En Primeur

A method of buying, wherein the wine is bought before it is released. Also known as buying futures. Buying wine en primeur allows collectors to be more certain of securing given wines. The wines most likely to be sold en primeur are Bordeaux wines from top châteaux.

The term “second wine” is used in Bordeaux to refer to an affordably-priced wine from a very famous château. The quality of the estate’s second wine—while good—is not as exceptional as that of the château’s best wine, known as its “grand vin.” Which of the following is NOT a second wine from a renowned Bordeaux château?

A. Le Petit Mouton from Château Mouton Rothschild

B. Le Petit Cheval Blanc from Château Cheval Blanc

C. Les Forts de Latour from Château Latour

D. Pavillon Rouge from Château Margaux

Le Petit Cheval Blanc is the brand new white wine made by Château Cheval Blanc, the first white the chateau has ever made. The wine, which is from the 2014 vintage and is 100% sauvignon blanc, will be released at the end of this month.

Nose Job

The Portuguese company Amorim—the leading supplier of cork stoppers in the world—has just come up with what we hesitate to call an innovation: scratch and sniff closures (yeah, no kidding). Part of the company’s new “Top Series,”… Continue reading

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