Uncorked: Episode 3 - Bucking the Trend: Burgundy’s Secret
We’re back with the third episode of Uncorked, the Cult Wines podcast. Hosted by our Co-founder and CEO, Tom Gearing, joined once again by Jonathan Stevenson, EVP of Cult Wines North America, this episode welcomes special guest Paul Declerck, one of our London-based Client Relationship Managers, and author of the upcoming book ‘How to Appreciate Wine’.
Together, we dive into Paul’s unique journey from the Loire Valley to London’s fine wine scene, hear how a lockdown realisation sparked a total career pivot, and get an early look at his practical, no-nonsense framework for tasting wine. We also explore the allure of white Burgundy, discuss celebrity wine brands (yes, including Meghan Markle and DJ Khaled), and unpack the Trump tariff tension that’s got the wine trade watching the calendar.
It’s an episode that’s part wine lesson, part market insight, and part ‘drink-along’, with a glass of PYCM Meursault 2018 in hand. As ever, we’re opinionated, curious and just the right amount of unserious.
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What topics were covered?
From Loire Roots to London Realisations
Paul Declerck might come from a winemaking family in the Loire Valley, but he didn’t fall into wine the typical way. His early career was in London’s commercial real estate sector until 2020, when nobody wanted an office. That moment triggered a return to his roots, but this time through the lens of appreciation rather than production.
Despite weekends spent among barrels and vines as a child, Paul admits he never really understood why he liked wine – just that he did. So, he went back to school (WSET levels 2 and 3), purchased all the necessary books, watched all the relevant YouTube videos, and began searching for a practical method that would help others achieve the same results. When he couldn’t find one, he created it.
Breaking Down the Five Point Wine Method
Paul’s ‘How to Appreciate Wine’ isn’t just another wine book. It’s built around a deceptively simple but brilliantly effective five-point tasting method that puts structure around something people often approach instinctively.
Using five criteria: intensity of the nose, complexity, intensity of the palate, balance, and finish. The method turns anyone into a better taster, without a single mention of grafting or obscure soil types. It works for any wine, from any region, and yes, even for Prosecco.
To demonstrate the approach, we assess a bottle of Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey’s 2018 Meursault. Spoiler alert: it scores very well, particularly in the balance and finish categories. But the real takeaway is just how intuitive this framework is – whether you’re new to wine or ten vintages deep.
White Burgundy: Undervalued, Underappreciated, Unmissable
From tasting to topic. This episode’s main theme? White Burgundy. Why is it still considered a ‘best kept secret’ when every fine wine dinner seems to start with it? Why does it hold value so well compared to other categories? And what makes it so addictive for collectors once they discover it?
We explore how Chardonnay’s neutrality allows winemakers to shape style and expression, with reductive winemaking (think flint, gunpowder, matchstick) at the heart of today’s most exciting bottles. And for those who say, “I don’t like Chardonnay”? You’ve probably just not had the right one yet.
The conversation also moves to how to approach Burgundy for beginners – whether by prioritising top producers at lower appellations or finding hidden value in lesser-known vineyards. And yes, we all agree that buying an aged white Burgundy at least once in your life is mandatory.
Celebrity Wines and the Power of Pop Culture
Meghan Markle’s new rosé? DJ Khaled drinking Domaine Dujac? It might sound like tabloid fluff, but we argue there’s real value in celebrity-backed wines. When done right, they can introduce wine to new audiences and help dispel the industry’s sometimes starchy image.
From Post Malone’s Provence rosé to Snoop Dogg’s blockbuster 19 Crimes line, the guys reflect on the growing influence of pop culture in fine wine, and what it could mean for the future of the market. Plus, there’s a wine bar in the Rhône Valley that exclusively serves celebrity wines. Yes, really.
Tariffs, Trump and Tactical Shifts
Things get serious (for a moment) as we break down the looming threat of US tariffs on EU goods, including wine. With a proposed 30% hike now pushed to August 1st, we explore what it might mean for collectors, retailers, and the global trade.
The general consensus? Top-end fine wine may prove resilient due to price inelasticity at that level. A £500 bottle becoming £600 is unlikely to stop people from buying it. However, smaller importers and retailers could be severely impacted, potentially leading to changes in consumer behaviour and distribution models. Still, with Paul’s advice to explore top Napa and South American wines during tariff pressure, there could be an opportunity amidst the noise.
Quantifying Wine: Inside the Cult Wines Scoring Model
As the conversation comes full circle, Tom reveals our latest internal project, a data-driven wine scoring model developed by the Cult Wines team. By blending vintage quality, critic scores (normalised by region), fair value analysis, performance data, and proprietary liquidity metrics from £280 million in market transactions, we’re working towards a single actionable score for every wine.
Why? Because helping investors and collectors make better decisions means cutting through subjectivity and giving people the confidence to explore wine with purpose. Paired with Paul’s tasting guide, it’s a head meets heart approach that reflects what we do best.
Final Thoughts and Favourite Bottles
We close with a glass, reflections on past favourites, and a reminder that white Burgundy isn’t just having a moment, it’s here to stay. If you’re curious about the wine world but not sure where to start, this episode might just be your ‘gateway bottle’.
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