En Primeur

En Primeur 2011 – Margaux, Latour, Palmer, Pontet Canet and Sauternes Revisited, Cru Bourgeois

Another full day of tasting where I managed to re-taste both Palmer, Latour, Margaux and the wines from Sauternes and Barsac. For those of you who are wondering why I retrace my footsteps it is because barrel samples can vary and these are young wines that are a ‘work in progress.’ Once again I thought that Pavillon Rouge and Pavillon Blanc showed very well … Read more

En Primeur 2011 – Day 2 – Leoville Las Cases, Nenin, Potensac, Clinet, Calon Segur, Lafon Rochet, Lagrange

After my second day tasting in Bordeaux I can confirm that this is a vintage made under extremely taxing conditions and I believe that with what vagaries the weather had to throw at them the chateaux have been under pressure to deliver. As a result of tasting on the Right Bank and returning to the … Read more

En Primeur 2011 Summary

Having arrived back from Bordeaux and taken stock of all my tasting experiences I am sure there are many Bordeaux chateaux owners who are very disappointed with their wines this year. This is a year that has been extremely difficult for them where statistics have proved that the growing season was very taxing with problems … Read more

Robert Parker’s Scores for the 2010 Vintage

Having had time to assess Robert Parker’s scores on the 2010 vintage a few things are becoming clear. Firstly Parker has hailed the 2010 as a great vintage, secondly prices will remain high and thirdly due to the polarizing of price between the top chateaux and the lesser known estates there will be some bargains. I … Read more

Top Twenty Star Wines of Bordeaux 2010

Having had time to review and reflect on the En Primeur 2010 tastings here is my final list of wines that impressed above all others. These wines are, to my mind, are the stars of 2010. Chateau Haut Brion. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Whilst in Bordeaux at En Primeur I am sometimes … Read more