News

Bordeaux sets a €1,100 bulk-wine reference

On October 20, the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux published a voluntary reference of €1,100 per tonneau for non-organic AOP Bordeaux red wine sold in bulk.

The reference sits within a wider regional debate about viable production costs and the prices growers can obtain. Its influence will depend on how buyers and sellers use it in actual transactions.

Source: Vinetur The Fine Wine MarketVineyard and Cellar

Graves de Vayres marks a century of defending its identity

The Graves de Vayres appellation union will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Saturday, November 7, 2026, marking a century of efforts to defend the small Libournais terroir’s identity.

Graves de Vayres remains easily overlooked beside the better-known appellations of the Libournais. Its centenary puts the relationship between collective identity and market visibility back into focus.

Source: Sud Ouest GravesGraves de Vayres History and ArchivesThe New Bordeaux

Mouton plans Sotheby’s sale with Warhol magnums and 2025 barrel

Sotheby’s London will auction Château Mouton Rothschild wines on February 4, 2027, including four artist-label magnums, 77 bottles plus one magnum spanning 1924 to 2024, and a barrel of the 2025 vintage.

The sale combines Mouton’s label history with direct access to the young 2025 vintage. It will offer a visible test of collector demand for rarity, provenance and estate-specific experiences.

Source: Haute Living Château Mouton Rothschild The VintageThe Fine Wine Market

Pesticide dispute returns to the Bordeaux Court of Appeal

The Bordeaux Court of Appeal examined an appeal by Alerte aux toxiques, which was ordered in 2021 to pay €125,000 after disclosing pesticide traces in Bordeaux wines.

The case keeps the conflict between environmental advocacy and Bordeaux’s protection of its reputation before the courts. Its outcome will be closely read by growers, trade bodies and campaigners.

Source: Le Monde Rules and Classifications

Laurent Basse-Cathalinat takes charge at the Cité du Vin

Laurent Basse-Cathalinat is set to succeed Philippe Massol as general director of the Cité du Vin, working alongside president Jean Bernard after Massol leaves on December 31, 2026.

The appointment completes another step in the leadership transition at Bordeaux’s principal wine cultural institution.

Source: Vitisphere Estates and PeopleVisiting Bordeaux

Bordeaux 2010 revisited as a long-distance classic

A tasting of 37 red Bordeaux wines from 2010 characterized the vintage as tannic and suited to extended ageing, according to aktien.news.

The appraisal adds a vintage-specific perspective to the renewed market interest in mature Bordeaux and long-term cellar value.

Source: aktien.news The VintageHistory and Archives

Bernard Magrez launches non-traditional Bordeaux blends

Bernard Magrez unveiled a new range of 22 limited-edition Bordeaux wines in Paris, blending vintages and appellations and using unusual vinification techniques, according to Decanter.

The launch tests whether limited runs and unconventional blending can create fresh demand for Bordeaux beyond its familiar formats.

Source: Decanter The VintageVineyard and Cellar

Mouton-Rothschild prepares a historic London auction

Château Mouton-Rothschild will offer exclusive lots at a London auction on February 4, 2027, estimated at £1.9 million to £3.1 million and including the 1924 artist-label vintage, previously unoffered large formats and a barrel of 2025, according to Terre de Vins.

Direct château provenance and exceptional formats should make the sale a revealing gauge of demand for blue-chip Bordeaux and Mouton’s label history.

Source: Terre de Vins Château Mouton Rothschild The Fine Wine MarketHistory and Archives

Unions fear closure of the Vayres bottle plant

The CGT fears O-I’s Vayres glassworks, where production has been halted for months, could be the European site selected for permanent closure; the plant employs 170 people and makes bottles destined in particular for Bordeaux vineyards.

The site is Gironde’s only industrial glassworks and has received €60 million in recent investment, making its future significant for Bordeaux’s packaging supply chain.

Source: Vitisphere The New BordeauxThe Fine Wine Market

Valérie Murat’s pesticide appeal reaches court

On November 3, 2026, the Bordeaux Court of Appeal heard Valérie Murat’s appeal. Murat maintained that she acted in good faith, while the wine industry argued that Bordeaux wine had been disparaged.

The case tests the boundary between environmental advocacy and reputational harm in a region still debating pesticide use and sustainability claims.

Source: Sud Ouest Rules and ClassificationsVineyard and Cellar

Bordeaux’s new leaders confront the sector crisis

Anthony Jezegou, the new director general of the CIVB, and Sophie Martin-Hérisson, the new director of Côtes-de-Bourg, reviewed 2026 and discussed prospects for 2027 as Bordeaux’s wine sector faces an unprecedented crisis.

Their priorities will help shape how Bordeaux responds to a crisis affecting growers, appellations and the wider trade.

Source: Terre de Vins The CrisisEstates and People

Valérie Murat Defends HVE Residue Claims on Appeal

According to Vitisphere, Valérie Murat and lawyer Bruno Bouyer appeared before the Bordeaux Court of Appeal on November 3 in the defamation case brought by the CIVB over her 2020 communication about pesticide residues in 22 HVE-certified wines.

The case keeps scrutiny on how environmental certification is communicated and how Bordeaux’s institutions respond to public criticism of certified wines.

Source: Vitisphere Rules and ClassificationsHistory and Archives

Michelin's Selected Bordeaux Winegrowers Enter the Spotlight

According to Reporter Gourmet, the Michelin Guide highlighted 10 Bordeaux winegrowers at major estates across the region, including Marielle Cazaux at Château La Conseillante in Pomerol and Mathieu Bessonnet at Château Pontet-Canet.

The framing puts individual growers and generational contrast ahead of château hierarchy, offering another route into Bordeaux for international readers.

Source: Reporter Gourmet Château La ConseillanteChâteau Pontet-Canet Pomerol

Sustainable Bordeaux Benchmarks Reach €1,500 for HVE and €2,000 for Organic

Bordeaux’s organic-wine sector and Chamber of Agriculture have applied European tools to establish sustainable reference levels per tonneau. The figures sit above the indicative pricing communicated by the interprofessional body.

The gap exposes the central question in Bordeaux’s bulk market: whether prevailing prices can support certified environmental commitments as well as basic production costs.

Source: Vitisphere Vineyard and CellarThe Fine Wine Market

Right Bank Lawyers Convene a Wine-Crisis Forum in Libourne

According to Vitisphere, 4 Bordeaux Right Bank lawyers will hold a public meeting at Libourne City Hall on November 19 with vineyard stakeholders, Grands Chais de France and insolvency administrators to discuss early legal intervention and crisis management.

The emphasis on early legal intervention signals concern about growers and wine businesses waiting too long before seeking restructuring advice.

Source: Vitisphere The CrisisRules and Classifications

A family succession finds a route to market

Paul Parlange took over his family’s property in Saint-Caprais-de-Bordeaux during the wine crisis and launched Clos des Gommiers in 2022 at €37 a bottle. According to actu.fr, the wine secured a placement at the world’s best restaurant.

The story shows how a small producer can build demand despite the wider Bordeaux downturn and the image problems attached to less celebrated appellations. Direct commercial validation can matter as much as regional promotion for estates operating outside the prestige tiers.

Source: actu.fr Estates and PeopleThe Crisis

Bordeaux captures 41% of Liv-ex trade

According to Liv-ex, Bordeaux accounted for 41% of traded value during the week, with the 2019 and 2020 vintages the top-traded by value. The 2005, 2006 and 2009 vintages also traded actively.

Bordeaux strengthened its market lead, but the regional split in purchasing shows that demand remains uneven. The activity in 2019 and 2020 also gives merchants a useful signal on where current buying interest is concentrated.

Source: Liv-ex The Fine Wine MarketThe Vintage

Margaux records more bats and bees

A new inventory found 36% more bats and 15% more bees in the Margaux vineyard than in 2015, following a decade of expanded biodiversity initiatives.

The findings offer a measurable result from appellation-level environmental work. They also provide a benchmark for assessing whether biodiversity programs can produce sustained changes across a major classified-growth landscape.

Source: Vitisphere Margaux Vineyard and CellarRules and Classifications

Inside Château Haut-Batailley

Château Haut-Batailley, a Pauillac fifth growth, has undergone changes since the Cazes family bought it in 2017, including its distinctive pink winery walls.

Estate profiles can reveal how individual Pauillac properties distinguish themselves beyond classification and appellation. Here, architecture and operating philosophy form part of Haut-Batailley’s public identity.

Source: Decanter Château Haut-Batailley Pauillac Estates and PeopleRules and Classifications

Bordeaux keeps Asia at the centre of its export strategy

Bordeaux’s wine festival opened in Hong Kong on October 29. Despite difficult market conditions, Asia remains a priority for the region’s wines.

The event places consumer engagement and export development alongside this week’s weaker cellar-sales figures. Hong Kong remains an important setting in which Bordeaux can test appetite across Asian markets.

Source: Sud Ouest Trade and TariffsVisiting Bordeaux

Bordeaux Winegrowers Report 24% Emissions Reduction

Bordeaux winegrowers and wine merchants have collectively reduced carbon emissions by 24% since 2012, according to the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB). The region plans to reach a total reduction of 46% by 2030, Environmental Leader reports.

The figure provides a regional benchmark for Bordeaux's sustainability efforts and a basis for judging further progress.

Source: Environmental Leader Vineyard and CellarThe Fine Wine Market

Château Thieuley to Uproot 10 Drought-Prone Hectares

Marie Courselle, who runs Château Thieuley with her sister, will uproot 10 hectares of vines in drought-prone areas of Gironde, where yields have fallen to 25 to 30 hl/ha.

The decision connects climate adaptation directly to vineyard economics. For some Gironde parcels, low yields are no longer merely a vintage problem but a threat to long-term viability.

Source: Vitisphere Château Thieuley The VintageThe Crisis

Bordeaux Producers Pursue São Paulo's Luxury Market

Fifteen Saint-Émilion producers brought their best wines to São Paulo for potential Brazilian buyers, marking the first time the Associação dos Grand Cru de Saint-Émilion included Brazil on its route.

The push places São Paulo at the center of Bordeaux's premium ambitions in Brazil and offers a concrete signal of where producers see international demand developing.

Source: Estadão Saint-Émilion The Fine Wine Market

Bordeaux Study Links Biodynamics to Less Grape Rot

A doctoral study conducted from 2022 to 2024 at Château Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac, Bordeaux, found lower susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea among biodynamically managed grapes. In laboratory tests, 69% were infected, compared with 89% under organic management alone, according to Revista ADEGA.

The findings add another measurable dimension to the debate over biodynamics, this time focused on fungal incidence and grape condition rather than philosophy alone.

Source: Revista ADEGA Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Vineyard and Cellar

Bernard Magrez launches 22 unconventional cuvées

Bernard Magrez and his son Philippe have introduced 22 rare cuvées blending wines across vintages, properties and appellations.

The collection is an explicit attempt to renew demand for Bordeaux through scarcity and blending beyond the region’s usual property and vintage conventions.

Source: Terre de Vins The VintageVineyard and Cellar

Valérie Murat challenges Bordeaux denigration ruling

Valérie Murat will challenge on the merits the €125,000 judgment arising from pesticide-residue analyses of 22 HVE-certified wines. The appeal hearing is scheduled for November 3.

The case places environmental certification, residue testing and public criticism of Bordeaux wines back under legal scrutiny.

Source: Vitisphere Rules and Classifications

Bordeaux Tasting sets out its 15th edition

Bordeaux Tasting will hold its 15th edition at the Bourse on December 12 and 13, with producers, masterclasses, workshops and events.

The programme gives serious drinkers and the trade a concentrated opportunity to taste Bordeaux alongside wines from other French regions.

Source: Terre de Vins Visiting Bordeaux

Bordeaux took 37.4% of Liv-ex trade

Bordeaux accounted for 37.4% of the value traded on Liv-ex during the week.

The figure shows Bordeaux retaining a substantial place in secondary-market activity even as sales from regional cellars remain under pressure.

Source: Vinetur The Fine Wine MarketVineyard and Cellar

Bordeaux cellar sales fell 11%

Sales of Bordeaux wine from cellars fell 11% in the 12 months through April 2026.

The decline adds another concrete measure of the pressure facing producers and merchants as Bordeaux works through weaker demand.

Source: Vinetur The Fine Wine MarketVineyard and Cellar

Bordeaux 2010 reassessed

A new assessment reevaluates Bordeaux’s 2010 vintage as it develops today.

Current vintage reviews can help collectors reconsider drinking windows, bottle selection and cellar strategy.

Source: Jancis Robinson The VintageThe Fine Wine Market

Clos Puy Arnaud Flies the Flag for Castillon

Over 25 years, Thierry Valette has elevated Clos Puy Arnaud in Castillon, an estate already recognized as a premier cru in the 1874 Féret guide.

Castillon’s strongest estates help define the appellation beyond its traditional value positioning. Long-term improvement at individual properties can lift how merchants and drinkers view the wider area.

Source: Sud Ouest Clos Puy Arnaud Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux The Fine Wine Market

How Bordeaux Second Wines Work

Bordeaux châteaux make second wines from grapes that do not meet the standards for the Grand Vin, often for earlier consumption and at lower prices. Some estates may direct 50% or more of their harvest to these wines.

Second wines sit at the intersection of selection, estate identity and value. Understanding how they are assembled helps buyers judge what the château name does, and does not, guarantee.

Source: Revista ADEGA The VintageThe Fine Wine Market

Biodynamic Treatments Linked to Higher Soil Respiration

According to Vinetur, a six-year trial in Bordeaux linked biodynamic treatments at Lafite Rothschild to a 40% increase in basal soil respiration and a 33.7% rise in microbial biomass carbon in organic plots. The study did not assess yields or wine quality.

The result adds a measurable soil indicator to Bordeaux’s debate around vineyard practices. The important question is whether that signal corresponds with durable benefits for vines and wine.

Source: Vinetur Château Lafite Rothschild Vineyard and CellarThe Vintage

Can younger drinkers fall for Bordeaux again?

Bordeaux retains its prestige but is struggling to renew consumer interest, particularly among younger generations, while facing overproduction.

Strong secondary-market demand for mature bottles does not resolve Bordeaux’s broader consumer problem. The region still needs to convert reputation into interest among new drinkers.

Source: Le Devoir The CrisisThe New Bordeaux

Ten generations at Château Mazeris

Jean de Cournuaud represents the 10th generation at Château Mazeris, a property founded in 1769 in Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac that produces Canon Fronsac. The estate covers 23 hectares, including 15 hectares of producing vines.

The estate offers a view of continuity and adaptation in the Fronsadais, where long family histories must coexist with changing market expectations.

Source: Sud Ouest Château MazerisChâteau Mazeris Jean de Cournuaud Canon-FronsacFronsac Estates and People

Bordeaux leads trade as Lynch-Bages 2005 tops the table

Bordeaux accounted for 37.4% of traded fine-wine value, while Burgundy held 15.7%. Lynch-Bages 2005 was the leading wine by value, and US and UK buyers increased their purchases.

The figures reinforce the market’s current preference for established Bordeaux with bottle age. They also show Bordeaux maintaining a substantial lead over Burgundy in traded value.

Source: Liv-ex Château Lynch-Bages The Fine Wine Market

Acidification expands across Bordeaux 2026

Bordeaux winemakers are increasingly acidifying Cabernets, rosés and whites to manage climate change effects in the 2026 vintage. Pascal Hénot of the Coutras enological centre said he had never acidified as many wines in a vintage.

The breadth of acidification shows that climate adaptation is moving across grape varieties and wine styles. The commercial concern adds a difficult counterpoint to the positive early assessment of quality.

Source: Vitisphere The VintageVineyard and Cellar

Mature Bordeaux regains market favour

Mature Bordeaux wines are attracting renewed interest in the fine-wine market.

The shift places bottle age at the centre of current demand and supports the market signal provided by Lynch-Bages 2005.

Source: Vinetur Château Lynch-Bages The Fine Wine MarketHistory and Archives

Quintus builds its wine tourism offer

Fifteen years after its creation within the Clarence Dillon group, Château Quintus is formalizing its hospitality division and opening its Saint-Émilion property more broadly to visitors. New facilities include a shop with a terrace, a tasting room and 2 dedicated staff members.

The investment shows hospitality becoming a more deliberate part of estate strategy. It also gives Quintus another way to develop its identity within Saint-Émilion.

Source: Terre de Vins Domaine Clarence DillonChâteau Quintus Saint-Émilion Visiting BordeauxThe Fine Wine Market

Hot vintages complicate the acidity debate

Bordeaux producers and researchers are reassessing heat strategies after wines from the hot 2022 and 2026 vintages retained freshness despite low measured acidity. Vinetur published the findings on October 23, 2026.

The finding complicates any simple relationship between analytical acidity and perceived freshness. It also gives producers another reference point when deciding how to handle increasingly hot seasons.

Source: Vinetur The VintageVineyard and Cellar