I have just returned from another great trip to France and had the opportunity to again visit with my agent many wonderful vineyards in the Bordeaux area. I can share with you some of the insights I gained during my visit and hope they may help you with your wine buying in the future.
#1. For 2019 the weather was almost perfect. In Bordeaux, there was no hail, frost, fungus, too much rain, etc. The summer was hot and near the end just before harvest the days were hot but the nights were cool. Many Vintners were hoping for some light rain just before harvest but the last rains were in August. The result is grapes that are highly concentrated with maximum and almost perfect maturity. I tasted grapes right off the vine and to me they were perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sugar and acidity. To me, it appears the 2019 vintage will be another great one for the history books. Consequently, for the first time since 2008, I purchased Bordeaux futures while there. The wines will be beyond great and I was able to purchase the futures while there for the 2018 prices so I feel like I should have done well with pricing. But as usual, time will tell. I attended harvest in St. Emilion and all Vintners told me it should be one of the greatest years.
#2. Production has increased at least in Bordeaux. Burgundy did have hail again in 2019 so Borgogne's production remains low but the weather was perfect in Bordeaux leading to higher production for 2019. All of the vines I saw were very healthy, no mildew, and just the right amount of clusters of wine, again with ideal maturation and concentration. Hopefully with full production, the prices will be stable, another reason to buy 2019 futures as at least this week there had been no increase over 2018 prices so to me 2019 right now seems like a bargain. One thing that might cause prices to rise is most of the vineyards continue to upgrade and purchase new equipment for their production facilities. Chateau Beaurgard in Pomerol had one of the most impressive new facilities we saw this time around.
#3. Since our last visit to Bordeaux only 2 or 3 years ago the population has exploded. On our last visit, we saw sky cranes everywhere primarily building apartments and the construction is 3 times more than then and looking in a 360-degree circle all you see is sky cranes and construction. As a result, traffic is now at a standstill. It used to take 45 minutes to an hour to go up the left bank and St. Estephe for example. Plan on 2-hour drive now. It seems like lots of the younger generation have found Bordeaux to be a perfect laid back place to raise a family and they are coming to Bordeaux in large numbers. At night the streets are twice as crowded and reservations for dinner are now a must.
#4. I continue to highly recommend Cote du Bourg area wines. They are almost as good as the first growths and I found some outstanding wines at 8 Euro a bottle and constantly wondered if I was missing something or just plain wrong because I cannot fully understand how they can make that good wine at that low price. Everyone I spoke with confirmed that the vintners in Bordeaux consider Bourg wines some of the best up and coming wines in the area and tremendous bargains and frankly many French wine lovers drink mostly Cote du Bourg wines.
#5. We had a great time at Chateau Gazin in Pomerol and spent the day at harvest with the owner and tasted the grapes and wine. Their vineyard is adjacent, right next door, their last row of vines the next row is Petrus. We observed the land, soil, grapes, and watched the harvest. I have had Petrus and I can pretty much say a glass of Petrus blinded next to a glass of Gazin I seriously doubt anyone could tell the difference. A bottle of 2015 Petrus is $3600 a bottle of Gazin 2015 is $80. Go figure.
#6. One of the major highlights of this trip was visiting Chateau D'Yquem in Sauternes. It remains one of the greatest wines in the world and the Chateau and grounds are spectacular and have to be visited to truly appreciate them. It should be on everyone's bucket list. We tasted the 2017 and I have had better years but I agree with Guitry who said "after Mozart the silence that followed was still Mozart. After a sip of Yquem, the moments that follow are till Yquem"(From quote by Frederic Dard).
I always will recommend trips to Bordeaux. The area has over 8000 vineyards and you will never see them all. The food is exquisite and very French, even at a small cafe. Bordeaux people are laid back, friendly, and helpful and seem to have no stress. It is an envious lifestyle, I recommend you go sometime. We recommend the Quality Inn, 3 stars, one block south of the Opera house. It is clean, convenient, and the staff is friendly and helpful. You can be on a tram or walking within 5 minutes so the location is perfect and the price is 1/3 similar places within the same block.
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