MAITRE DE CAVE

a wineblog, but not only

Our wineblog is dedicated to amateurs, explorers, and connoisseurs of wine. Join us to enjoy the wine and cuisine from cutting edge dining experiences, the conviviality of wine events and the focus of critical tastings, and the beauty and pleasure of the exciting destinations we investigate. Welcome on board.

Wine blog

By Maitre de Cave

When an American sommelier and a French enologist share their wine passion

also their passion and interest for culture and gastronomy, so many comments may pop out ! Time for us to share our experiences .

Maitre de Cave is our communication brand

Robert Lawrence Stepek is a cosmopolitan, North American Sommelier-Consultant with more than 45 years of critiquing wines as an importer, retail and restaurant manager, and Cellar Master. Robert Lawrence guides you through the olfactive, gustative, and tactile universe of wines.

Marie Pull is a Languedocian globetrotter as well as an Oenologist and webmarketer. Marie has been a winemaker and worked in oenotourism as both a project manager and a Community Manager. She is happy to share her winery experience and technical information regarding wines, viticulture, biodiversity, wine-industry revelations and innovations, and leading edge internet marketing including web3 creativity.

Read and speak wine

Welcome on booard !

Bordeaux vintage 2025 : Disease Pressure, Vineyard Practices, and Regulatory Changes

Mar,27, 2026 | 10.Vineyards and Nature, 6.Interviews

The combination of low yields and high quality for vintage 2025 is expected to make the 2025 Bordeaux vintage highly attractive to collectors and investors. Early commentary from critics and market analysts suggests that the best wines will command strong demand in the en primeur campaign, particularly from top estates in Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Émilion, and Pomerol. However, the small harvest may exacerbate competition for limited allocations, and pricing will be a critical factor in determining the success of the campaign.

Bordeaux 2025 Vintage: AOC Weather and Preliminary Wine Quality Report by Maitre de Cave

Mar,25, 2026 | 10.Vineyards and Nature, 6.Interviews

The 2025 growing season in Bordeaux will be remembered for its exceptional heat and early harvests. Following a mild winter that replenished groundwater, spring arrived early and dry, leading to rapid budburst and uniform flowering. Summer brought record temperatures, with multiple heatwaves—particularly in August—pushing vines to their physiological limits. Rainfall was scarce, and the combination of heat and drought led to smaller berries, thick skins, and reduced yields, but also to high concentration and healthy fruit.

Saint-Chinian wines are delicious

Jun,8, 2025 | 7.Tasting notes, 8.Wine events and discoveries, Other

At the beginning of June 2025, Maitre de Cave decided to rediscover the wines of Saint-Chinian. A delightful opportunity to taste red wines. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the winemakers who agreed to share their bottles with me. Congratulations and thanks again to the winemakers and the Maison des Vins.