Hello,
I've been reading about the chemical in plastics called BPA and learned that this plastic is sometimes used to line the casks that are used to store wine (I think that's how it was used).
For this reason apparently wine has a very high level of this chemical that they now feel is a carcinogen. Do you know if the organic wines are stored differently? Or have your wines been tested for this chemical? I've ordered your wines in the past, and I'd certainly want to order even more if I could confirm that yours are BPA-free.
Thank you!
Donna
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Hi Donna,

To my knowledge wine containers are made of
Concrete
Wood (oak, sweet chestnut)
Stainless steel
Steel or concrete covered with a special polymer paint suited for food
Fiberglass (epoxy resin + glass fibers)
This is what is used and accepted for organic wines
I have seen small containers of plastic used for carrying wine, not storing it. It is always an accepted material for alcohol products.

Now with advanced knowledge basically there is no safe container as even glass could contain lead residues and stainless containers have electric charges creating problems of their own. It's just a matter of how hard you want to look into something to find its drawbacks! You've got to own a very high level degree of chemistry and biochemistry to inquire about the thousands different products coming out, provided you have the time and money to do the proper research. It is a maddening search! All I can say is that our producers and all organic ones for sure are particularly concerned and attentive to this kind of thing on top of having stringent regulations.
It's a crazy world and we can only aim for a reasonable amount of risk without turning completely paranoid! There is no reason why this BPA would show up in our wines but I would not be able to give you a certificate for that!

Sincerely

Dr Mic

Subject: Château Véronique

Hi there

FYI you cannot write "estate bottled" if it is a "Mis en Bouteille à la propriété", it is a consumer confusion. "Estate Bottled = mis en bouteille au château".

Best,
Stephane
PS: You can send me a case for my advice:-)!
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Thank you Stephane! I would be interested to know the official text where you read that information. To my knowledge there is no legal difference between the 2 in French. It can be a winery with or without a Château or a family property. The legal information this is carrying is that the wine has been bottled on the premises where it was made and not carried in a container to a different facility, rented or otherwise, used for the bottling process. The idea is that carrying the wine elsewhere exposes it to further physical stress and increases potential exposure to contaminants or mistakes or even frauds.
Estate bottled means that the wine maker assumed the complete responsibility of the wine from the vine to the bottle and implies a guarantee of quality and origin. The fact that there is or not a building that one can call a Château is irrelevant to the quality and therefore not misleading the consumer. Finally there is about 10 times more labels with the term Château than there is actual buildings in the properties! And my information is probably dated!
Most Bordeaux properties for instance use several Château names as brand names for different quality levels whereas there is only One "Château" to speak of!

Sincerely

Dr Mic

Dear Michel,
My husband Danny recently purchased a case of 12 assorted red bottles of wine.
Unfortunately one of the three bottles of Savignac Merlot was spoiled. The top of the wine bottle was sticky when we removed the foil and the cork looks as though wine has leaked through. We have not opened the bottle. What should we do?
Thank you
Fionna
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Dear Fionna,

For some reason this has been happening with the Savignac. Sometimes it has to do with the temperature or weather conditions at the time of bottling or other factors difficult to comprehend. The thing to watch is the level of wine in the bottle. If there one inch of air under the cork, then the wine that has run out might have been in excess and pushed out by dilatation. The wine could still be good and it’s worth opening. If it does not smell good it’s an easy diagnostic!

If there is a significant loss of liquid, the cork is likely the culprit and too much air has come inside the bottle with an assured disastrous effect on the wine itself. Well sometimes it can turn into a good vinegar so it’s always worth checking!

Let me know if the wine is undrinkable and I will refund you on your previous order or add a bottle to your next one, your choice.

Dr Mic