Monday 23 August 2010
Monday 16 August 2010
Encarta fine wines - Bordeaux History
Bordeaux History
Philosophers, popes and poets rhapsodised over the “Divine Nectar” Wines whose history is as old as civilisation itself. Winemaking in Bordeaux – the largest and oldest vineyard on earth – dates back to the 1st century when gauls planted grape vines on the banks of Garonne.
 The 4th Century poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius wrote of winemaking in St-Emilion, where the foundations of his villa, Chateau Ausone, Stand. Bordeaux was part of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s dowry when she wed Henry II in the 12th century. Claret-drinking increased dramatically with great quantities of wine barrels being shipped to England. In the 17th Century, the Dutch became the biggest importers of Bordeaux wines. Their Vignerons drained the marshes, prolonged fermentation and ageing, and grew more vineyards along the graves and the Medoc. Vineyards continued to spread such that a collection of “communes” the Vignoble de Bordeaux was formed. Wines began to be labelled properly, according to the region and the area in which they were grown. Emperor Napoleon III used the 1855 Exposition universelle de Paris to showcase France at her best. He ordered a classification of the best Bordeaux wines; Brokers devised a taxonomy based on the prices that the greatest wines fetched over the previous hundred years, creating the 1855 Bordeaux wine official classification. Today, as some 2,000 years ago, Bordeaux remains the most important fine wine region in the world |
Encarta fine wines - The Parker Palate
 The Parker Palate The emperor of wine cannot be ignored. On his immensely influential say so, wine markets move and shake, he has become the champion of the wine buyer. In his tasting notes on the 2005 Bordeaux, Robert Parker wrote “one thing I am sure of after 28 years of tasting Bordeaux wines every march is that 2005 cannot be compared to any previous vintage in my experience”. |
 It was, by all accounts, another Bordeaux record-breaker, with some of the best reds described as rich and opulent, with powerful Tannis and wonderful freshness. Thousands of years of wine-making traditions on the concept of terroir combine with the generally mild, Mairtime climate - warmed by the currents of the Gulf Stream – and the clement spells of long, dry weather, to give the assest class of Bordeaux wines their special, distinctly rare quality and character. Former lawyer turned critic, the American Robert M Parker, is the world authority on wine today. In 1983 he tipped Bordeaux’s 1982 vintage for greatness. A powerful player and mover in the world of fine wines, his reputation, and that of his publication, the wine advocate, remain unchallenged.. |
 Awarded the grand prix of the international academy of gastronomy - the food and drink equivalent of the Nobel Prize - Robert Parker pioneered a quality point system for rating wines, from 50-100. His scores, comments and tasting notes-on colour, flavour and finish, aroma, and bouquet, potential & quality- can make or break a vintage or a wines standing, and put an estate in utter turmoil. His ratings determine how wines will be received in the market, how they should be priced, and which wines will leap into greatness. His annual wine pilgrimage takes him to Bordeaux every spring spending three months tasting in vineyards. “When I put my nose into a glass, it’s like tunnel vision. I move into another world, where everything around me is just gone, and every bit of mental energy is focused on that wine” he said. |
Encarta fine wines - Storing Your Wines
 Fine wine for consumption or long-term investment – should be held in bond to remain free from VAT and Import duty. Proper storage of fine wines secured in specialist humidity – and temperature controlled conditions is incredibly important, to protect their integrity, provenance and traceability & to avoid damage so that value increases rather than reduces, ensuring their future saleability. Please consult your Encarta Fine Wines Specialist in helping you open a private account. Under current UK taxation rules NO TAXES are paid on capital gains as long as you do not trade the wines on a regular basis. Wine is also considered a “wasting chattel” and as such is charged to Inheritance Tax accordingly. There is no charge to Income Tax as wine is not an “income baring investment”. Encarta is committed to providing a high level of personalised service throughout the lifetime of your account. Our experts will help you source and choose the wines that represent good value, with strong capital-appreciation potential. We have considerable experience of creating a balanced, diversified portfolio of wines from the great chateaux of Bordeaux. We will share with you up to date news on how fine wines are performing in the market, our exciting new finds, surprising vintages and their special ageing qualities. Our recommendations will be tailored to your individual requirements. We are happy to discuss with you our range of services, including managing your wine portfolio. It’s an exciting market, at the heart of which are outstanding wines with great brand recognition worldwide. As interest continues to increase around the world, with newly created wealth driving demand, it’s a market set to grow in years – generations – to come. |
Encarta fine wines -Record Vintages
 Top-tier Bordeaux wines from some of the best vintages of modern times 1982,1985, 1986, 1989, 1996, 2000, among others have shown exceptional value and investment potential. A haven, said the financial times, for investors in difficult times, fine wines have outperformed traditional stock market indices in recent years. At Encarta Fine Wines, We usually recommend a holding term of anything between 5 and 10 years. Red Bordeaux have shown an incomparable history of increasing in value over time and buying into tanglible, secure assets that improves with age has shown that fine wines can, indeed be lucrative collectables. |
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