By Edward Richardson on 01/04/2019
We will touch down at Mérignac airport early on Sunday morning and fly straight into the 2018 Bordeaux en primeur tastings. Judgement will be reserved until all the barrels have been sampled but here are some early impressions of the vintage and thoughts on the upcoming campaign.
By Edward Richardson on 27/11/2018
We have only just returned from our annual pilgrimage to Burgundy but the en primeur campaign is already looming large. Our visits in October and November were an absolute delight. Many vignerons were wearing broad smiles again and as well they might, this is clearly a vintage that will give enormous early drinking pleasure for both red and white.
By David Porter on 24/05/2018
The last full 'declaration' by the leading Port houses was for the very fine 2011 Vintage. 2015 came painfully close, and we were hugely impressed by the 'Single Quinta' releases last year. How good must 2016 be to have trumped those superb 2015s? 2016: The Wines There has therefore been a palpable sense of excitement in anticipation of this new Vintage.
By Edward Richardson on 25/04/2018
As we mentioned in our initial post on the vintage, it was the frost that hit Bordeaux for several nights at the end of April which dominated the early headlines on the 2017 vintage. The frost was undoubtedly catastrophic for some but the more we chatted to winemakers across every appellation, we realised there was a subtler story to tell.
By Edward Richardson on 10/04/2018
Yesterday began with a 9am tasting at Cheval Blanc (you have to start somewhere!). Sadly, it didn’t begin well. First came the news that there would be no Yquem tasting in the Orangery this year (quel désastre!), next came the unwelcome revelation that the Château was quite badly hit by frost in 2017.
By Edward Richardson on 07/04/2018
Next week is primeurs week in Bordeaux and our tasting squad will be scurrying up and down the Gironde assessing the new vintage. Follow us on instagram and twitter if that's your thing, or check back here on the blog for our latest reports.
By David Porter on 29/06/2017
Brilliant Vintage Wines At harvest time in 2015, the shippers were all talking about ‘Vintage quality’ and fairly sure that there would be a general 'declaration' - but then came the impressive 2016 in the cellars too, and a decision had to be made about which to declare. Both really are very good indeed.
By Ed H-B on 13/01/2017
On Monday, we welcomed members of the trade and press to our 2015 Burgundy En Primeur Tasting at 67 Pall Mall. Those who braved the appalling weather and tube strike were welcomed by a room of joyous wines. 2015 was a fantastic vintage across the board.
By David Porter on 19/05/2016
The dismal day here in London yesterday was somewhat mirrored by the dispiriting news from Bordeaux that they are not really getting the message on pricing! There were several releases that we would like to get excited about - some good wines - but they are as ever, only interesting en primeur at the right price.
By Charles Lea on 31/03/2016
Well it's (nearly) that time of year again. Early news suggests that this really is a top-drawer vintage, but there are also reasons to believe that it may not be quite such a homogeneous success as either 2009 or 2010. In essence the issue is that some rain fell in September and early October before the harvest.
By David Porter on 02/06/2015
With the release today of Château Montrose at the wacky price of £850/12 the show is pretty much over. It has been a long haul – with many disappointingly priced wines – but there are some good buys too, which we feel are really worth considering.
By Charles Lea on 28/05/2015
This afternoon we have the release of Bruno Borie’s much praised Ducru Beaucaillou 2014 (£750/12). Like Léoville las Cases (£895/12, released on Friday) Ducru has been said by critics to be close to, or even equal to the quality of the First Growths, but at less than half the price.