Wine Journal

Next week will start seeing offerings of Bordeaux's 2023 vintage, the annual tradition of Bordeaux futures. Here's a preview of this vintage from the Bordeaux Institute of Vine and Wine (ISVV).

• Variability in Profiles: The red wines of 2023 are diverse, with some notable successes. Factors influencing this variability include regional thunderstorms, the diversity of soil types, and viticultural practices.
• Lower Alcohol Levels: Compared to

One of many Bordeaux buyers' favorite wines is Château Pontet-Canet. Located in the tight-knit Pauillac village, Pontet-Canet has long established itself among the other great wines from its luminous neighbors: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Pichon Baron, Château Pichon

- February is around the corner

If the traditional pattern of the New Year celebration held for 2024, millions of bottles of champagne were just popped again. Lots of bubbles! In the new year, you may be observing the dry tradition of January. We hope you have planned to celebrate Valentine's Day in February, at least. It is right around the corner.

In our Wine of the Month Selection for the dry month

- Wine Thoughts in the Winter

Among the top Bordeaux chateaux, Mouton Rothschild has a unique tradition.  Every year, it releases a newly commissioned artwork as its label for the vintage.  Part of this traces to the love of art by the owners of this prestigious producer, part of it is attributed to the idea of starting afresh each year with a blank slate (see comparison below: one without the artwork, and one with the newly unveiled label for 2021 vintage).

We chose not to propose James Suckling vs. Wine Spectator, albeit both publish a Top 100 Wine List of the Year. An occasional face-to-face aside, James Suckling and Wine Spectator have a complicated relationship, definitely not characterized as mere competitors.

James Suckling was the wine critic at Wine Spectator for nearly 30 years. He was the mastermind behind the annual Top 100 Wine List, a tradition he started at Wine Spectator and is now continued under the other James: James Molesworth. Nowadays,

- 2022 Léoville Barton

The Second Growth powerhouse

Bordeaux is on the cusp of the release of 2022 vintage.  The 2020 has been bottled.  Tradition dictates the wine critics to review and re-rate the vintage in the bottle.  The ratings came back, a bright star is shining over Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion.

Decanter magazine picked the 2020 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Laguna Cellar features Barolo, aka, "King of Wines"

Barolo is a red wine produced in the Piedmont region of Italy, specifically in the Langhe subregion. It is made from the Nebbiolo grape, which is known for its high acidity and tannins, and is considered one of the finest red grape varieties in Italy.

Barolo wine is known for its deep ruby-red color, complex aromas of cherries, raspberries, plums, licorice, and violets, as well as its full-bodied, dry, and tannic taste. It is aged for a minimum