Bordeaux Shipers

Bordeaux Shippers – French Wine Store

Bordeaux Shippers French wine store was established by myself, John Baker to provide Australia with a reliable source of Bordeaux wines, in pristine condition. These wines have matured in cold European cellars and are of impeccable provenance. I do not source any wines from Australia, Asia or America. I am readily available to discuss Chateaux, vintage, style and details about all of my Bordeaux wines. 

My 20 years experience include wine retailing, importing and vineyard management. Operating retail stores has been the largest part of my experience and includes building and establishing Quaffers at Double Bay, prior to the Vintage Cellars acquisition to be the flagship fine wine store of their group. Other stores include The Newport Bottler at Newport Beach, Grapefellas, Epping and The Lambton Fridge at Newcastle. 

Condition of French Wine

At these stores I stocked considerable quantities of Bordeaux wines as I believe Bordeaux produces some of the finest and most engaging wines in the world. Too often I was not convinced of the condition of some of the Bordeaux that I was buying and selling. When I conducted dinners or would occasionally taste these wines, I felt some should be brighter and fresher and the Bordeaux that I tasted in France was often in much better condition than the same wines available in Australia.

This motivated me to investigate why. My wine shops were buying Bordeaux from the usual sources in Australia and this was often the problem. The wines were simply not in consistently first class condition. The wines that I now source from cold European cellars and ship directly to Australia are proving to be of much better condition. They really ‘ping’ with freshness. As Hugh Johnson says in his new book, A Life Uncorked, ‘freshness is the touchstone of any good Bordeaux’.

My Selection of French Wine

The wines that I select represent an interesting cross-section of Bordeaux. I focus on the good vintages and look for Chateaux which are performing well. I avoid wines that I feel are overpriced or where the Chateau is resting on past glories.

My contacts are highly reputable and have become quite familiar with my fastidious selection criteria. I normally purchase whole cases in their original wooden boxes.

My wines come out of cold European cellars and immediately go into professional storage.