Archive Releases
16 April 2009
And today finishes with another first-growth, Château Lafite Rothschild, which will be allocated to clients @ £1,590.00 IB per case. . .
At these prices critics' views/& scores seem unnecessary however, the 2008 has received some excellent reviews across the board and demand will undoubtedly outstrip everyone's allocations this year!
Neal Martin awards (95-97), which I believe makes it his 'top' left-bank of the vintage and describes the wine as follows:
"A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, this has a very deep, almost opaque purple colour. The bouquet is quite similar to the Duhart: a little sulky and timid at this stage, although it always takes longer to emerge than other Pauillacs. Blackberry leaf, a touch of tobacco and graphite, almost conservative at the moment. After a couple of minutes, those fruits begin to emerge with blackberry, a touch of scorched leather, Xmas cake and all spice. I think there is a lot of complexity here, but it is buried deep within the wine. The palate is very well structured, firm tannins, good acidity and a wonderful crescendo. It really lacquers the palate – this is much more assertive than the coquettish Château Margaux tasted directly before. Very fresh on the finish, subtle vanillary oak, unfurling with the passing minutes. Anyone not allowing this wine ten minutes to open will have missed the point. Outstanding"
Jancis Robinson awards (17+) and does confess to being hurried through the tasting room to appreciate its finer points, hence one possible reason why the score is slightly on the conservative side.
Decanter.com (AKA Steven Spurrier) awards 19.0 points "Purple-black-red, really fine controlled fragrance and purity of blackcurrant fruit on the nose, already textured and layered, still firm on the palate, great depth of fruit, doesn't show the typical Lafite charm, but has both power and breed in perfect harmony, will develop slowly and brilliantly".
The only notable release of the day (so far) goes to Château Leoville Poyferre, which we are delighted to offer @ £305.00 IB per case. . . The 2008 received a good review from Neal Martin who awards 91-93 points, which pips yesterday sell-out, Château Leoville Barton (90-92) to the post both on price and score. . .
"A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Ripe saturated blackberry on the nose with touches of cedar and smoke all in Poyferre's usual extrovert style. The palate has very good fruit concentration with pure blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry and cedar. Good sense of mineralité and tension on the finish. Great length. Much improvement over the 2007. Excellent". NM
We've also been busy adding Jancis' 'left-bank' tasting notes and scores to our site. . . The critics' notes/& palates are very subjective however, there are certain Châteaux, which are receiving the same adulation from all the published scores/notes to date. . . Omitting the first-growths, Châteaux Cos d'Estournel, both Pichon's, Pontet Canet, Las Cases and Palmer have all received glowing reviews. There are some real gems too, which shouldn't be overlooked (price dependant of course). Châteaux Lagrange, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Calon Segur, Lynch Bages, Giscours, Malescot, Batailley, Alter Ego de Palmer, Grand-Mayne, Pavie-Macquin are all very impressive.
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. . .
Last night my inbox was flooded with offerings from the Mouton stable. First up is Château Mouton Rothschild, which has been firing on all cylinders since the exceptional 2006. . . Forgive me if I sound a bore but we're going to have to allocate the 2008 to clients who have supported this Château during the past few vintages.
Did I say that my "inbox was flooded with offerings from the Mouton stable"? What I actually meant to say was that my inbox was flooded with offerings' of Le Petit de Mouton Rothschild, Clerc Milon, d'Armaihac and Coutet. Regrettably, emails concerning the 'Grand-Vin' were a little thinner on the ground. This years excuse (exactly the same since the 2000 campaign) is that quantity is down by 'x' percent and our allocations have been cut by 'x' as a consequence blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. . . Do they think we're that naive? Low yields were endemic throughout Bordeaux during the 2008 harvest and not just isolated to the first-growths. . .
This years campaign will be very interesting – Not because of the usual Bordelaise politics, which one is subjected to but because the first-growths' are releasing first, in the hope to set a price precedence for other Châteaux to follow. To create harmony, good-will if you like and to show that Bordeaux are not greedy and are aware of market conditions etcetera. . .
My questions are "if the négociants/Châteaux unnecessarily restrict allocations, then why on earth would we/you purchase any other wine from the 2008 campaign full stop (And this is a huge point) particularly after showing loyalty during the very difficult 2007 En-Primeur vintage? Put simply, wouldn't it be more satisfying to stick our fingers up at them (as they are to us) and wait a wee while as all these wines will be available at little if any additional cost?
Do revert with your views. . .
NB: We've just added Neal Martins Top Saint Emilion Scores. . .