We have launched a new tasting case this month to celebrate our involvement with the York Food and Drink Festival 2010.    Click here for a direct link to buy this case of wine online.

These wines are personally selected by Karen Hardwick of the Wine Academy and Jamie Goodhart, Director of Bon Coeur Fine Wines.  A fabulous case of 12 wines consisting of two bottles of five wines, with a bottle of our top selling Champagne and Prosecco. Normally this mixed case would sell for over £110 however it’s on offer for only  £99.90 inc VAT whilst stocks last.  

Why not get your taste buds going and delve into some new wines this month.

Jacques Bon Coeur Champange NV  (Champagne, France)
Top selling house champagne, fresh, dry, with good balance of fruit and mousse.

Prosecco, Bosca di Gica, Adami NV  (Italy)
Slightly dry, with crisp acidity, fresh and well balanced with a clean finish

Olivier Thierraiz, Sauvignon Blanc 2009  (French Country) 
French Country wine made by one of our boutique Loire producers. Karen thinks this is on par with an entry level Sancerre Blanc, punches well above it’s weight.

Moana Park, Sauvignon Blanc 2009,   (New Zealand) 
A delicious, new Sauvignon Blanc that really stands out from the pack.  Well balanced with mouth-watering gooseberry and passion fruit flavours. 

Bourgogne Terroir Cotes d’Or, Verget 2009 (Burgundy)  
Grapes are sourced from the villages of Puligny Montrachet and Meursault. Jean Marie Guffens the wine maker has been described by Robert Parker (top wine critic) as “the world’s best Chardonnay producer”.

Kaiken Reserve Malbec, 2008    (Argentina)
Produced by award winning winemaker Aurelio Mondes.  Rich dark and full bodied with hints of black cherry and liquorice with a lovely long smooth finish.

Guigal, Cotes du Rhone 2005   (France)
We have managed to secure an extra allocation of this great Cotes Du Rhone – 89 points from Robert Parker is good praise indeed for a wine at this price level.

Each mixed case comes with tasting notes and ideas on food and wine matching for each wine.   This is ideal for those wanting a recommended tasting case to try something different or to send as a gift. 

To place your order call T: 01765 688200 or E: carol(at)bcfw.co.uk or click here to buy wine online. Please note all wines are available to buy separately please either contact the office or place your order on our website www.bcfw.co.uk 

Karen of the Wine Academy is hosting a number of events at the York Food and Drink Festival 2010.   For further information on The Wine Academy please go to http://www.thewineacademy.co.uk and for the festival please go to http://www.yorkfoodfestival.com

See below for details of the harvest report hot of the press from the winery in Bordeaux.  Find out more about Chateau de Sours through our wine advisor and buy their wine online through the BCFW wine shop.

On 1st September, with a small team of 20 people, we commenced hand-picking the 2.1 hectares of young Sauvignon Blanc planted in 2 blocks 3 and 4 years ago and situated on the limestone plateau close to the winery.

The early results look very good indeed with the juice a very nice and very light silvery-green gold in colour and with beautiful aromas. The picking finished yesterday lunchtime and we now have 60 hl (8000 bottles) in tank !

The weather continues to be sunny and hot in the daytime but cool and crisp at night, perfect for picking and the maturing fruit.

However, we have had no significant rain at Chateau de Sours since early April and as a result we expect to have a low yield this year, possibly 20%+ down on what we would usually have and with some of the younger vines under quite a lot of stress from water deficit.

We are now just waiting to see what happens over the weekend before we decide if we need to continue harvesting next week, but it certainly looks as if the picking of the Merlot for the Rose could start soon at this stage.

This afternoon at 15h00 the temperaure was up to 28C and it is forecast to be 30C tomorrow and 32C on Sunday afternoon, but will fall to 10/12C at night for the next 2 or 3 days.

Monday is also due to be hot and could reach 30/32C but then on Tuesday it is possible that we could start get some welcome rain, possibly as much as 30 mm between Tuesday morning and Friday evening.

Anyway, we are off to a flying start, the rain will be welcome to just refesh and plump up the berries a little, then allowing for another two weeks or more before we start to pick the reds, things should be looking very good indeed.

Finally, our new Red Fermentation Cellar is ready to go and looks amazing and I will include some photos next week when I write again !

Now we’ve got just to wait another 3 months or so before everything else is done including the new barrel halls, laboratory, offices and the landscaping completed, but we’re well on the way !

Bon weekend to you all

Martin Krajewski, Owner, Chateau de Sours, Bordeaux, France

Weddings are arguably one of the most magical days in your Family’s lives with nothing left to chance!  With  so much to organise it is often difficult to decide on which Champagnes, Sparkling Wines, and still wines to serve.  Bon Coeur Fine Wines are seasoned specialists in providing wine for corporate events, weddings and functions throughout the year.

There are so many wines to choose from here are a selection of our top wedding wines.  For Champagne our in house Jacques Bon Coeur Champagne or why not try  Crement de Bourgogne Sparkling Wine by Cave de Lugny.  Some popular white wines to look at are Louis Latour Grand Ardeche 2005 or from New Zealand a lovely fresh and zesty Wild Rock, Sauvignon Blanc 2007.  For red wines Philippe de Rothchild Mapu Merlot 2007, soft and easy drinking from Chile or traditional red Chateau La Roca, Cotes de Rousillon 2005.  And to complete the meal a delicious dessert wine Chateau Liot, Sauternes 2001.

So how much do you need and how do we avoid running out on the big day??  Here’s a brief guide to help you through the big questions for the big day. (more…)

Investing in wine has now become very popular, as more people become aware that some seriously good returns can be made if the conditions are right.

It is well documented that the ‘First Growth’ wines from Bordeaux are often the best choices for investment wines, as they are the most well known throughout the world, and they have become something of a status symbol, especially in the Asian wine markets, which this year have become one of the biggest fine wine importers, due in part to the abolition of wine import duty tax in Hong Kong.

For any readers unfamiliar with the first growths of Bordeaux they are: Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux also has a first growth which is Chateau d’Yquem, the famous sweet wine. (more…)