January Newsletter
January 27th 2010, by Gavin
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3 x £250 Wine Draw Winners
January 25th 2010, by Gavin
Three lucky winners of our free monthly prize draw have been pulled out of the hat for the last quarter of 2009. They are
Shinal Radia (for October 2009)
Tim Dennis (November)
Vicky Hastings (December)
Each winner wins £250 worth of Chateau Bauduc wine of your choice. Please email angela@bauduc.com to claim your prize.
5 Tips for Choosing Wine in a Restaurant
January 22nd 2010, by Gavin
Jean-Marie Pratt - pictured here in informal attire - has been the Head Sommelier at Gordon Ramsay’s eponymous three Michelin star restaurant in Chelsea for three years, and is off on 1 February on a sabbatical, working in wineries around the world. Before he flies off, he has these words of advice to customers when choosing wine in a ‘fine dining’ restaurant.
We’re up, thanks, but how was it for you?
January 15th 2010, by Gavin
Hot on the heels of the positive spin coming from the major UK retailers about their Christmas sales, including Majestic’s 12% increase in the nine weeks of the festive season, we’re delighted that our UK wine sales were up 35% by value in November and December compared to the same months in 2008. This excludes Bauduc Bond sales which don’t count just yet, as they are filed under ‘Bordeaux futures’.
What’s quite interesting is that we actually sent out less emails out to customers in 2009, contrary to what you might think: six from 1st October to Christmas - one a fortnight - compared to eight in 2008. We’re learning that no-one likes being inundated with crap when an occasional offer or seasonal reminder will do. Our Christmas Gazette - “A Season to be Jolly” - sent in the UK post certainly helped.
What Le Fungus? The Funniest Vineyard Clip of the Decade
January 7th 2010, by Gavin
Richie Benaud OBE, the famous Australian cricketer and commentator, needs little introduction. What isn’t so well known is that he bought a vineyard in France to enjoy during his retirement. Like vines, the old ones are the best, and this audio sketch is our favourite of the last decade. Thanks to Tom G and Andrew Q for sharing it. We like it because it’s a little too close to the truth for comfort and sums up our first ten years here (’votre derrière if les grapes morts’).
Play Richie Benaud’s chat with his French vineyard manager
[audio http://blog.bauduc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/how_australians_speak_french.mp3]
December Newsletter
December 15th 2009, by Gavin
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Top Bordeaux: Investment of the Decade
December 10th 2009, by Gavin
Here’s a sobering thought at this time of year, especially if you’ve been drinking your stock of old Lafite. A report in the Guardian, entitled ‘How alternative investments have fared since 2000′, showed that the top wines from Bordeaux have been the best investment since 2000, ‘earning returns that far outstripped equities, gold and property.’
In short, the ‘Big Eight’ - Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Mouton, and Haut-Brion (the five First Growths from the Left Bank) along with Pétrus from Pomerol, and Cheval Blanc and Ausone from St-Emilion (all Right Bank), have all proved to be solid performers.
Champagne Going Cheap
December 8th 2009, by Gavin
It’s the silly season as UK supermarkets do battle over Champagne prices this Christmas. The marketing directors of many of the Grandes Marques must be hopping mad, as Morrisons have been selling Moët at just over £14 and Bollinger at £17.95. It’s 43 euros in our local caviste near Bordeaux (right).
Several wine and money-saving sites have been keeping tabs on the best deals. Decanter’s website covers both the UK supermarkets and the High Street, while moneysavingexpert.com can be relied upon to chisel out the savings in times like this.
The independents have been less than impressed with some of the more spurious claims of 50% off, and they’re right to expose any deliberate attempts to con the consumer. Or should we just grit our teeth and rise above it?
Big X from Rick, Oz, Hugh and Gordon
December 5th 2009, by Gavin
If you would like to be on the mailing list for these thrilling offers, simply fill in your first name and email address at the top of the page on this website.
Rick Stein Signed Book for Christmas
December 3rd 2009, by Gavin
If you would like to be on the mailing list for these thrilling, name-dropping offers, simply fill in your first name and email address at the top of the page on this website. All signed books can be found in ‘Buy Wine - Gift ideas’ on www.bauduc.com
