1. Do you plan to drink these wines over the space of a few years or are you treating this as an investment opportunity? The wines you buy will be different depending on your answer. You may of course wish to do a mixture of both.
2. For investment, buy blue chip wines (first and second growth clarets and wines with cult status) . Buy these en primeur when the prices are generally at their lowest and keep for five to ten years or more. If buying older vintages, check the provenance carefully and how the wines have been stored. Ideally the wine should have been moved only once or twice since it left the chateau and not shipped to and fro across the Atlantic! Just as in the stock market, prices fluctuate and you are not guaranteed a return. Track wine prices on the Liv-Ex website.
We recommend that you consult an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) to be sure of your potential liability for Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax. In August 2010, HMRC stated that "Section 160 IHTA1984 states that for Inheritance Tax purposes the value of any property is the price it might reasonably be expected to fetch if sold in the open market at that time. Therefore it is clear that a wine cellar must be valued at its open market value for Inheritance Tax purposes at the time of the relevant occasion of charge." HMRC guidance on Capital Gains Tax relating to fine wine is less clear. Traditionally wine has been viewed as a wasting asset and therefore exempt from CGT. However HMRC Tax Bulletin 42 states that this depends on whether the wine has a predictable life of 50 years or more (which could apply to port and other fortified wines and some fine wines) and a disposal value of £6000 or more per bottle or 'set' (case).
3. If you are building a cellar for enjoyment, then consider whether to commit a lump sum to start off and/or save a monthly amount to spread the cost. Work out how many cases you need of red, white, sparkling etc to cover your drinking requirements each year. Make a list of your favourite wines, regions or grape varieties. Stagger your purchases so that the wines are at their peak when you need them. As a guide we would suggest regular monthly payments of £100+.
As an example you may want a couple of cases of drinking claret in 8-10 years' time, so we would recommend buying third, fourth or fifth growths or good Cru Bourgeois en primeur from the 2009 vintage when it is released later this year. New World wines and European white wines can generally be purchased within a few years of the intended consumption date, so delay your purchase until there is a really good vintage of Chablis for example.
4. For a mixture of both investment and enjoyment, you can buy two cases of a wine, for example Chateau Leoville Barton, and sell one at a later date and hopefully have financed the drinking of the other. Once again, you are not guaranteed to make a profit but when this works it is quite a nice thought that you are drinking such lovely wine either for free or at a much reduced cost.
5. Buying well-known chateaux in Bordeaux is fairly straightforward although allocations are getting more difficult as demand grows from the Far East. Finding really good Burgundies (red or white) is trickier and you need expert advice. You can read reviews till the cows come home but there's nothing to beat talking to someone who's actually tasted at the vineyard, so do give us a ring. Our latest Burgundy offer is available to download here.
6. A note on Champagne: it pays to buy a few cases of good non-vintage Champagne and cellar them for 3-5 years. The creamy, toasty characters will develop and you will get more value for money. Also by the time you drink them you will have forgotten how much they cost! This is also a good tip if you think there may be a wedding looming...
We can offer you advice tailored to your individual needs. So whether you are starting or expanding a cellar or looking to buy blue chip wines for investment, talk to us. Contact Aidan Bell on 01275 434988 or email aidanbell@dbmwines.co.uk.
We have created The WineSafe Ltd solely for the secure storage of your fine wine reserves. WineSafe does not trade in wine, giving you peace of mind while your wine matures gently in perfect cellar conditions. We have selected the renowned underground cellars at Octavian Vaults in Corsham, England for this purpose. Customers' wines are insured at full replacement value and are held separately from Davis Bell McCraith company stock. Please visit the WineSafe website for further details or telephone us for a brochure when we can also answer any questions you may have.
At least 4.4 miles of groomed ski trails within the park connect to numerous trails in the adjoining national forest and state game lands.
ELEVEN PITCHERS COMPETED in the Cal Cordes Singles Tournament on Saturday, June 11, at the Watson Lake Horseshoe Complex in Prescott. Winning results from the finals were as follows. In the Class A Division, Steve Ochoa of Dewey placed first, followed by runner-up Gary Schalberg of Kingman and third-place finisher Doug Strong of Phoenix. In the Class B Division, Sherri Ochoa of Dewey took first, followed by runner-up Terry Sloan of Prescott Valley and third-place finisher Gary Carter of Prescott.
THE ANTELOPE HILLS MEN’S Golf Club played its June 13 tournament on the South Course at Antelope Hills in Prescott. The format was 4-Man ‘1, 2, 3 Scoring,’ in which the total lowest gross and net score(s) count for the par 3s, 4s and 5s. In the first flight, the team of Charley Shipman, Ken Brack, Tom Tietz and Hank Engert took low gross. Low net went to Fred Laskowski, Jim Sygitowicz, Durwood Nixon and Barry Tull. In the second flight, Wayne Glasscock, Steve McKeen, Tom Collins and Chuck Baizel shot a low gross, with Herb Keeling, Jim Brewer, Bill Huth and Ron Weiss coming in with low net. In the third flight, Al Durfee, Gene Parrino, Ray Eccleston and Mike Elia fired low gross, followed by Bryan Elliott, Bill Reimers, Steve Sauer and Tedd Peck with low net. In the fourth flight, Jack Owen, Dean Waldenberger, Ted Arey and Tay Tanner grabbed low gross, with low net going to Bill Bailey, Mike Sherman, Bill Carmichael and Norm Pierson.
On June 15, the Club played its away tournament at Prescott Golf and Country Club with 57 players in the format of ‘Medal Play, Closest to the Pin & Skins,’ which required three flights. In the first flight, shooting a low gross of 72 was Brad Brightwell, with a low net of 66 going to Jack Marr. In the second flight, Don Clark’s 84 was good for low gross, with Andy Ozols taking low net with a 67. In the third flight, 89 was good for low gross by Stephen Sauer, while a low net of 69 went to Larry Richey. Closest to the Pin winners were Ed Gillam, Fred Laskowski, Perry Huyck and Herb Keeling. In addition, 18 players collected one or more skins, awarded in both gross and net categories in all three flights. To join the Antelope Hills Men’s Golf Club, which is having its membership drive, visit ahmgc.com or call 928-499-7788.
AT THE MILE HIGH BASEBALL SCHOOL OVERNIGHT CAMP July 17-20 at Roughrider Park in Prescott, campers ages 10-18 will learn skills from a new perspective with a fresh, dynamic approach to teaching baseball. The fee for campers who will be commuting to camp is $175. The fee for campers staying overnight is $400. For more information, call Yavapai College assistant baseball coach Kyle Wise at 928-776-2292 or email him at: kyle.wise@yc.edu. Or visit goroughriders.com/summercamps/.
Dear Annie: I divorced over a year ago after a 35-year marriage that was very dysfunctional — although my adult children and ex-husband did not see it that way. Initially, I did not handle the divorce with any tact or finesse, I’ll admit. I am sorry for that and have apologized, but my kids still refuse to have any contact with me.
My middle daughter is extremely angry because I got the family home, and she tells me, “Dad is destroyed.”
Ironically, he has moved on already and is engaged to be married to the woman he was “seeing” while we were married. I spent most of my free time with my kids and grandkids. I thought we had a good relationship, but this divorce has shown me differently. I have reached out to the kids and offered to go to counseling, meetings, etc., but have gotten no response. My counselor has advised me to figure out how else I can be happy in my life and move on.
I am really struggling with this! Any other advice from you or someone reading this who has been there? I am so sad and heartbroken. I wish now I would have just ignored the affair, beatings and sexual abuse just to keep my kids and grandkids in my life. — So Lost and Lonely
Dear So Lost: The last line of your letter is devastating. Leaving your husband was the right thing to do. You didn’t deserve that awful treatment, and abuse is not a price anyone should have to pay to be close to her family. Divorce is messy. Perspectives get muddled, but clarity often comes with time. It’s only been a year, though I’m sure it’s felt like an eternity for you. Let’s hope your children will see things more clearly in the future and reach out to you.
In the meantime, commit entirely to your own healing process. Continue going to therapy, even when you feel as if it’s not working. Join a support group for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse or even a support group for divorced women. (Your therapist can refer you to groups in your area.) You must learn to love yourself, first and foremost.
Dear Annie: I am writing in response to the letter from “Mary,” the person who is offended by her good friend’s interrupting their personal conversations at church to greet others. There is a difference between hospitality and fellowship. When we are in a place of gathering, especially at church, and there is a good possibility of newcomers in our midst, we exercise hospitality. When we are in a group and know everyone in the group, we exercise fellowship.
Before or after church is probably not the best time for deep personal conversations. Instead, hospitality toward the newer folks should be the rule. Please advise the writer to be hospitable to others at church, especially those who may be less than comfortable. There is a time and place for friends to visit, but church may not be the place. Focus outward, not inward, during these conversations. — BJEC
Dear BJEC: I appreciate your insight, and I feel you’ve offered a nuanced, accurate reading of the situation. I’ve passed it along to “Mary” for consideration.
Badgers football coach Michael Gilpin put on leave pending athletic department investigation | The Daily Courier | Prescott, AZ
Prescott head football coach Michael Gilpin talks with players on the sideline during a scrimmage Aug. 8, 2018. Gilpin has been put on leave and will not coach the Badgers at Moon Valley on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Phoenix. Assistant coach Cody Collett will coach the team. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)
Assistant coach Cody Collett will coach the team until the Prescott athletic department completes an investigation into an incident that took place at practice Wednesday afternoon between an assistant coach and a player.
The name of the assistant coach, or the player, were not released by the athletic department Thursday night.
“In an effort to communicate clearly and avoid any misunderstanding, we need to let you know that coach Cody Collett will be filling in as the head coach for the varsity football team,” the statement read, which was sent via email to parents. “An unfortunate event took place after practice (Wednesday) between an assistant coach and player, so we are taking the time to assure that we are properly addressing concerns.”
Prescott Athletic Director Missy Townsend went on to say in the statement: “We value coach Gilpin, his coaching staff, and our players, so we want to assure we are responding in a manner that is consistent with our protocols that are in place when these types of events occur.”
In a phone interview with her late Thursday night, Townsend said she expects the investigation into the matter to be complete by Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Townsend would not comment on the nature of the incident or details about what took place at Prescott football practice on campus Wednesday, or if she expects Gilpin to be reinstated as head football coach of the Badgers.
Collett spent four seasons pacing the Prescott sidelines as head coach of the Badgers from 2012 to 2016. He returned to the Prescott sidelines in 2017 as a tight ends coach under Gilpin.
Gilpin is 13-8 overall as head coach of the Badgers in two-plus seasons. Prescott (0-1, 0-0 Grand Canyon) is scheduled to play Moon Valley in Phoenix on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Taylor Latto reaches into a blackberry bush at Mortimer Farms’ Berry Festival Saturday, June 23. (Jason Wheeler/Courier)
The ​“Digital Competences Framework in Practice 2015-1-ES01-KA204-016046” project is an Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership -Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices. DC TEST's main objective is to analyse the existing report “A Framework for Developing and Understanding Digital Competence in Europe (DIGCOMP)” which has been published in 2013 by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.
​- To create a Process of Revision of the existing Framework for Developing and understanding Digital Competences in Europe and an analysis, adaptation and updating of the required digital competence (DC) for the following profiles: Teachers/trainers and users/learners in Communication and social marketing, Digital Touristic management and Digital Tour Guide. That is, to create a specific Digital Competence Grid and a Self-Assessment grid for all these profiles as the prior step to create useful training materials for teachers in these areas and users/learners in order to be a master in these competences. (Validation and recognition).
- To create a specific framework identifying, for each profile, all the required digital competences, and provide for each competence a description, descriptors, examples of levels, attitudes, skills and examples of applicability in different contexts and different purposes.
- Learners/Technicians in Communication and social marketing. This segment of stakeholders is comprised of learners and Technicians that want to work in the following areas: communication, social and digital marketing experts, community managers, Link building (SEO and SEM) or Web 2.0/3.0 experts.
- Learners/Technicians in Digital Touristic management. Learners and Technicians that want to work in the following areas: on-line booking management, touristic contents developers and management, touristic social media (Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter for tourism), touristic blogs, webs and wikis managers, etc
- Learners/Technicians to be Digital Tour Guide. Learners and Technicians that want to work as future Digital Travel Guide, touristic on-line books, Touristic App guides developers and App guides management, Internet city guides data management.