Chris Mercer

Bristol

Freelance Editor and Journalist at Freelance

Freelance Editor and Journalist, ex-Digi editor @Decanter. Long suffering Nottingham Forest fan. Prone to occasional opinions, which are mine.

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Articles

Price cut talk as Bordeaux 2024 en primeur tastings start

1 week ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

It’s important not to prejudge quality as the official tasting week for Bordeaux 2024 en primeur gets underway, but tough market conditions mean there is already talk of price cuts in the upcoming releases campaign. Discounts could help ‘rekindle demand’ among consumers, found a survey of global trade professionals by consultancy group Wine Lister. Respondents called for a year-on-year price cut of around 31% on average, although opinions varied widely.
Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year 2025 shortlist revealed

2 weeks ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

Images of wine, vintners and vineyards around the world are featured on the newly released shortlist for the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year 2025 prize. Breathtaking photos have become a hallmark of the competition, which is separated into three categories: People, Places and Produce. Winners from each category will go head-to-head as judges decide on an overall winner. The competition is part of the World Food Photography Awards, sponsored by Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini.
Trump's US tariffs may raise prices, warns EU wine body - Decanter

3 weeks ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

Wide-ranging import tariffs announced by US president Donald Trump are a concern for both wine producers and consumers, European trade bodies warned...
Wine was ‘everyday drink’ in ancient Troy, says study

3 weeks ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

Researchers said they have found the first chemical evidence of wine being drunk in ancient Troy, backing up long-held speculation. Yet findings also suggested wine was enjoyed by ‘common people’ alongside the legendary ancient city’s elites in the early Bronze Age period, said the researchers, from the Universities of Tübingen, Bonn and Jena.
EU unveils support plan for under-strain wine sector - Decanter

3 weeks ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

A support package to help the EU wine sector has been unveiled by the European Commission, but trade leaders warned that US tariffs could dent its impact...
EU to delay tariffs on US whiskies to buy time

1 month ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

A first round of extra tariffs on US goods coming into the European Union, which was set to include a 50% levy on American whiskies, may be put back for around two weeks until mid-April, said European trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. EU counter-measures targeting ‘boats to bourbon to motorbikes’ were announced after the US said it would impose tariffs on aluminium and steel imports.
Nearly 2,500 rare wines of Bucherer watch pioneer up for auction

1 month ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

Christie’s said it would auction 2,474 bottles from the private cellar of Jörg G. Bucherer with a total estimated value of £1m. Magnums of legendary Château Haut-Brion 1989 are among the highlights of the sale. Other Bordeaux lots include 12-bottle cases of Le Pin, Cheval Blanc and Lafite Rothschild from the highly rated 1990 vintage. Famous Burgundy domaines, such as Leroy, plus 312 bottles of Spanish wine, including Vega Sicilia, will also be part of the auction, to run online from 16 to 30 April.
Essex bucks trend as global vineyard prices stutter

1 month ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

Average vineyard value in the UK county of Essex was up 20% year-on-year, as prices have come under pressure in several more established wine world regions, said the 2025 wealth report by global consultancy group Knight Frank. Interest in producing still wines has pushed vineyard prices in Essex to US$120,000 per hectare on average, although its status as a wine region is ‘embryonic’, said the report.
Average prices rise at Hospices de Nuits Burgundy auction

1 month ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

Bidders drove up the average price-per-barrel at at the 64th Hospices de Nuits-St-Georges Burgundy auction by 41.5% on last year’s event, to €22,422.50. That’s close to the all-time record set in 2022, which stands at €22,807, said auction house iDealwine, which hosted the annual sale for the first time on 9 March at the usual venue in the cellars of Château du Clos de Vougeot.
Trump threatens 200% tariff on European wines

1 month ago | decanter.com | Chris Mercer

US president Trump threatened to levy a 200% tariff on imports of European wines and Champagne, unless the EU backs down on plans to levy fresh tariffs on American whiskies. Tensions have risen this week after the US imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. A promise of retaliatory measures worth €26bn quickly emerged from the European Commission in Brussels.