, Clos des Lunes, Domaine de la Solitude, Guiraud.
This wine from 2012 Pessac Leognan was an exceptional tight concentration of dark cassis and spice. A perfect value and quality wine.

Monday 9 October 2017

Key Decisions running a wine estate


 So, you have bought a Chateau, Domaine, Quinta, Estate or Farm and you want to produce some exceptional wines.
The writing of the cheque for £$€ X million was painful enough. But you will probably need that money in reserve to upgrade the wine estate and improve the quality. The first investment (and most long term) is the most important......the vineyard. Are you happy with the vines planted on the specific soils? Do you need to replant some old vines? Is the density of planting correct? Are the soils vibrant with the specific level of micro organisms? Or are they compacted and dull? We often say that 80% of winemaking is from the vineyard.


The iconic Chateau Latour in Bordeaux. Francois Pinault bought this Chateau in 1993 for £86 million without visiting the estate. 
The terroir is a crucial aspect of any vineyard, and more particularly in France Appellations, as they are not allowed to irrigate. So the soils, as well as the inclination, altitude, subsoils, drainage, and location are all crucial.

Nature is also an irascible unknown that can effect your success or failure to run a wine estate. In fact nature is the most crucial aspect when you roll the dice.

Having a cellar full of wine is a luxury, but also a significant cost.
Having spoken recently to a well known gentleman in Pomerol, who owns a well respected estate, he mentioned three key decisions that he needs to make during the year that he can not go back on or change. Everything else should fall in to place if nature is kind and if the correct people are employed to do the work.

Harvest machines might be a lot less expensive than manual labour, but where is the romance?


The wine sits in expensive oak barrels (c€900 per barrel) for nearly 2 years before bottling. Cash tied up.
The three key decisions are:
1. The harvest date.........
This obvious decision is based on a large element of scientific analysis and also an element of wisdom and knowledge. It might be distracting if all your neighbours are in full harvest, when you are waiting for three extra important days for maximum maturity for your grapes. Or if there is a threat of rain in the coming days, do you try to pick the grapes as soon as possible or wait for the rain to pass and maybe have the problem of soggy, rotten grapes to pick. A key decision that can not be reversed.

2. The bottling and maturity........
There are many variables for ageing wine and ultimately deciding upon which style of wine you want in the market. A light fruity rose? A soft easy drinking red? A wine for long ageing and tight with tannins? Once the big decision to bottle the wine has been made, then you can not reverse that decision. A wine might taste fabulous in the tank or barrel, but it will change and metamorphosis once in the bottle.

3. Setting the market price..........
If you go too low, you will sell out too quickly. If you go too high, you might not sell at all.
Setting the correct market price for your wine will of course be based on your production costs and also your anticipated ROI. But also in Bordeaux you might need to consider the classification, or what other similar Chateaux are achieving for their wines. For Bordeaux wines, (which are mainly sold as futures) setting the price is a key decision that can not be reversed.

Many people buy wine estates with their heart rather than their head. Many aspects of nature can be a gentle roller coaster and hopefully a positive experience. However these three decisions above are the influence of humans in the wine making and selling process.

Wednesday 4 October 2017

More innovation at Chateau Pontet Canet.

I have previously written about the innovations and developments of Chateau Pontet Canet.
However most of the work for biodynamic conversion has taken place in the vineyard.......special infusions sprayed on the vineyard, burying cow manure in cow horns, and generally using the lunar calendar for treatments and work in the vineyard. Then since 2012 the Chateau started to age their wines in unique amphora style cement tanks.
But now the focus of the team at Chateau Pontet Canet is turning to the winery and specifically fermentation. The picture above is of the new winery that has been opened in the last two weeks for receiving the 2017 grapes. 25% of the total production can go through fermentation here in special designed concrete tanks. The unusual aspect is that there is no electricity apart from the 12 volt LED lights. And the electricity generated to power their lights is generated from their own Geo Thermal bore holes, which have recently been dug on the estate. The idea is to eliminate any electro magnetism and influence on the wine. The tanks are designed on the prinicpal of 'the golden rule' and 'the magic number' (1.6180339887), which apparently is an important element of Leonardo da Vinci's architecture as well as Le Corbusier.


There has been much work in the vineyards at Pontet Canet. The vine above has not been trimmed. The shoots are tied to form an arch, which slows the growth and exposes the bunches of grapes.

 Forklift meets horse at the winery.

 The grapes arrive on the first floor of the winery at Chateau Pontet Canet, via horse drawn carts and then slightly more modern forklift trucks. The other unuusual element is that they are not using a classic de stemming machine. They are destemming the bunches by hand. The only other estate in Bordeaux who carries out this massively labour intensive action is Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac Leognan.


 The horses are being used more often at Chateau Pontet Canet. The latest construction has been the new stable block to cater for a few more horses. The eventual idea is to work all the vineyard with horses and also generate their own power and electricity via their Geo Thermal bore holes.
The Chateau was built in the late 18th Century, and has only had three family owners in the last three hundred years.....the Pontet family, the Cruse family and more recently (since 1975) the Tesseron family. But the innovations and changes over the last 15 years have been quite dramatic.

It will be fascinating to taste a vertical of Chateau Pontet Canet from 2000-2016 to judge all of the innovations and idiosyncracies coming from the constant innovations. Let's see what they do next......