by Wine Owners
Posted on 2017-09-13
After a busy summer including in August our most productive trading month to date, we thought it would be instructive to run some analysis of trading trends and movements, compared to the same quarter in 2016.
Market share between regions remains relatively stable despite a large increase in trading value overall, with Bordeaux holding first place with a 75.14% share of market compared to 78.15% in the same quarter of 2016. That there is a drop is interesting in its own right, perhaps pointing to greater diversity in wines offered for sale, as well as to diversifying demand in export markets.
Burgundy is the major winner in market share, extending from 11.78% in summer 2016 to 17.10% over the same period in 2017, and we’ve certainly seen an increase in Burgundy purchases from Far East markets, showing a 17% increase on 2016 numbers by value.
Other regions remain very much minority sports, with Rhone up to 2.03% from 1.8% and Italy, surprisingly, down from 4.85% to 2.5%.
Within Bordeaux, the share of the market taken up by First Growths has grown from 28.26% in 2016 to 44.05%, perhaps reflecting heightened interest in the top wines, though the real interest is in how the First Growths compare within their own category.
Haut Brion is the major winner amongst the Firsts, increasing its share of the Bordeaux market to 13.35% from 3.2%. As a proportion of the First Growth market, the share increased from11.31% to 30.3%, putting Haut Brion at the head of the market alongside Lafite.
Lafite moved up to a 13.34% share of the Bordeaux market from 11.62%, but lost ground against the other First Growths, slipping to 30.29% from 41.12%, exchanging a clear lead in the class for an almost dead heat with the progressive Haut Brion.
Mouton showed a similar fall-off in share, dropping from an 8.63% share of Bordeaux to 7%, and a 30.54% share of the First Growth market dropping to a 15.89% share. Market and trading values for Lafite and Mouton remain robust however, so this feels more like a positive story about Haut Brion than a negative for the two Rothschild properties.
Latour has benefited too here, growing a very small share of Bordeaux (1.18%) to 5.07%, and increasing its share of the First Growth market from 4.18% to 11.05%.
Margaux has the least movement to comment on, increasing its share of the Bordeaux market marginally to 5.29% from 3.6%, and falling from 12.84% to 12.01% in its share of the First Growths.
by Wine Owners
Posted on 2017-08-08
Early afternoon 22 May 2017 word spread that Lafite was out. A few calls were made. But where was the wine? Allocations were down 50% but with the promise of another tranche in a couple of weeks’ time. Négociants waited, not wishing to be stuck with more highly priced second tranche releases.
In tandem the Chateau also attempted to revive its 2010 vintage strategy of tying other wines in the stable to allocations of Carruades and le Grand Vin. Either Rieussec and Carmes de Rieussec were being tied to Carruades, or Carruades was being tied with Duhart, or Duhart was being tied with Lafite.
As an aside, there was nothing subpar with Duhart this year, a properly serious wine in fact. But using it in a bait-and-switch move is unlikely to enhance the bait’s secondary market reputation.
Then, without waiting for the second tranche, more than one of the smaller négociants broke ranks on releasing the first tranche to customers, but estimating the cost of the second tranche and pricing at the intersect of the two. With lack of market transparency buyers were uncertain what fair value might look like.
In fact the majority of estimated intersect prices turned out to be the level of the second release price, handing merchants a handy profit of 20%, and suggesting Lafite were less aggressive with their second release pricing than they had previously signposted.
Thankfully, Lafite 2016 represents a big step up on the previous vintage, so the price increase will likely be justified in the medium term, if as expected, the secondary market adds 25% to its release price over the next few years. In fact Lafite 2016 is simply glorious: an absolute pinnacle of classicism in this great left bank vintage.
Notwithstanding, the Lafite release ‘strategy’ represents everything that is most unattractive about Bordeaux en primeur at its opaque worst.
None of which would matter, if it weren’t for the consumer. It wasn’t so long ago that the Bordeaux market was moribund: the market killed off by aggressive pricing of 2009 and 2010 vintages and a subsequent market collapse. As long as consumers end up nursing persistent losses, there is a high risk of a collapse in market confidence. Commodity-like collectible markets that wine epitomises are particularly sensitive to the maintenance of positive sentiment.
We’re certainly not back in territory as yet. Lafite 2016 released at almost 50% below that of 2010, whilst for UK buyers the collapse of Sterling has magnified price increases, whereas the strength of the US Dollar provides a tailwind for Bordeaux sales into the USA.
But the Bordelais need to be mindful of what happened following the mis-priced 2010 release. Lest we forget, it was barely 3 years ago that the Bordeaux secondary market was still in the doldrums. The remarkable market resurgence that started in late 2014 should not be taken for granted. The Chateaux have a profound responsibility to avoid the Dory Syndrome, named after the forgetful fish in the Disney film animation.
by Wine Owners
Posted on 2017-03-28
Keen followers of Bordeaux can’t have missed the striking price revivals that have been in progress over roughly the last 12 months, and Mouton Rothschild 2006 makes for in interesting case study.
We’re looking here at what is effectively an over-performing wine in an under-appreciated vintage. 2006 Mouton has consistently been rated highly by both Robert Parker (last scored at 96 in 2014) and Neal Martin (scored at 97 points in May 2016), and compares very favourably to the other First Growths in 2006. Latour consistently scores around 94-95; Lafite at 95 from Neal Martin, 97 from Parker; Margaux at 94 and Haut Brion at 96.
Not only that, it outscores or equals itself in what ought to be better vintages. The 2005 is likewise rated 97 by both Parker and Martin, and 2006 is only outscored in recent vintages by 2009 and 2010. No doubt then that winemaker Philippe Dhalluin did exceptional work in the vintage, and those buying at the nadir of the market in and around January 2015 were picking up a serious bargain at around £3000, the same price as the far less interesting 2007, and rather cheaper than the less well-rated 2008.
However, having risen in value throughout 2016 from £3200 to £4400, the market price has stagnated since October 2016, and now stands at £4500, with bids standing around £4130, which is still the highest this wine has traded at since 2011, but starts to look like the top of the market. For drinkers, this seems to continue to represent good value, but for those interested in wine as a store of value, quite possibly one to swap out.
Click here to see live trading information on Mouton 2006.
Did you know...? British artist Lucian Freud was commissioned to create the label for the 2006 vintage of Château Mouton-Rothschild. "Far from the tormented portraits and nudes for which he is renowned, [he] chose a joyously exotic transposition of the pleasure of drinking, in which the vinestock is transformed into a springing palm tree and the wine lover into a happily anticipatory zebra." Source: Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
INTERESTED IN BORDEAUX? We will be in the Bordelais covering the en primeur campaign, so don't forget to follow us: - on Twitter - on Instagram - on Facebook |
by Wine Owners
Posted on 2016-11-09
Is wine an effective safe haven?
With markets braced for a correction following a Trump victory, in anticipation of a more protectionist United States and slower global growth, will wine continue to do a good job of preserving and being a sound store of value?
The fine wine market is up well over 24% this year, building on last year's single digit rises and is currently seeing very strong levels of trading activity as more and more private individuals with discretionary wealth seek to diversify and enjoy the fruits of their hard-earned cash.
Scarcity driven markets such as Burgundy, Northern Italy and California have seen consecutive annual rises in each of the last 10 years that we’ve tracked the market. Burgundy is up 327% over that period.
Liquidity driven markets, principally Bordeaux, has gone through its correction following the Chinese-inspired bubble of 2009-2011, and secondary market sentiment is once again positive.
Collectors who have bought fine wine in the UK are at a particular advantage thanks to the devaluation of Sterling. The very large body of fine wine stored in the UK - estimated at £6bn - ensures that secondary market prices in the UK are favourable.
Whether you are looking to sell or build, wine increasingly looks like a safe bet in an increasingly uncertain world.
To discuss your next step, contact us now or call us on +44 (0)20 7278 4377.
by Wine Owners
Posted on 2016-10-24
Market context and performance since June 24th
Serving as a general fine wine market tracker, the WO 150 gained 6% in the year to June (6.5% in the previous 12 months) but is now up 19.8% YTD.
Focusing on the all-important Bordeaux market, the world’s single largest region of fine wine production, the WO First Growth Index was up 8.7% year to date on 24th June, but is now up 23%.
As regards Bordeaux Firsts, this performance is on the back of 4 years of decline, following the bursting of a Chinese-inspired bubble in late 2011. The market in these blue chip Bordeaux bottomed in Q3 of 2015, and has soared since. Chateau Latour, released at £11,400 per case of 12 bottles, is now back within £100 per bottle of that release price.
The rest of the Bordeaux market had tested its lows the previous year, and so its performance year to June 2016 was a slightly higher 10.25%, reflecting the additional momentum gathered over the previous 18 months. Looking at all classified growths, the market is now up 22.5% YTD.
Whereas Bordeaux is a market driven by liquidity and large production volumes, scarcity-driven markets such as Burgundy, Piedmont and cult Californians, have enjoyed a long-term run stretching back 20+ years, and these wine markets have not suffered the roller coaster ride of Bordeaux.
The WO Northern Italy index is up 171% over the last 10 years, the WO Blue Chip Burgundy Index is up 311% over the same period, and the WO California index is up a whopping 427%.
What’s going to be the effect on new releases?
New releases are already more expensive to buy due to the pound buying less euros or dollars.
Brexit will cause new releases of two sought after vintages (Burgundy 2015 and Bordeaux 2016) to rise by 30%+, caused by producer increases of, say, around 10% compounded by the 20% effect of devaluation.
First in line: the impending 2015 Burgundies are due for UK release as futures in January 2017. With a compromised 2016 vintage assuring small production volumes, 2015s from some addresses will rocket to compensate for next years’ lower production.
Bordeaux will follow in April 2017.
Given the UK’s preeminent role in global fine wine trading, Brexit has turbo-charged market performance, and given the relatively recent recovery of Bordeaux markets a boost after a prolonged period of decline.
As the pound falls, assuming a rising fine wine market (key as it means there's strong global demand), the price of secondary market wines will rise since they are cheaper to buy for buyers holding currencies such as HKD or dollars.
This increases the value of collectors' current stock since the market is global. London is still one of the most important global trading hubs for fine wine, if not the most important.
Could price rises kill demand?
Because top burgundy from the best producers can double after first release it is unlikely to dampen initial demand – by much. And if it does there’s always the USA, Japan and other markets that’ll mop up the relatively small volumes.
Secondary market prices of older vintages may rise, pulled up by the higher new release prices. But as they rise, the number of potential secondary market buyers may decrease, causing these scarcity driven markets to become less liquid. As a result, it may take longer to sell your wines at these higher prices. The moral of the story is that scarcity driven markets are not for the impatient seller who needs cash tomorrow. These are better seen as long-term holds.
Bordeaux prices of the new vintage (2016) will also rise when they are released next year. Whether the UK Market chooses to buy or sits this one out remains to be seen.
However, the USA is more or less certain to be buying these futures aided by vintage character of ripe, powerful wines from a hot summer that will suit their palates.
As a consequence, enduring weakness of the pound will place further upward pressure on back vintages.
We predict that recent back vintages will increase sooner than is normally the case (1-2 years instead of the more common 5-7 years), as top Bordeaux producers are becoming principal stockholders in an attempt to capture more of the downstream value of their wines and increase the value of their balance sheet assets.
by Wine Owners
Posted on 2016-04-11
POMEROL
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau Beauregard | Usually a favourite. I loved 2010. Not this time. | 85 |
|
| 3 |
| Le Bon Pasteur | Nice grainy entry - warm finish though which spoils it. | 89 |
|
|
|
| La Cabanne | Slightly funky mid palate nice bright finish. Overall it's no from me… | 86 |
|
|
|
| Clinet | Rather good, dense, more to come, very controlled finish, but what I don't get is character. Will be adored by others no doubt. | 93 |
|
|
|
| La Croix de Gay | Lush now, Big powerful flavours, red fruits but actually a proper slug of excitement, lovely concentration, and controlled finish. Yes this is good. | 95+ |
| 1 |
|
| Gazin | Depth, grainy tannins, lifted mid-palate, nice intensity, firm finish good length. | 94+ |
| 4 |
|
| Petit Villages | Nice density, vinosity, a touch of alcohol evident at this stage and soft tannins with a fresh finish. The alcohol marks it down. | 92 |
|
|
|
| La Conseillante | Velvety texture. Gorgeous fruit on midpalate, lovely progression, extremely ripe, sweet tannins. Extremely silky finish, edgeless which worries me for its future, but overall there's a 3 dimensionality to it that will guarantee it has plenty of fans this year and could augur well. | 93-96 |
|
|
|
| Duo de Conseillante | Cedary attack, nice length with a prickle of acidity. Yeasty, meaty midpalate. Tasty but a bit short on refinement, A Marmite wine? | 89 |
|
|
|
| Vieux Chateau Certan | Refined nose, liquory, the structure of this wine creates a clear mental image when you taste it, this wine's all about transparency and a firm finish. No excess weight. Porcelain-like beauty. | 97+ | 2 |
|
|
SAINT EMILION
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Canon La Gaffeliere | Dark colour sweet fruit attack, good fresh progression. Decent, medium finish | 92-93 |
|
|
|
| La Couspade | Porty nose, monster. | 82 |
|
|
|
| La Dominique | Balanced fresh quite big middle. Not so long. Sunday lunch candidate. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Clos Fourtet | Cedary nose slight touch of alcohol, liquory texture, round fruited entry, nice intensity, balance is there, good controlled finish. | 94 |
|
|
|
| La Gaffeliere | Dark colour big nose . Good attack, slightly rustic finish. Nice though | 89 |
|
|
|
| Berliquet | Vinous nose extracted attack, sticky fruit, grippy finish | |
|
|
|
| Larcis Ducasse | Overpowering nose not attractive, more sticky fruit. Thick and sweet. | 86 |
|
|
|
| Pavie Macquin | Macerated black cherries nose black cherries on palate very controlled finish, big but I like it. Freshness relieves a long finish, but not enough to lose some definition. | 91 |
|
|
|
| Soutard | Lots of extract, bright concentration freshness and a focused finish. But alcoholic with a massive finish. Essence of wine. | 87 |
|
|
|
| Troplong Mondot | Creamy, big too big, firm finish. Over extracted? | 89 |
|
| 4 |
| Trottevielle | Flat. | 84 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Villemaurine | Strangely aromatic and cheesy. | 83 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Cheval Blanc | No Petit Cheval this year. All's in the Grand Vin. It was that good apparently. The wine is lovely but not 2010. Maybe they are preparing for a better release price EP? Aromatic fresh Gorgeous nose, smoky fine attack, great finish. Long of course. | 97 |
|
|
|
| L'Angelus | Powerful attack but with lovely mid-palate finesse and a very good finish. | 95 |
|
|
|
| Balestard La Tonnelle | Powerful nose of intensely aromatic fruit. Full-on sweet. | 86 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Beau-Sejour | Super aromatic nose, powerful, ripe, big | 87 |
|
|
|
| Canon | Cedary nose. Very intense, extremely ripe but not overdone, liquorish root, vinous mid palate. Fresh lift. Warm finish. Sweet tannic finish. Finish lingers, not in a linear way, but it's insinuating and utterly delicious. | 96 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Figeac | Super aromatics, svelte, concentrated but not heavy. Character and depth. Great length. | 95 |
|
|
|
| Dragon de Quintus | Intense, fresh, balanced with a dumb nose. Better than many of the hotter offerings | 89-91 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Quintus | Cool nose. Integrated, alcohol is present, yet more restrained than many. | 91+ |
|
|
|
PESSAC LEOGNAN
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau Bouscaut | Characterful nose with substance | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateaux Carbonnieux | Bright entry, grippy finish, not sure how long this is? | 88 |
|
|
|
| Les Carmes Haut Brion | Beautiful vinous nose, fragrant palate, fine tannins. Very good. Exciting. | 95 |
| 5 |
|
| Domaine de Chevalier | Fruity attack, pretty mid palate, aromatic lift, excellent intensity and a lovely sweet finish. | 94-95+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau de Fieuzal | Vinous nose, a little rustic, good intensity but not such a great finish. | 88 |
|
|
|
| Chateau de France | Pretty nose, agreeable with a ripe finish. | 89 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Haut Bergy | Bright, a bit unknit. | 86-87 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion | Fruit nose, integrated palate, touch of spice, grippy finish. | 91-93 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Latour Martillac | Green finish | 83 |
|
|
|
| Chateau La Louviere | Up front caramel flavours, modern, easy, not my style. | 83 |
|
|
|
| Malartic Lagraviere | Attractive nose, lovely aromatic mid palate, very grippy finish. | 87 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Olivier | Fragrant nose, powerful mid palate, not together at this stage. | 86 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Pape Clement | Liquory nose, bright leafy fruit and intense finish. This is gorgeous, in a much more delieated style than I've experienced before from Pape Clement. | 97+ | 5 |
|
|
| Chateau Pique Caillou | Pleasant. | 87 |
|
| 5 |
| Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte | Vinous nose, powerful, unknit finish, serious. | 93+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Haut Bailly | Aromatic freshly spiced, liqorice, grainy, silky tannins. Fantastic. | 95+ |
|
|
|
| La Chapelle de Haut-Brion | This seems to be trying quite hard. Firm entry. Herbaceous. But it improves with length and sweetens in the mouth. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Le Clarence de Haut-Brion | Nice nose, lovely grainy entry, nice intensity, mouthwatering finish, with a pruney merlot finish spoiling the shape of the wne's progression…at this stage. | 92 |
|
|
|
| Chateau La Mission Haut Brion | Aromatic, grippy, very cool and controlled. Licorice root and large scale fruity mid palate. Long. | 95 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Haut-Brion | Great aromatics on the nose. Extremely controlled, tannic, dry and very serious. Very primary though. A tough one to taste, but there's nothing made up about this wine. Could be one to watch as it develops. I'd love to retaste this. Reminds me of the great 1986. Don't buy this to drink unless you know you'll be alive in 25 years.This is not a points-chaser. | 95-98 | 3 |
|
|
MEDOC - HAUT MEDOC - LISTRAC - MOULIS
| | | | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau Senejac | Pleasant with a slightly green finish | 85 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Chassse-Spleen | Nice entry, firm finish, OK | 86 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Cantemerle | Some substance to it, firm with a grippy finish. | 87 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Sociando Mallet | Very firm, serious, possibly lacking a little flesh in the middle | 88 |
|
|
|
MARGAUX
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau Brane Cantenac | Fragrant, firm, solid, fleshy middle with freshness and good build/ progression. Good substance, lovely finish. | 92-93 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Cantenac Brown | This has energy and drives through a pure mid-palate. Light on its feet with a long finish. | 94 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Dauzac | OK | 89 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Durfort Vivens | This is lively, middle weight with nice intensity and is interesting to drink - savoury and balanced. The intensity v weight equation reminds me of Burgundy. Best here for ages? Could be a bargain. | 92+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Ferriere | Extract and elegance in equal measure with a slightly diffuse finish. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Giscours | Powerful. Lovely intensity. Round fruited - meaning it's nice but could do with a touch of excitement. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Desmirail | Substance and good grip. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Kirwan | Lovely fresh nose, lively acidity and extremely good length. I'm impressed with this. | 93-94 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Rauzan Gassies | Dry and deep with medium length. Classic. | 91 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Malescot St Exupery | As always, denser, more spiced, layered and with nice sweet fruit. Notwithstanding a mildly lifted midpalate and some nice rigour to it. Overall, alluringly plush and homogeneously styled. | 92 |
|
|
|
| Chateau D'Issan | Good intensity fresh, nice definition, much more direct than Brane Cantenac, and the acidity drives it forward. Mouthwatering end of palate. My sort of wine. | 93+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Rauzan Segla | Perfumed nose, as you'd expect from Chanel. Succulence and grip in the right proportions. Excellent intensity. | 94+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Lascombes | Dull. | 86 |
|
|
|
| Ego de Palmer | Somewhat mute and fruity nose. Lovely density and aromatic profile. Grainy, cedary mid palate coated in sweet fruit. Nice lift and sweet, sappy quality. If only this wasn't going to be silly money. | 92 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Palmer | Impressive nose, sweet aromatic profile on the nose. Lovely sweet fruit, touch of damsons, tannins very sweet, though pushing through and there are lots of them. Big wine but those tannins curtail the length for now. Iron fist in velvet glove. It'll be quite a long wait. | 96 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Labegorce | Tannic and grippy but with the guts to make an interesting bottle in the future. | 89 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Marquis de Terme | Don't know this wine but it was very pleasant. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Prieuré Lichine | Mid weight | 88 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Siran | Fragrant nose,middle of the road. I wanted more after that nose had led me in. | 88 |
|
|
|
| Pavillon Rouge | Fabulous mid palate following a beautiful aromatic entry. stunning firm tarry silky tannins. Best second wine? | 94 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Margaux | Elegant nose, crystalline, layered, very aromatic entry in the mouth. Stunning length. This is great. | 97+ | 1 |
|
|
ST JULIEN
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau Gloria | Nice wine, good intensity and freshness. The Martin legacy continues. We approve of the surname and suspect we may not be alone. | 92 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Lagrange | Good grippy mid palate, fresh and mouthwatering, well handled tannins. Nice surprise for me now the Lagrange style is back in the fold. | 93 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Langoa Barton | Lots of fleshy middle, a bit angular but will be lovely if it can come together with age. | 92 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Talbot | Medium full, spiced, open and pretty. Medium long. There's a definite Talbot style emerging since 2010 and it stands out. | 92-93 |
|
|
|
| Chateau St Pierre | This is fantastic. Spiced, dense, freshly lifted mid palate and aromatics of the vintage. | 94-95 |
| 3 |
|
| Chateau Beychevelle | Delicious mid palate, balance uber alles and a nice bright finish. Reminds me of the '14s in its un-extracted style | 93 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Leoville Barton | Nice nose, good intensity, balanced and the progression is very pleasing. Classic style, but is it better than rather good? | 93+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Leoville Poyferré | Very consistent, quite grippy, mid palate is good but a little unexciting. | 92 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Gruaud Larose | This is excellent. Good attack and medium weight. | 91-94 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Branaire-Ducru | Good balanced wine. | 91 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Leoville Las Cases | This is lovely, elegant and restrained wine. Antithesis of the bigger plush styled wines | 97+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Lalande Borie | Nice mid weight pepper and Merlot soft fruit - boring. | 86 |
|
|
|
| Croix de Beaucaillou | More modern style, soft approachable sappy finish. Good in its way. | 89 |
|
|
|
| Chateau de Ducru-Beaucaillou | Fine nose crystalline fruit nice controlled finish very silky tannins | 95 |
|
|
|
PAUILLAC
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau D'Armailhac | Cedar and perfume nose. Generous attack, and a rather lovely mid-palate. Complete for this level. | 93 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Clerc-Milon | Aromatic nose, fresher attack, nice definition, dark cherry mid palate. Builds. Long. Could be a bargain of the vintage. | 94-95 |
| 2 |
|
| Petit Mouton | Reductive nose? Dry entry and mid palate, with silky tannins. Not showy but crystalline fruit. | 91 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Mouton Rothschild | Vinous nose, refined, liqoury texture and a sappy mid palate. Gravelly notes, mouth-coating fruit. Massive tannic structure and they provide a bitter twist at the end that takes a little away from an otherwise beautiful wine. I think I prefer 2014 ultimately at the same stage of the game. | 96 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Batailley | Middle of the road. | 88 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Croizet-Bages | Nice density, liquorice note and tight finish. Real wine! | 91+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse | This is quite good. Lots of mid palate intensity. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Grand-Puy Lacoste | Fresh, lifted and great mid palate. Lovely lift and it's long. Yes please. | 94 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Haut Bages Libéral | OK, grippy finish. Angular. | 87 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Lynch Bages | Mid weight. A disappointment given previous vintages and the lovely 2014. | 88 |
|
| 1 |
| Chateau Lynch Moussas | Good wine, nice balance. | 90 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Haut-Batailley | Nice sappy wine, pretty with a licorice finish. | 89 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Pichon-Baron | Extremely good with an expressive nose and very integrated palate. Long. | 96 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Pichon-Longueville | Fine, with lovely stuffing and a lifted mid palate. Its long and shapely. The less showy of the two Pichons. I like the restraint. Time will tell, for now it's all potential rather than what it is today. | 93-96 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Pontet Canet | Perfumed, ripe nose with just a touch of caramel, fantastic weight, mid palate firmness and with the substance to coat the tannic structure that is clearly there. This is extremely well judged, lovely natural balance to it, and my favourite Pontet Canet for some time. It doesn't have the extraordinary levels of the elements that 2010 exhibited; this is a less elemental wines. Beauty rather than Beast. | 97 |
|
|
|
SAINT-ESTEPHE
| |
| | TOP 5 | VALUES | DISAPPOINT |
| Chateau Lafon-Rochet | A success, fine and integrated. | 91 |
|
|
|
| Chateau Ormes de Pez | Ok only. Something missing in the middle for now, insistent nonetheless. | 87 |
|
| 2 |
| Chateau de Pez | This shows nice progression. Nicely judged. | 89+ |
|
|
|
| Chateau Phélan Ségur | Bright attack, unknit for now, good weight though, fresh fruit, nicely textured mid palate. | 92 |
|
|
|
by Wine Owners
Posted on 2016-03-03
OWNER
Chateau Haut-Brion
APPELLATION
Pessac-Leognan
BLEND
Bordeaux Red Blend
AVERAGE SCORE
98/100
Haut-Brion 2005 initially enjoyed strong growth, peaking at £7,300 on the 30th September, 2008, ever since then however, the market value has dropped, reaching a trough of £4,561 in Jan 31, 2013. The price has plateaued to around its current value with little room for potential growth.
REVIEW
Another profound effort from Haut-Brion, the 2005 (a 9,000-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) has bulked up to the point that it is fair to compare it to the great successes of 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by a nuanced, noble bouquet of blue and red fruits interwoven with wet stones, unsmoked cigar tobacco, scorched earth, and spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and complex as well as exceptionally elegant with laser-like precision. (Robert Parker, April 2008)
