Documentaries by their nature are prisoners of their moment in time. One is the passion wine lovers worldwide have for the great Bordeaux reds, premier cru or first-growth vineyards such as Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
The second is what happens when those wines catch the attention of the moneyed classes of that populous land once known to headline writers everywhere as Red China.
A nonstop parade of chateau owners, wine critics and hard-core oenophiles outdo each other in mythologizing the place. Is it any wonder that this stuff has become way too expensive to drink and is now largely purchased for investment?
Though the wines were one of those great vintages, it seems like the , at least as indicated by the early spring en primeur tasting events, will be just as good. This embarrassment of riches comes at a time when the Americans, the traditional buyers of Bordeaux for the last 30 years, are retreating from the market because of the depredations of the financial collapse.
What to do? There are known U. China is also a country that has begun to revere wine, especially Bordeaux, as an exotic status symbol, a situation the vineyards are happy to exploit: Chateau Margaux, for instance, decides to sponsor the Miss China Universe contest. It was fascinating while it lasted, however, and this film records it all. The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
