▻ Bringing Mature Bordeaux Back on Wine Lists

Let's Talk About

2 Jun

Written By Sarah Kemp

In conversation with Michael Saunders and Robert Mathias MW of Coterie Holdings

Episode Summary:-

In Britain, Bordeaux is rarely seen on wine lists, and if it is, they are usually young vintages. One company which has set out to change that is Hallgarten and Novum, the wholesale arm of Coterie Holdings. Sarah Kemp talks to their CEO, Michael Saunders and their buying director, Robert Mathias MW about “The Cellar Series”, their initiative to put mature wine, mainly Bordeaux, back onto hotel and restaurant lists.

Michael, whose idea it was, tells how he saw a gap in the market and an opportunity to move away from the usual conversation on Bordeaux, of points and prices. At first, the châteaux were not convinced that selling direct from the châteaux via Hallgarten and Novum would work. Robert explains how he discussed the need to talk about the difference in vintages, and take the conversation back to Bordeaux as a wine, not a commodity for trading. He spent time helping the chateaux decide on vintages which could be offered for drinking, which often meant not perceived “great” vintages.

“Part of the modernisation of Bordeaux is bringing producers much closer to customers in the way that producers from the New World countries have done for many years” he advises.

Michael explains that they now bring in 80-90 Cru Classé wines, and customers can order the size and quantity they want, including delivering individual bottles, with the added bonus that they know the wine has come directly from the château. He relates how they have tasted bottles ex-château against bottles found on the secondary market, and have found the ones from the châteaux are often better.

Another positive is that the producers are now coming over to hold tastings with their customers, and Michael is thrilled at the reaction they are receiving. Will the younger generation connect with Bordeaux or will they see it as something their fathers drank? Robert is optimistic. “I can’t think of another region that makes such high-quality wines on the scale Bordeaux does, year after year.”

Good news for wine lovers, Sarah believes, and good news for Bordeaux, as Bordeaux returns to where it belongs, on the table.