Month: May, 2021

Ch. Lafite Rothschild: the long view

The Rothschild family have been the custodians of Lafite for 150 years. Saskia de Rothschild is the face of the new generation at the Pauillac first growth. Not so long ago, Saskia de Rothschild was a journalist based in West Africa. Today, the 33-year-old is chair of Ch. Lafite Rothschild, the iconic Bordeaux first growth […]

Bordeaux 2020: Sauternes and Barsac

In this series, Mark Pardoe MW provides insight into how Bordeaux’s key communes fared in 2020. Here, our Wine Director looks at Sauternes and Barsac, based on a conversation with Olivier Castéja of Ch. Doisy-Védrines. At a glance: Sauternes and Barsac in 2020 Hectares under vine: 2,217 Average yield: 12hl/ha in 2020 (14hl/ha in ’19); […]

Ch. Brane-Cantenac: the pursuit of precision

Henri Lurton makes one of Margaux’s most beguiling wines at his home estate, Ch. Brane-Cantenac. His approach is both technical and traditional, he tells us. Ch. Brane-Cantenac was classified as a second growth in 1855. It has been in the Lurton family for four generations; owner-winemaker Henri Lurton was born here and has worked every […]

Bordeaux 2020: dry white wines

In this series, Mark Pardoe MW provides insight into how Bordeaux’s key communes fared in 2020. Here, our Wine Director considers the dry white wines of Pessac-Léognan and Graves, based on a conversation with Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier. At a glance: Graves and Pessac-Léognan whites Hectares under vine: 937 Average yield: 36hl/ha in […]