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On Bordeaux 2009 prices

The barrage of releases tend to render blogging instantly out of date so rather than give my thoughts on every release - that’s what the email offers and twitter are for - I thought I would summarise at what I guess is the moment when things are about to go...

Bordeaux 09 – Sauternes Season

Last week was the second week of releases. It turns out to have been a Sauternes week. May be this will become a trend in years to come that the Sauterne release early - we'll just have to see. Either way I think it was sensible as they have filled...

Last weeks Bordeaux 2009 activity, Olivier Leflaive 09′s and Edouard Moueix Tasting Dinner

A quick update following the first week of releases (not many of them!). Last Tuesday saw d’Angludet out at £219, demand seemed steady, it’s a wine that tasted well this year and has a good following. The other three wines we offered last week were all quite different “beasts” –...

Bordeaux 2009 day 7…the end in sight

So, the final push is on. After a disastrous performance in the hotel inter merchant pool tournament last night it was actions stations to get packed, checked out and up to St-Emilion for a 9.15 appointment at Cheval-Blanc. Yet again some formula 1 inspired driving from Helen got us there with...

Bordeaux 2009 day 6…UGC, Lafite and Sweeties

We woke to torrential rain that was to be with us for the entire day. Lafite was first up. Very difficult to assess on this showing but, given the incredible demand for these wines, what they taste like seems to be almost secondary to anything else. Suffice to say that the...

Bordeaux 2009 day 5……UGC’s…the most wines!

First day today of the Union des Grands Crus Tastings (UGC). We kicked off bright and early at Smith-Haut-Lafitte for the Pessac-Leognan tasting. An interesting start with the usual suspects performing well and true to type. In general terms the reds were more consistent than the whites with Domaine de...

Bordeaux 2009 day 4…Monday must be First Growths

The middle day of our trip and a few Château visits before the onslaught of the UGC tastings tomorrow. We kicked off with an early morning visit to Latour. A terrific range of wines here as you would expect, from the generic Pauillac to the big chap himself. The “Forts” was...

Bordeaux 2009 day 3…Mitjavile Magic

Pretty dull and overcast but sun fighting to force through...A trip to a more general négociant tasting was first up this morning. An interesting opportunity to get a feel for the overall quality of the vintage from all the key appellations, including dry whites and stickies. We had an hour and...

Bordeaux 2009 day 2….Moueix

So, Day 2 over. A simply sensational visit to Moueix. We kicked off with a chat with Christian Moueix at their offices in Libourne. We learned here that, at least on the Right Bank, 2009 is not an absolutely homogeneous success. The first chink in the armour of this much-hyped...

Bordeaux 2009 day 1

Exciting but tiring day.....6am - Flight from Gatwick, everyone arrived, two Scots, one German and three Englishmen. Landed safely met up with driver for the week and off we go. 10.15 - Les Carmes Haut Brion was delicious, lovely fruit-driven style, elegant and beautifully balanced. 11.30 - Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion...