Wine heavyweights attack heavy bottles

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Permalink Reply by Eric S. Crane on February 26, 2008 at 7:36pm

A very highly respected wine maker in Napa points out that they don't use "thick glass" bottles for a number of reasons. Most importantly, they are more taxing to produce (in other words- they aren't "green") and that the top Chateaux in Bordeaux don't put there wine in these "impressive" bottles. Not to sound too corny, but it's what inside that counts.

Permalink Reply by Christopher S. Miller on February 28, 2008 at 4:57pm

Sorry to disagree, but two of my longtime favorite Bordeaux are now in large bottles and I complained personally to the owner of one of the Chateau.
For years I have been a big fan of Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou and Chateau Pontet Canet. The Ducru because it is one of the great 'Super Seconds' and the great name (beautiful pebbles) that was changed from Maucaillou (bad pebbles) when they realized the pebbles in the vineyard are integral to the great wine. The Pontet (who I carped about the weight of the bottle) because it is a great value and has stunning minerality and the famed Pauillac 'lead pencil' character I love so much. So you see even the great Bordeaux are being swayed by the monster bottle phenom, and I agree about the recycle-ability of glass, but shipping costs are the issue.

Permalink Reply by Olivier Masmondet on February 29, 2008 at 2:33pm

Maucaillou still is producing wine under its own name. Pontet Canet is Mouton Rot. neighboor.Yes, producer are attracted by heavier bottles, i am not saying this is right, i am just saying i am not crazy about it (for me it does not mean anything) but for some customers maybe..but heavy bottles are now fashionnable and it will go away soon (i Hope). Shipping cost=carbon foot print (more energy spent to ship due to heavy wieght), so when people will realize that it will go away fast. I read that a Bordeaux Comapny is shipping its wines to UK using a Old Clipper (boat) and think about open new routes to US etc...that's a great idea, no more air shipping and oil powered boat... maybe???

Permalink Reply by Christopher S. Miller on February 29, 2008 at 2:50pm

Clipper boat sounds excellent...yes there is still a Maucaillou but they started after Beaucaillou abandoned the name, Pontet being Mouton Rot is hilarious, but I much prefer Lafite over Mouton. But I have seen first hand several customers choose the large bottle Pontet over say a similarly priced Leoville Barton even though they are told the Pontet is a beast that needs either several more years of aging or a rough decanting.

Permalink Reply by Olivier Masmondet on February 28, 2008 at 11:43am

The carbon foot print of glass bottle is quite limited because it can be recycled indefinitly ,this is as you said the carbon foot print of the shipment itself that is quite high and a problem. Old wines , old bottles were pretty heavy, i do appreciate a nice bottle but i am not crazy abut heavy bottle or heavy cases. There is for sure a relation between the way we feel about a wine and the weight of the bottle but it has its limits.
We should also focus on shipment cost and carbon foot print for shipments, i am sure it will come..

Permalink Reply by Justin C.S.W., C.S. on April 2, 2008 at 4:40pm

I work for Grgich Hills Estate. We are Organically Grown and Bio-dynamic. We're trying to just help the enviornment and produce great wines. In the near future we will be shipping our wines no longer in our fancy grape cluster inked boxes, but, recycled brown boxes. We also never went for the big thick gauge bottles to help with transportation costs etc.....

Permalink Reply by Christopher S. Miller on April 2, 2008 at 5:14pm

Great news, I've always been a fan of Mike's wines. Hope you do a bit of promo on that.