Douglas Murray, one of the founders of Chile's Viña Montes, has died aged 68 after a long struggle with cancer.

The Chilean wine journal Diario del Vino said this morning, 'Chilean viticulture is in mourning', summing up feelings about the loss of one of the best-loved figures in the country's wine industry.

In 35 years in the wine industry Murray (pictured, on right, with Aurelio Montes this year) held many different posts, including the first chairman of Wines of Chile in London. His biography on the Montes website describes him as 'the engineer of Chilean wine achievements in Asia and the groundbreaker for European markets.'
 

In charge of exports at Montes, Murray was named as one of the six most influential wine professionals in Japan by Vinotheque magazine, and he was an Emeritus member of the Chilean Wine Guild.

Murray founded Viña Montes in 1987, along with winemaker Aurelio Montes. It was quickly recognised as a force in Chile.

In the early 1990s journalists such as Robert Joseph and Joanna Simon were already calling the winery 'potentially the best estate in the country'.

Its wines, from the Montes Alpha M Bordeaux blend and the Folly Syrah, to the Purple Angel Carmenere, the Cherub Rose, and the Alpha varietal range, are multiple award winners.

Ralph Steadman designed the label for the Folly and the Cherub and had a long-standing relationship with the winery, which he spoke of with great affection.

Diario del Vino called him a 'born salesmanine buyers, restaurateurs and wine lovers all over the world remember his frequent visits, with a suitcase full of Montes wines. His constant activity in so many different countries earned him countless friends.'

Michael Cox, Wines of Chile's UK director, said, 'Douglas was a giant pillar who underpinned the successful foundations of the modern Chilean wine trade and, with his colleagues, was one of the architects of its innovation and dynamism. A charismatic and distinctive man, he will be missed by his many friends both in Chile and internationally.'

Murray leaves his wife Lucia López, his three children Douglas, Pamela and Dennis, and three grandchildren, Alexander, Samantha and Thomas.
 

The seller of Mondavi wine, Svedka vodka and Corona beer also announced a $300 million stock buyback and boosted its forecast for the year by 10 cents a share.

For the three months that ended May 31, Constellation earned $49.1 million, or 22 cents per share. In the same period last year, when it was dragged down by restructuring charges, it earned $6.5 million, or 3 cents per share.

Its revenue slipped less than 1 percent to $787.5 million, as volume fell 1 percent.

Excluding restructuring and other one-time items, Constellation's net income climbed to 38 cents a share, beating Wall Street expectations. Analysts said paying lower taxes than expected boosted Constellation's adjusted net income by 5 cents per share.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, whose estimates typically exclude one-time items, expected the company to earn 35 cents a share. But they expected higher revenue of $798.5 million.

Constellation's shares fell 15 cents, or 1 percent, to $15.47 in afternoon trading. The stock is trading near the middle of its 52-week range of $12.25 to $18.87.

For the 2011 fiscal year, which began March 1, the company now expects to earn $1.63 to $1.78 per share, up from a lackluster forecast of $1.53 to $1.68 it made three months ago. The company said the increase reflects the benefit it expects from accelerating its share buyback program.

Wine sales, which account for the bulk of its revenue, fell 5 percent on a constant-currency basis to $729 million. In North America, they decreased 2 percent to $532 million, but increased volume was more than offset by higher promotion costs.

CEO Rob Sands said Constellation's domestic wine sales in bars and restaurants have fared far better than the industry's overall during the past year. He predicted renewed growth later this year.

"I'd say throughout the year, we'll see it go from negative to flat and then, hopefully, we'll see it start upticking sometime before the end of calendar year 2010," Sands said in a conference call with analysts.

Spirits sales fell 3 percent to $58 million, hit by the loss of revenue from selling its lowest-end liquor brands, even as Svedka vodka sales jumped 40 percent.

Beer sales in its joint venture with Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo SA fell 3 percent to $622 million. The venture's operating income, hurt by lower volume and marketing costs, dropped 14 percent to $109 million.

Constellation Brands has shifted its focus toward higher-price wines and spirits in recent years, but most of its revenue still comes from moderate-price wines. And those sales have fallen as consumers keep a tight rein on spending in bars and restaurants.

Constellation, based in Victor, N.Y., 20 miles southeast of Rochester, offers more than 70 wine brands including Clos du Bois, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Blackstone and Ravenswood.

It also makes Paul Masson brandy and Black Velvet Canadian whiskey and imports beers such as Corona and Negra Modelo from Mexico, Tsingtao from China and St. Pauli Girl from Germany.

After a two-decade acquisition spree, the company sold off some of its lower-price brands. It also has sold off unprofitable brands, consolidated divisions and cut its work force to 6,000 people from 8,200 in 2008.

FAIRMONT CORPORATION LIMITED 辉懋发展
9/F CLI Building, 313 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong 地址:香港湾仔轩尼诗道313号中国人寿大厦9楼
Tel: (852) 2159 4266 电话: 852-2159-4266
Fax: 852-3006-5375 传真: 852-3006-5375
Email: info@fairmonthk.com 电子邮件: info@fairmonthk.com
Website: http://www.fairmonthk.com 网址: http://www.fairmonthk.com

Ray Jordan's 2010 WA Wine Guide

Woodside Valley Estate features in the 2010 guide which details Mr Jordan's reviews and ratings on our 2008 Chardonnay, which is fast establishing a reputation plus our 2007 reds.

In this year's edition, you'll also find a special 10% discount voucher which can be used towards your next Woodside Valley Estate wine purchase, so be sure to purchase a copy soon. Plus, there is a detailed wineries map of Western Australia which will no doubt come in handy for your next wine trip to the South West region.

Here is Ray Jordan's comments;

- 2008 Le Bas Chardonnay ** 94/100 **
Another very good chardonnay from this northern part of Margaret River. Enticing mix of cereal and grapefruit with light cashew and nectarine. Fine elegant palate with a tight minerally thread running long through the palate. This is a classy chardonnay that really captures a distinctive regional character perfectly.

- 2007 Baudin Cabernet Sauvignon ** 93/100 **
Typical Cabernet structure and style with the long sinewy tannins and firmish structure designed to support longer term cellaring. This is elegant and very stylish with a silky fineness about it that carries effortlessly to a long finish. Minerally blackcurrent aromas and a light varietal leafiness.

-2007 Bonnefoy Shiraz ** 92/100 **
This was still showing growing pains when tasted with the vanillin cedary oak a little obvious. However the fruit sweetness and concentration is evident and will emerge with further ageing in the bottle. Tight and controlled long finish with earthy savoury overtones. A wine for medium term cellaring.

- 2007 Bissy Merlot ** 91/100 **
There is a certain rustic earthiness about this merlot. The nose shows a light leafy plum and cedary mix. The palate is pure and smooth with dusty dry tannins supporting the sweet tight berry flavours. At the moment the cedary vanillin oak dominates but with another year or so, it will knit together perfectly. Very stylish wine!

FAIRMONT CORPORATION LIMITED 辉懋发展
9/F CLI Building, 313 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong 地址:香港湾仔轩尼诗道313号中国人寿大厦9楼
Tel: (852) 2159 4266 电话: 852-2159-4266
Fax: 852-3006-5375 传真: 852-3006-5375
Email: info@fairmonthk.com 电子邮件: info@fairmonthk.com
Website: http://www.fairmonthk.com 网址: http://www.fairmonthk.com

IWSC 2009

The competition, now celebrating its 40th year, remains independent, operating from purpose designed premises including cellars and tasting rooms. Tasting over a six month period enables the competition to separate Northern and Southern Hemispheres to suit their respective vintages and they continue to send top winners for chemical (microbiological) analysis before releasing the winners.

Again, Woodside Vally Estate took the opportunity to participate in this prestigious annual wine competition. While no 'trophy' was awarded to us this year, we continue to gain exceptional ratings with our global competitors. Here are our achievements;

SILVER 'BEST IN CLASS MEDAL'
- 2007 Bissy Merlot

SILVER MEDALS
- 2008 Le Bas Chardonnay
- 2007 Le Bas Chardonnay
- 2007 Bonnefoy Shiraz
- 2007 Baudin Cabernet Sauvignon

BRONZE MEDALS
- 2006 Baudin Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2006 Bissy Merlot

FAIRMONT CORPORATION LIMITED 辉懋发展
9/F CLI Building, 313 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong 地址:香港湾仔轩尼诗道313号中国人寿大厦9楼
Tel: (852) 2159 4266 电话: 852-2159-4266
Fax: 852-3006-5375 传真: 852-3006-5375
Email: info@fairmonthk.com 电子邮件: info@fairmonthk.com
Website: http://www.fairmonthk.com 网址: http://www.fairmonthk.com

09年的波尔多酒被帕克，葡萄酒观察家，醒酒器等绝大部分葡萄酒界权威认为是“最完美的”“最传奇的”“最值得收藏”的年份。众多波尔多酒09的评分超过了90分（或17分）。经过了三个多月的苦战，这场不见硝烟的09波尔多期酒世界战终于到了尾声。

在葡萄酒市场相对较成熟的新加坡，近期葡萄酒界最热门的话题当然也不过是期酒。呈现以下特点：
1. 所有经销商给终端客户的价格都非常接近。
新加坡最知名期酒经销商：
Grand Vin Pte Ltd
拉裴罗斯柴尔，柏翠斯，罗马尼康帝，金拓女伯爵总代理，所有关联期酒配额都较高。
WWW.GRNADVIN.COM.SG

VINUM
VEGA SISILIA总代理，同时经销多种勃根地名酒，高端印尼客户较多
www.vinum.com.sg

2. 评分高，价格实惠的酒，最受欢迎的

既然是“百年未遇”的好年份，很多酒都获得高分。期中价格在$50-150，分数在94-98分的酒最受追捧。
如以下酒数小时内售空，价格也一路高歌：
苏甸的Doisy Daene$46*? 96-98PTS
格拉夫的Domaine de Chevalier$95
玛歌的Cantenac Brown$73-$78，Malescot St Exupery$115-$125
波依克Lynch Bages $150-$185, Pontet Canet$138-$155-$170-$185-$240
St Estephe 的Montrose $239
旁美度 GAZIN $98

涨幅之首当数Pontet Canet第一次发售价为$138，二小时内涨为$155，再二小时$170直至$185，一天内再次售完，数日后价格更升至$240，涨幅高达74%

*以上价格为新元离岸价格，1新元=4.9人民币
运输费+酒精税大概为$15
新加坡国内消费税7%
所以如果以Pontet Canet$138价格换算成人民币：($138*1.07+$15)*4.9=RMB797元

刚一发销，即告售罄！

3. 大牌酒地位坚不可破
大牌高分（96-100）酒发售量小得惊人，价位极高，却有坚固的粉丝团。如：
五大一级庄价格都在$1100-$1700间，Leoville Poyferre$180, Cos d'Estournel$399-$518，白马$1400，金钟$399同属于拉斐旗下的L'Evangile$368-$398,

看着这节节攀升的价格，一级庄是不指望了，只能收些超二级庄了。

很多新加坡的朋友把09价高归罪于中国，由于广大中国人民有需求，所以供不应求了。我看波尔多酒庄有着不可推卸的责任，估计他们觉得一部分（对于波尔多来说就是很大市场了）中国人有了需求，就把我们当冲头宰。我想随着国人更了解葡萄酒，价格也会有理性回归，也有更多不只是富人才能享受的酒了。