Château Lafite Rothschild Owners Launch Chinese Wine Project: Bordeaux firm plans to plant on 60 acres in Shandong province and prove China’s winemaking potential

 Wine giant Château Lafite Rothschild is out to put China on the winemaking map. Recently, Château Lafite Rothschild partnered with a Chinese company to secure 60 acres of land to grow grapes. Wine production is several years away, but soil testing and determining which grape varietals will grow best starts soon.

 Bordeaux 2008: First Growths tipped for €100 a bottle as market takes control

 

With the economic crisis being felt around the world, now may be the time to buy a few outstanding wines. Bordeaux first growths, some of the most respected wines in the world, are slashing their prices in response to market conditions. Château Latour was the first to announce its price at 110 Euros or about $145 U.S. dollars. Check out these links for more information.

 

Decanter Magazine

Bordeaux 2008

 Merlot Makes a Comeback: After greedy vinters largely ruined the popular varietal, a tasting of inexpensive wines shows new promise

 

After becoming an overnight success and planted in every nook and cranny that would grow grapes, the quality of Merlot wines severely declined. The wines were sweet, simple, dripping with vanilla and overly alcoholic. However, recent vintages appear to have placed more of an emphasis on quality over quantity. Merlot producers seem to be moving in the right direction.