by Adam Lechmere – Paul Symington, Decanter’s Man of the Year 2012, was ‘predestined’ for his role at the helm of the family company.
Speaking to
Andrew Jefford in this month’s issue of
Decanter magazine, the chairman of
Symington Family Estates remembers how ‘grim’ life was for the port shippers when he was started work at the company in the mid-1970s.
‘Now we drive nice cars and live very comfortably, but then there wasn’t any money and we couldn’t afford to travel. I never went to England until I was 13.’
When he started work at the company in his mid-20s, he now feels he was ‘almost predestined for this, and that my career was laid out for me. It’s hard not to imagine what you might have done in another field.’
Symington tells Jefford he refuses to be downcast by the current crisis in Portugal. Indulging his passion for history he went through the archives and realised that good times come and go ‘like the seasons’.
‘Some times had been very good, but some had been really awful. We have some difficult times in Europe and Portugal now, but these things are like the seasons; it will change in time. I can’t do anything about it, so I don’t worry.’ Continue reading “decanter.com: Paul Symington, Decanter Man of the Year 2012″
by Decanter.com staff – Decanter magazine’s Decanter World Wine Awards edition hits the shelves this week – with details of 
over 8000 award-winning wines.
The massive, gold-covered 376-page issue of
Decanter is the biggest the magazine has published. It covers the competition – now in its eighth year – in every possible detail, from the desert island luxuries of the 30 regional chairs to full articles on each of the 25 International Trophy winners.
The International Trophies – the pinnacle of the Awards – will be announced at the Decanter World Wine Awards dinner at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden on Wednesday 7 September and published on Decanter.com at midnight.
In the magazine, which is published to coincide with the dinner, all 8330 award-winning wines are listed, with full tasting notes for every wine winning Bronze medal or higher.
Each section is introduced by its regional chair – 30 of the world’s finest wine critics, with over 900 collective years in wine between them. Continue reading “decanter.com: Decanter: biggest-ever issue for Decanter World Wine Awards”
by Adam Lechmere – Australian Riesling is infinitely superior to New Zealand’s, according to a Decanter panel of eight New World Riesling experts.
Earlier this year the panel tasted 79 Australian and 55 New Zealand Rieslings from a variety of vintages, the majority from 2010 and 2009 with a handful of vintages going back to 2005 and earlier.
The wines came from all Riesling-producing regions of the two countries. The vast majority of Australian wines were from the Adelaide Hills, and Clare and Eden Valleys, while most New Zealand Rieslings were from Marlborough, with a few from Central Otago, Nelson and other regions. Continue reading “decanter.com: Australian Riesling head and shoulders above New Zealand – Decanter panel”
by Adam Lechmere -Premium winemaking in Napa Valley could be impossible in 30 years according to a study into climate change.
Scientists at
Stanford University in California looked at four wine-growing counties in the western United Sates — Santa Barbara County and the Napa Valley in California, Yamhill County in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Walla Walla County in Washington state’s Columbia Valley.
The scientists said that by 2040 there could be 50% less land suitable for cultivating premium wine grapes in high-value areas of Northern California.
However, some cooler parts of Oregon and Washington state would become correspondingly better for growing grapes. Continue reading “decanter.com: Napa unsuitable for premium wine in 30 years – study”
Von der Toskana in die Welt: ein revolutionierendes Ausschanksystem begeistert die britische Fachzeitschrift Decanter, eines der renommiertesten internationalen Weinmagazine, machte sich auf die Suche nach den einflussreichsten Männern der Weinwelt 2011 und veröffentlichte mit seiner so genannten „Power List Top 50“ ein Ranking, in das sich nicht nur Weinproduzenten, sondern auch Journalisten und Meinungsmacher einreihen.
Auch zwei italienische Namen finden sich in der Liste, die beide in der Toskana zuhause sind: Piero Antinori und Lorenzo Bencistà Falorni; der Mann, der 2002 Enomatic (www.enomatic.it) erfunden Continue reading “In der Decanter „Power List Top 50“ steht auch Lorenzo Bencistà Falorni… der Mann hinter Enomatic”
by Decanter.com staff – For the first time, Decanter has published its entire Bordeaux 2010 coverage in Chinese on Decanter.com
Every wine presented at the En Primeur tastings in March has been translated into simple text Chinese, and is available at Decanter.com/china.
The section comprises tasting notes and scores by the Decanter team: Steven Spurrier Continue reading “Decanter.com: Decanter launches Bordeaux 2010 Chinese guide online”
by Adam Lechmere – The use of geothermal energy and other carbon-reduction strategies can mean savings of up to 50% in energy use, a climate change conference heard last week.
More than 20 scientists, climate change experts, viticulturalists and politicians from around the world gave an impassioned plea to the wine world last week – follow our example and save the world.
The Wineries for Climate Protection Conference in Barcelona last Friday was attended by over 400 delegates, mainly from Spain. Continue reading “Decanter: Geothermals, packaging reduction discussed at Barcelona conference”
by Panos Kakaviatos – With Bordeaux 2010 en primeur prices eclipsing last year’s offerings, American merchants worry about the ability to sell mid-level wines whose prices are higher than ever. As has been the case with previous vintages, the market for the blue chip wines seems solid, but wines a bit further down the pecking order are struggling. Continue reading “Decanter: Bordeaux 2010 – America baulks at 2010 prices”
by Adam Lechmere - In a further twist to the ongoing saga of Bordeaux 2010 prices, negociant Barriere Freres has refused to sell Chateau Rauzan Segla because of its ‘ludicrous’ price.
In an email to the UK wine trade seen by Decanter.com, the negociant announced, ‘Barriere Freres has simply decided to refuse directly its allocation on this wine as we find this offering completely out of line and has no justification whatsoever.
‘We can understand that wine producers can be ambitious but this one is just completely ludicrous.’ Continue reading “Decanter: Negociant boycotts ludicrous Rauzan Segla”
by Rebecca Gibb – The huge Australian harvest this year is ‘out of step’ with the realities of sustainable production, a senior executive has said. Yields from the 2011 Australian and New Zealand harvests have exceeded all expectations.
Australia has recorded a larger crop than 2010 despite disease ravaging the country’s wine regions while New Zealand has announced another record-breaking vintage. Continue reading “Decanter: Australia 2011 harvest ‘too big’, says winemaker federation”
by Adam Lechmere - Smith Haut Lafitte has become the latest victim of buyer fatigue with this week’s release of
Bordeaux prices – but owner Florence Cathiard has fiercely defended her decision.
Chateaux Lagrange, Grand Puy Lacoste, Leoville Barton, Leoville Poyferre, Smith Haut Lafitte have now all released their prices on the 2010 vintage.
Some are considerably higher than last year: Pessac-Leognan stalwart Smith has come out at €77, almost 50% more than 2009 and almost double its 2005 opening price.
To some merchants this is not a good idea: at Bordeaux Index Gary Boom emailed Decanter.com, ‘It’s not selling. The 2009 (way better) is still available £100 cheaper. Last year we sold 284 cases – this year 19.’ Continue reading “Decanter: Bordeaux 2010 – Massive price rise for Smith Haut Lafitte fails to impress”
by Adam Lechmere - Gerard Basset, one of the world’s most accomplished sommeliers, has been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Basset joins Andre Simon, the late Harry Waugh, Jancis Robinson and other wine luminaries as a holder of the much-coveted civilian award.
The Order of the British Empire was established in 1917, and ranks second to the CBE, Commander of the British Empire, and above the MBE, Member of the British Empire.
Basset is considered to be at the height of his powers as a sommelier. Among numerous accolades he won the World’s Best Sommelier Competition in Santiago, Chile last year. Continue reading “Decanter: Gerard Basset awarded OBE”
by Adam Lechmere – A group of Spanish wineries has signed the Barcelona Declaration, pledging to combat climate change.
The Declaration, which formed a major theme of the Wineries for Climate Protection conference which took place in Barcelona on Friday, was signed at a ceremony on Thursday night in the town hall in the centre of the Catalan capital.
Ricardo Lagos, former president of Chile and now UN special envoy for climate change, chaired the meeting.
Also present were senior figures from the Spanish wine world such as Miguel Torres of Torres, Mar Raventós of Codorniu and Pablo Alvarez of Vega Sicilia, as well as representatives from the different Spanish consejos reguladores (wine trade bodies), members of the OIV (the international wine organisation) and the FEV (Federación Española del Vino). Continue reading “Decanter: Torres, Codorniu, Vega Sicilia sign up to Barcelona Declaration”
by Jane Anson in Bordeaux – Thomas Do-Chi-Nam, technical director of Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande since 
1992, has been announced as the replacement for Philippe Bascaules at Chateau Margaux.
Philippe Bascaules will be leaving in September, after 11 years at
Chateau Margaux, to begin his new role with Francis Ford Coppola at Inglenook Vineyard in California.
Dô-Chi-Nam will take over Bascaules’ role as Directeur d’Exploitation – estate manager and technical director – at the end of this year, after he has completed the 2011 harvest with Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande. Continue reading “Decanter: Chateau Margaux unveils Do-Chi-Nam as Bascaules replacement”
by Giles Fallowfield – August holidays have been cancelled in Champagne in anticipation of a very early harvest, possibly the earliest on record – especially if the warm weather of March to the end of May continues. Flowering was generally completed before the end of May and in some places the vines were in full flower by 21 May.
Adding 92 days – the average time over the past decade in Champagne between flowering and the start of the harvest—picking could start on 22 August. However because August is usually warmer and has more sun than September, it is possible the period between flowering may be even shorter, at just 80 days, which means the first grapes may be cut on August 16.
The lack of rain also tends to accelerate the date, Louis Roederer winemaker Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon said, adding that he ‘would be ready to start from August’. Continue reading “Decanter: Champagne 2011 harvest could be earliest since 2003″
by Hazel Macrae – A recent US report has cast doubt on winemakers’ claims that climate change is responsible for increased alcohol content.
A recent US report has cast doubt on winemakers’ claims that climate change is responsible for increased alcohol content.
The report, ‘Splendide Mendax – False Label Claims about High and Rising Alcohol Content in Wine’ from the American Association of Wine Economists, analysed climate data from1992-2009. Continue reading “Decanter: Climate change not responsible for rising alcohol levels”
by Adam Lechmere – Synthetic cork manufacturer Nomacorc is planning to start a major research programme in China.
The programme, which will be a joint operation with a Chinese academic institution, will be on the same lines as the programmes Nomacorc already runs with
University of California Davis, Geisenheim, the Wine Australian Research Institute and other bodies.
The research will aim to understand how oxygen affects the development of wine in the bottle, Malcolm Thompson, global vice president of marketing and innovation told Decanter.com.
It will be geared towards the Chinese wine market and specific to wines produced in China, he said. Continue reading “Decanter: Nomacorc plans Chinese research”
by Jane Anson in Bordeaux, and Adam Lechmere – Chateau Gruaud Larose has just released its price for the 2010 
vintage – prompting Bordeaux insiders to predict the floodgates will open.
Gruaud Larose, a second-growth and the highest-profile property to declare its price in the slowest en primeur campaign for at least ten years, will be €45 ex-Bordeaux, up 14.2% on last year.
Other important releases include Chateau d’Armailhac (at €32.40 ex-Bordeaux, +17.4% on 2009), Chateau Haut Bages Liberal (€27.50 ex-Bordeaux, +12.2% on 2009) and Chateau de Fieuzal (€25.20 for the red, +10.5%).
‘There will be an incredible number of releases over the next few days,’ Mathieu Chadronnier, managing director of negociant CVBG Grands Crus told Decanter.com. Continue reading “Decanter: Bordeaux 2010 – Gruaud Larose release to open floodgates?”
by Adam Lechmere – Vinexpo chief Robert Beynat is planning a return to the United States for the trade fair, after more than six years away.
The last time
Vinexpo was in America was Chicago in 2004, an event which attracted 25% less than the New York Vinexpo two years before.
At the time, France’s standing in the US was at an all-time low because of its opposition to the 2003 war with Iraq. It was not an auspicious time for Vinexpo to mount a trade fair in the US, Beynat said. Continue reading “Decanter: Vinexpo will return to America”
by Panos Kakaviatos – The woman who tried to buy bottles of Petrus worth €2,300 for €2.50 each by switching barcodes represents the tip of the iceberg, fraud experts say.
The 23-year-old, who has not been named, was caught last month in a Leclerc supermarket in Trélisssac, Dordogne, having changed barcodes, replacing the indicated price of about €2,300 per bottle with €2.50 labels, according to Agence France Presse.
But for every person caught, many more get away with such label switching, French supermarket executives told Decanter.com. Continue reading “Decanter: Petrus barcode switch tip of iceberg”
by Louis Villard in California, and Adam Lechmere – Excessive planting of Syrah since the late 1990s has resulted in under-par wines and consumer confusion, California’s Rhone veterans have said.
Paso Robles in Central California recently hosted some 130 producers for the 19th annual Hospice du Rhône.
Crowds of over 2000 were greeted by California producers accompanied by wineries as far afield as Château la Nerth in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Barossa’s Torbreck – about 30% of the wineries attending were foreign. Continue reading “Decanter: Californian Syrah suffering identity crisis”
by Richard Woodard – Family-owned Zinfandel specialist Seghesio Family Vineyards has been bought by Crimson Wine Group for an undisclosed sum.
The Seghesio family will remain closely involved in the running of the Sonoma estate, with third generation member Peter Seghesio taking on the role of winegrower, and Ted Seghesio staying on as winemaker. Continue reading “Decanter: Seghesio sold to Crimson Wine Group”
Under the terms of the deal, previous majority shareholder Symington Family Estates – owner of famed Port houses including Warre’s, Graham’s and Dow’s – will maintain a minority stake in the business. Continue reading “Decanter: Blandy family buys back Madeira Wine Company from SFE”
by Adam Lechmere – Francis Ford Coppola is actively working to produce more elegant, lower-alcohol wines at his re-named Inglenook winery, he told Decanter.com yesterday.
The film director and owner of the legendary Inglenook estate in Napa has employed Chateau Margaux winemaker Philippe Bascaules as his managing director to work alongside Bordeaux-based consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, who has been with Coppola since 2008.
Speaking at the Ledbury restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, Coppola said, ‘I want to return to elegance. I will go for the [old] Inglenook style – lower alcohol, more freshness, balance, more restrained tannins – and less oak: Stephane hates oak.’ Continue reading “Decanter: Francis Ford Coppola to return Inglenook to ‘lower alcohol’”
by Panos Kakaviatos – Bordeaux needs rain, say winemakers, as the region has seen record dryness, high temperatures and hours of sunlight so far in 2011.
Since January, Bordeaux has had far lower rainfall than usual: 27mm instead of 92mm average in January, 62mm instead of the 82mm average in February, less than half of the average 70mm in March and only 11.2mm of rain instead of the 82mm average in April. Continue reading “Decanter: Bordeaux 2011 – Record rain deficits, temperatures and sunlight”
