France tops medal chart at the International Wine Challenge 2014

France has topped the medal chart at the International Wine Challenge for the 31^st year running, taking 1987 medals, including 113 golds.

Spring 2014: bulk wine prices

Top 10 En Primeur wines by Bordeaux winemaker Gavin Quinney

The Influential Bordeaux winemaker, Gavin Quinney, owner of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux, has picked out his Top 10 picks from this year's en primeur campaign that he thinks show the best value and quality for the trade to invest in. It is part of his wider analysis of the overall en primeur campaign for Harpers.co.uk which includes his comprehensive scores of all the main wines from the leading chateaux. 

En Primeur 2013 final verdict is "better than expected"

Gavin Quinney, owner and winemaker of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux, gives his definitive verdict on the 2013 en primeur campaign with his own detailed analysis of all the main Bordeaux chateaux wines, including his recommendations of what to buy now, what to age and what to avoid.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week (and a bit of last week due to the long weekend) on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Michel Rolland on life as an international wine consultant

Internationally acclaimed winemaker and consultant, Michel Rolland, talks to James Lawrence how he manages to juggle working for 200 wineries around the world, including Chateau Figeac in St Emilion, which he is trying to turn in to a Grand Cru Classe A property.

Michel Rolland defends his ability to manage wines on up to 200 wineries around the world

Michel Rolland has defended his role as an international wine consultant capable of managing the quality of wine on up to 200 wine estates around the world.

Bordeaux negociants discount badly-priced 2013 wines

Buyers are showing a continued lack of confidence in Bordeaux's 2013 en primeur campaign while badly priced wines are being discounted, said Bordeaux negociants Monday. 

Bulk wine driven by price not green issues

Wine buyers who justify bulk shipping by citing the green argument are simply 'ticking boxes' when price is driving sales, say industry experts.

Douglas Blyde unleashes his senses on José Sanfins' wines at London's Clos Maggiore

According to research recently published in journal, "Science", the average human is equipped to differentiate some one trillion odours (999,999,990,000 more than previously thought). Buoyed by these findings, I was keen to apply my apparently amazing snout to the finery at Clos Maggiore's wine club. Tonight's instalment was hosted by Matt Thomas. Formerly a store manager at Majestic Wines, Thomas joined Hallgarten Druitt, as account development manager six months ago. Despite Clos Maggiore's Covent Garden location, Thomas's territory, work-wise and residentially is Dalston where he secured accounts, White Rabbit and Jones & Son, which he highly recommends are worth a visit

Rémy Cointreau warns profits may slump by 40%

Rémy Cointreau has warned that full year profits may plummet by 35 to 40%, thanks to a fall in Chinese sales.

Grower champagnes are riding a wave, says Anne Krebiehl

Growers' Champagnes are riding a wave: while Bordelais tasting rooms remained sluggish and empty during this year's en primeur campaign, Champagne had no trouble attracting visitors, says Anne Krebiehl.

'We cannot be the chateaux' bank forever', says Bordeaux negociant

"We cannot be the bank of the chateaux forever", leading Bordeaux negociant house Ginestet has said as the 2013 en primeur campaign struggles on. 

Champagne exports to UK plummet by 5.1%

The UK remains Champagne's biggest export market, despite imports falling to €447.2 million last year, a decline of 5.1% by volume and 3.8% by value.

'No compelling reason to buy' Bordeaux 2013, say merchants

Merchants have so far sold very little, if any, Bordeaux 2013 wines, as collectors lack any compelling reason to buy.

Liv-ex survey finds 'significantly less demand' for Bordeaux 2013 wines

The annual Liv-ex en primeur survey found that 78% of merchants expect "significantly less demand" - down by at least a fifth - for 2013 wines compared to their 2012 counterparts.

Bordeaux 2013: the Left Bank

Panos Kakaviatos tasted his way around Bordeaux's top chateaux last week, finding out how winemakers had fared in the troubled 2013 vintage. In part two of a three-part series, he describes how the red wines are "scaled down versions of better vintages".

Bordeaux 2013: Choose whites over reds

Panos Kakaviatos tasted his way around Bordeaux's top chateaux last week, finding out how winemakers had fared in the troubled 2013 vintage. In part one of a three-part series, he describes why his money is on the white wines.

Bordeaux negociants say demand for 2013 wine is 'dead'

Wholesale wine merchants in Bordeaux were underwhelmed by a rapid burst of 2013 en primeur price releases Monday morning, describing current demand as "dead."

UK trade still finds Bordeaux 2013 wines to buy

After much criticism ahead of the 2013 en primeur tastings, it seems that many UK merchants have been undeterred by negative press and plan to buy and sell this year's wines.