In the first in our new mini-series of interviews with the great and the good of the wine industry, discover more about BonCoeur Founder and Chairman, James Goodhart, in Meet the Founder...
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS…
Passionate, determined and thirsty!
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE WINE TRADE?
I cut my teeth doing a harvest at Château Montlabert in St Émilion in 1988, followed by work experience with Yorkshire Fine Wines. I then took off down under and got a job as part of the winemaking team for Houghton Winery, part of BRL Hardy in Swan Valley, Western Australia.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING THEIR OWN CELLAR?
Start by buying wines that you can afford to drink rather than chasing the ‘big names’ which can be a dangerous game as the Châteaux often take a lot of the short term profit out of the wines by releasing at a high price. If you take the romance away from wine it is a simple commodity and it’s all about market forces…..high demand + low stock = price increases. I really want people to enjoy wine rather than just buying for investment purposes. At Bon Coeur we take the time to understand your wine aspirations, building a good working cellar takes time and patience, it’s very rewarding and I have enjoyed helping customers over the years build some fabulous collections both for investment and drinking.
WHAT’S NEW AT BON COEUR?
The team is still largely the same, naturally a few changes and new additions, our team is still striding to give you the ‘ultimate experience’ through personal advice and service. We are currently investing in future proofing the business, reducing our carbon footprint like all responsible businesses. There is certainly an increased desire for more online visibility, hence we are investing in a new website, however for us traditional communication will stay, combining the new with the reliability of genuine communication and honest advice.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TODAY FOR THE BUSINESS?
Supply chain is the biggest issue in the current market with shortages in raw materials…glass, pallets, closures, labels as well as logistics with shortages of containers, drivers and even ships. Add covid and Brexit to the equation and you almost had a perfect storm. Some orders from Italy for example that were taking 4 weeks and now taking 12 plus weeks to arrive. We are fortunate to have our own in-house bonded warehouse and dedicated logistics and warehouse team as well as good Finance Director, Jonathon Mann, an essential ingredient for every successful business.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WINES TO LIST AT BON COEUR? TELL US ABOUT YOUR WINE BUYING STRATEGY...
As you know we work completely independently, setting us apart from the competition. We do not represent any winemakers, ensuring we are not held to any selling targets. We taste all new vintages to ensure they earn their position in the list. We are regularly following over 20 to 30 new producers and taste new wines all year round. For me the key is balance, drinkability, genuine expression, personality and value. Value is a word that many use at the entry level, however, I apply this at all price points from £8 to £50+ a bottle. A question I often ask is, “would I pay that much for this wine, would it make me want another glass?” Buying wine is certainly a passion for me, however you need to be disciplined, completely in-tune with your palate and buy with your customers in mind. Our buying team represent all areas of the business, I am very proud of what we offer and enjoy many of our wines at home with family and friends.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OWN CELLAR?
My first fine wines purchase was four cases of Leoville Barton 1995 in 1996. The word investment cellar wasn’t in play then, rather a ‘working cellar’ where the idea was you buy two cases of each wine, store for ten years and then after ten years sell one case of each wine (that had hopefully doubled in value) and it gave the money to re-invest and it allowed you to drink for free. My current cellar is a combination of investment and drinking - 60% Bordeaux, 20% Burgundy with an assortment of goodies from elsewhere but I’m definitely buying more Italian, Spain and South American.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WINE AND WHO WOULD YOU SHARE IT WITH?
Old vintages of Château Haut Brion. 1989 is stunning but also think the 1998 is totally under-rated. I always share my wine with Samantha, my wife and business partner but also with Bill Blatch, my tasting buddy, Bordeaux Guru and fellow fisherman who has taught me so much and is a walking encyclopedia who’s who in Bordeaux.
THE BUSINESS IS CELEBRATING IT’S 27TH YEAR THIS YEAR, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I think how we have as a management team developed the business over the years. Moving to Moor Park and having our own bonded warehouse has been a game changer. On a personal note Samantha and I still own Bon Coeur 100%, which is a fantastic achievement.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT AND WHY?
This is a difficult one…. probably Chez Bruce in London as we had so many memorable nights, including celebrating our engagement. One of my best ever meals was probably at the Yorke Arms with Frances Aktins, we wait in anticipation for Frances to open her new place.
FINALLY, YOU HAVE A RARE DAY OFF – WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Pack up and go fishing. I have fished from an early age, tying my own flies and simply enjoy the peace and quiet. Recently I am fortunate to be able to share my passion for shooting with my daughter Amber whom I hope will become a keen shot. I also get lots of pleasure watching the children play sport and we love skiing together as a family.
