Never has there been so much good press for the wine trade. There seem to be almost weekly articles on the benefits of investing in wine, ranging from an entire supplement in the Financial Times to a piece in the Daily Telegraph speculating that red wine was good for your eyesight. Well that’s the end of getting blind drunk then!
Wine is a serious business with its own rhythms and rituals. For centuries, France has been the heartbeat of this trade and whilst its pre-eminence has waned a little in the face of the New World onslaught, it is to France that serious wine lovers usually return. The ‘en primeur’ campaign that is presently underway captures the essence of that love affair.
‘En primeur’ is the selling of rights to wine before it has been bottled. Originally it was a means to create cash flow in springtime (hence the name translated means ‘In spring’) to pay the workers for the upcoming picking season. Now it is more of an exercise in Bordelaise PR but make no mistake, they are very good at what they do and the seductive allure of the great Chateaux persist.
Without question, the 2009 vintage delivers. Wine critics are unusually united in hailing the vintage as the greatest that Bordeaux has ever produced. From a personal perspective, I have never seen demand like this in my twenty five years in the Trade. In uncertain economic times, such as at present, it obviously helps that there is no Capital Gains Tax on wine and the interest of new buyers from the East continues to inflate prices. Yes, some of the prices are eye-watering but there are still some serious bargains to be had.
Claret-e is a small independent wine merchant based in Fulham and specialising in high end French wines. No, we don’t have a shop; shops are expensive and involve a staff turnover not dissimilar to the revolving doors on the first day of the Harrods Sale. Instead, we buy all our wines direct from suppliers and ship direct to our customers which means that we cut out the middlemen and pass the savings on to you. Please call us for a list or to go on our e-mail special offer list which is where you will receive all our best offers at prices below those that you will find elsewhere.
As we write this, we are also madly buying and selling 2009 Bordeaux. But remember, it is a finite commodity. Companies can issue more shares or respond to demand by increasing production but you simply cannot make any more of the Mouton, Latour, Lafite or any of the other fine wines from the region.
So from top Bordeaux to our gorgeous Bordeaux Rose, we like to think we are the place to come. Please contact Guy Butterwick or Sara Harrison for any information or just for a chat and advice, we would love to hear from you!
Claret-e Limited
Suite 208
London House
100 New Kings Road
London
SW6 4LX
Tel; 020 7384 7610
Email; info@claret-e.com
Website; www.Claret-e.com
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