Topic
History and Archives
Old bottles, old lists and old arguments: the record behind the reputations.
By month
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- March 202658
- February 202652
- January 202662
- December 202533
Appellations
Saint-Émilion 50Médoc 46Margaux 24Sauternes 23Pomerol 21Pauillac 18Pessac-Léognan 14Entre-deux-Mers 9- Bordeaux AOC8
Graves 8Saint-Estèphe 7Saint-Julien 7Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux 6Crémant de Bordeaux 6Haut-Médoc 6Barsac 5Premières Côtes de Bordeaux 5Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 4Listrac-Médoc 4Bordeaux Supérieur 3Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 3Fronsac 3Lalande-de-Pomerol 3Canon-Fronsac 2Côtes de Bourg 2Moulis 2Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux 2Graves de Vayres 1Montagne-Saint-Émilion 1
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Graves de Vayres marks a century of defending its identityThe
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. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mature Bordeaux attracts investment attention
According to Decanter, mature Bordeaux wines from the 1990s and 2000s are being tipped as an opportunity for collectors as reaction to this autumn’s La Place releases remains muted.
For collectors and merchants, the focus puts older vintages, rather than only new releases, at the center of the secondary-market conversation.
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Marie-France Manoncourt marks 70 years at Figeac
Marie-France Manoncourt marks 70 years at Château-Figeac in 2026 after joining the
Saint-Émilion estate in 1956.Her tenure represents an exceptional span of direct institutional memory at Figeac, whose family ownership dates to 1892.
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Paris tasting to assemble 100 Rothschild vintages
A Paris tasting in November will bring together 100 vintages of the same Rothschild wine after the bottles undergo authenticity analysis.
The combination of historic depth and authentication makes this a notable event for collectors and the fine-wine trade.
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The Douro wine that dared to aim at Bordeaux
Revista ADEGA says Vinha do Fojo, a Douro wine first launched in 1996, was relaunched after a 12-year hiatus with inspiration from Bordeaux.
The comparison shows how Bordeaux continues to function as a reference point for positioning ambitious wines beyond France, even when the finished expression comes from a very different region.
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Bordeaux’s most beautiful estates, according to Michelin
Esquire highlights Bordeaux wine estates selected for their beauty according to Michelin. The emphasis is on château culture and wine tourism.
Estate architecture and visitor experience increasingly influence how Bordeaux is presented alongside the wines themselves. Michelin’s involvement adds another external lens to the region’s château hierarchy.
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Bordeaux evolves without losing its identity
Sud Ouest considers how Bordeaux is changing while retaining the distinctive identity of its wines.
The tension between modernization and continuity now shapes conversations about style, reputation and the region’s future audience.
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Gojira launches a wine with a Bordeaux vineyard
French metal band Gojira has launched its own wine through a long planned collaboration with a Bordeaux vineyard.
The partnership shows how Bordeaux producers can reach audiences through cultural collaborations beyond conventional château communication.
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Haut-Brion reveals the treasures of its library
A new 448-page book opens
Château Haut-Brion ’s library, presenting nearly 1,500 years of wine and gastronomic history through a 7,000-piece collection assembled by Prince Robert de Luxembourg.The publication presents Haut-Brion through its historical holdings, extending the estate’s identity beyond the vineyard and cellar.
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Michelin’s Bordeaux château ranking reaches new audiences
A Portuguese-language report introduces Michelin’s new grape-based selection of Bordeaux estates, framing it as an extension of the group’s hospitality ratings.
International coverage shows that the ranking is already influencing how Bordeaux estates are presented beyond traditional wine media. Its lasting importance will depend on whether consumers use it for visits, purchases or both.
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The Cité du Vin opens its autumn cultural season
The programme runs through December with tastings, talks, music, sensory events and encounters focused on wine culture.
The new season follows a summer affected by major fires and arrives during the Cité du Vin’s tenth-anniversary year. Attendance will offer an early indication of how strongly Bordeaux’s cultural tourism can recover outside the summer peak.
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Bordeaux Tasting returns in December
Bordeaux Tasting will return on 12 and December 13, 2026 for an anniversary edition, with ticket sales now open.
Large consumer tastings remain an important point of contact between estates and drinkers, particularly as Bordeaux works to broaden engagement beyond traditional trade channels.
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Perfect storm for Bordeaux’s wine legacy
A forest fire west of Bordeaux burned to within 15km of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte’s vineyards, according to The Star. The fire was described as one of the worst since World War II and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate.
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Wildfires threaten France's historic Bordeaux wine region
Wildfires are threatening France's historic Bordeaux wine region, putting its vineyards at risk.
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Les Domaines de Moncets moves intoPessac-Léognan for the first timeLes Domaines de Moncets acquiredChâteau Pontac Monplaisir inPessac-Léognan , expanding to 5 properties totaling 56 hectares. The 16-hectare estate has historic links to the family that owned Haut-Brion. -
Meet the CEO Bringing New Flair to the Historic Château Angélus Bordeaux Estate
de Boüard-Rivoal is the first woman in 8 generations to lead Château Angelus in
Saint-Émilion . As managing director, she leads a team of 170 people. -
Debate: What Bordeaux needs to do to maximise its potential
UK buyers, importers and wine merchants debated how Bordeaux producers can modernize their wines and expand the region’s presence in premium on-trade markets. William Stephens of Nectar/Asahi said consumers do not always perceive Bordeaux as a source of value wines.
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Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin marks 10th anniversary with visitor milestone
Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin is marking its 10th anniversary in 2026 after welcoming more than 3.5 million visitors since opening in 2016.
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Sensory experience in Goiânia revisits the historic Bordeaux Classification - Zelo
In Goiânia on July 9, sommelière Emília Almeida will lead a tasting experience featuring wines from
Margaux ,Saint-Julien ,Saint-Estèphe andPauillac and revisiting the Bordeaux Classification created in Paris in 1855. -
The creation of Opus One brought together major 20th-century wine figures from Napa and Bordeaux.
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How Bordeaux learnt to take American wine seriously
Bordeaux has learned to take American wine seriously.
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Bordeaux is adapting to a historic crisis by turning more attention to white wine.
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Castel Heirs Removed from Wine Unit Board as Family Dispute Escalates
Bloomberg reports that two heirs in the Castel family have been removed from the board of the historic wine business based near Bordeaux. The move deepens a family power struggle inside one of France’s biggest drinks empires.
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Sud Ouest looks at how Bordeaux wine is winning over new consumers after fears about the region's decline.
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“Vino Veritas”: La Cité du Vin celebrates its 10th anniversary
La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, having been inaugurated in 2016 by Alain Juppé and François Hollande. “Vino Veritas” dedicated its season finale to the venue.
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Legendary Wine Hidden by the Nazis Restored After 130 Years
Eight late-19th-century bottles of
Château d’Yquem , believed to have been hidden during WWII, were restored by the estate after being found in a Czech castle. The bottles, dating from 1892 to 1896, will go on display after surviving war and communist-era upheaval. -
‘Impressively fresh’ 1892
Château d’Yquem found under chapel floorA cache of 133 late-19th-century wines, including 8 bottles of
Château d’Yquem from 1892 and 1896, was found beneath a chapel floor at Bečov Castle in the Czech Republic.Château d’Yquem restored the bottles, with only 5 full original bottles surviving, according to The Drinks Business. -
Sauternes 2025 reinforces a historic run of great vintages in BordeauxThe 2025
Sauternes andBarsac vintage in Bordeaux is being described as one of the most consistent in recent years, with good yields and strong botrytis development for the fourth consecutive year, according to Revista ADEGA. -
Montpellier: a bottle of
Château d’Yquem 1811 goes to auction starting at 60,000 eurosA bottle of
Château d’Yquem 1811 will be auctioned on Sunday, May 31, near Montpellier, with a starting price of €60,000, according to actu.orange.fr. -
French merchant lists
Château Margaux bottles from 1948 to 1998On May 19, 2026, French wine merchant SoDivin said it had
Château Margaux bottles from 1948 to 1998 in stock and ready for immediate shipment. -
Column: The story behind Chateau Giscours
Château Giscours has a long and turbulent history marked by revolutions, scandals and ownership disputes, according to Richmond News. -
‘I forgot how delicious mature Bordeaux is’: 22 bottle-aged wines to drink now
Decanter recommends 22 bottle-aged Bordeaux wines to drink now, including wines from the 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019 vintages, amid the 2025 en primeur campaign.
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Rare bottle of
Château d’Yquem 1811 goes under the hammerA bottle of
Château d’Yquem 1811 will be auctioned on May 31 near Montpellier, in southern France, by Farran Enchères. According to Vinetur, it is expected to fetch at least €60,000. -
Pair of ‘legendary’ 1870 Bordeaux magnums sell for record £226k
A pair of ‘legendary’ 1870 Bordeaux magnums sold for a record £226,000 after bidders fought over Château Lafite bottles that had spent a century in the cellar of Glamis Castle in Scotland.
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Lafite 1870 magnums smash estimates in 'immortal' Bordeaux auction
A Decanter report says magnums of 1870 Lafite far exceeded estimates in an "immortal" Bordeaux auction. Strong bidding for rare Bordeaux helped push total sales above $2 million, underscoring continued collector demand.
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‘Legendary’ Glamis Castle Château Lafite 1870 sets new record
Two magnums of
Château Lafite Rothschild 1870 from Glamis Castle set record prices at a Sotheby's New York sale. -
Acacia trees and Bordeaux vineyards coexisted across the region from the 18th to the 20th centuries, in a history shaped by practical uses and landscape change.
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Rare wines Château Lafite 1870 from Scotland castle head to sale
Two magnums of Château Lafite 1870, stored for years in a Scottish castle cellar, are heading to sale.
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Castel fires up Baron de Lestac for the 40th anniversary of its first Bordeaux wine
Castel marks the 40th anniversary of Baron de Lestac, its first Bordeaux wine.
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Bordeaux 2025 Vintage Tastings: Starting Out Strong In St.-Estèphe
Wine Spectator’s early tastings of Bordeaux’s 2025 vintage began strongly in St.-Estèphe, where young wines from Cos d’Estournel, Cos Labory and
Château Tronquoy show how Bordeaux is evolving. -
Legendary Glamis Castle 1870 Château Lafite wine to be auctioned
Sotheby’s New York says 1870
Château Lafite Rothschild magnums found at Glamis Castle in 1971 are part of a private collection valued at close to £40,000 and are set to be auctioned. -
Via Sensoria returns to Bordeaux's Cité du Vin with a new version
Wit FM says Via Sensoria returned to Cité du Vin in Bordeaux on April 1, 2026, for its 4th edition, a special 10th-anniversary version dedicated to the Bordeaux vineyard and its 4 wine styles.
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How merlot became the dominant grape in Bordeaux red wines
Merlot is the primary grape in most Bordeaux red blends, typically accounting for at least two-thirds of the volume, while its vines outnumber cabernet sauvignon vines 3 to 1 because it suits the region’s cool, moist climate.
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Mios: a conference sheds light on the origins of the Bordeaux vineyard
Mios Culture Loisirs will host historian Didier Coquillas-Sistach on Saturday, March 28, for a conference on the origins of the Bordeaux vineyard, drawing on archaeological research and Roman legends. The event will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the municipal council hall, with admission of 5 euros.
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Bordeaux 2.0: Version Being Rolled Out
The CIVB sets out how Bordeaux wines have changed since 2019, in response to falling consumption, a weak market and declining interest in tannic reds. It was published just before the en primeur campaign.
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Archive dive in five: Decanter February 1991
Decanter revisits its February 1991 issue, including commentary on Australian Cabernet and reflections on 1985 Bordeaux clarets. It’s an archival retrospective rather than new reporting.
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Collection of ‘rediscovered’ historic Bordeaux to be auctioned
A 46-lot collection of Bordeaux wines from 1929 to 1964, found in a concealed cellar in an outbuilding of a Hampshire home, will be auctioned by Dreweatts on February 24 and is thought to be worth £20,000 to £40,000.
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Victorian wines take centre stage at the world’s largest wine museum
7 Victorian wineries will showcase their wines at the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, whose annual visitors exceed 400,000. The selection represents Victoria's Hume, Barwon, Grampians and Yarra Valley regions.
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How Bordeaux 2016 surprised winemakers to compete with all-time greats
Decanter looks back at Bordeaux 2016 nearly 10 years on: why the vintage surprised winemakers and how it compares with the historic greats. The first growths were shown at a 10 Years On tasting, and
Château Latour 2016 was first released in 2025. -
Victorian wines uncork recognition: Pearson
Victoria’s government says 7 Victorian wineries will be showcased at Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin museum, which attracts over 400,000 visitors annually.
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The Southwold tastings, a history
The Southwold tastings, influential UK blind tastings of mature Bordeaux, have included landmark 1947 first growths and evolved over time.
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Carpe Wine: The 1855 Classification
An explainer column demystifying wine laws and classifications, focusing on Bordeaux’s 1855 Classification and its historical role in ranking top
Médoc andSauternes estates. -
Archive dive in five: Decanter’s January 1976 issue
Decanter launches an archive nostalgia series looking back at its January 1976 issue. It includes Clive Coates MW’s take on Bordeaux 1970 as a top post-war vintage plus period auction prices for leading 1970 clarets.
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Decanter reveals Montrose Blanc, a small-production white wine from
Château Montrose in St-Estèphe that revives the estate’s historical tradition of making white wine. -
"1855": French history through menus and Bordeaux wines
The art book “1855” is limited to 400 copies priced at €850 and uses hundreds of historic menus to tell French history while featuring the 88 châteaux in the 1855 classification.
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How Bordeaux’s youth are shaping tomorrow’s wine industry
Young people in Bordeaux are shaping the future of the wine industry, from training and careers to new approaches and priorities.
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The Brilliant Career of
Clos Fourtet On July 16, 2025,
Clos Fourtet inSaint-Émilion was described as having 13 hectares of historic underground galleries, where bottles of the Premier Grand Cru Classé B mature. -
The brilliant career of
Clos Fourtet On July 16, 2025,
Clos Fourtet ’s vines near the medieval village ofSaint-Émilion were described as resting above 13 hectares of historic underground galleries, where bottles of the Premier Grand Cru Classé B mature. -
Wine Advent #10: Give the Cité du Vin for Christmas
Terre de Vins suggests giving the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux as a Christmas gift, including gift cards valued at €30, €50, €75 or €100. The venue surpassed 3 million visitors in early 2025, with foreign visitors representing 53% of its audience in 2024.
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Wine Advent #4: The Big Guns of the
Médoc in a Gift BoxChâteau Pichon Baron and Cos d'Estournel are offering gift boxes: Pichon Baron’s 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 half-bottle vertical costs €599 at itsPauillac shop, while Cos offers a 3-bottle 2015 set marking the vintage’s 10th anniversary.
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