In its June 20, 2026 edition, the French-speaking Swiss daily 24 heures published a profile of David Biraud, Meilleur Ouvrier de France in sommelierie and sommelier-buyer for Clos Sélection. It was an opportunity for him to shed light on a system little known to the general public: allocated wines.

What is an allocation? Who can access it? Can it be lost? With thirty years of experience managing the cellars of the Crillon and the Mandarin Oriental in Paris, David answers without hesitation: allocation is not just a matter of money or status — it is above all a matter of trust and long-term loyalty.

He also discusses a fundamental trend: climate change could make certain currently accessible wines even rarer, pushing new estates towards this quota system.

Valuable insights, from the person who selects the confidential estates for the Clos Sélection portfolio.

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