Wine ChroniclesBordeaux 2016 – updates!
Posted on April 14, 2017
The mysterious vintage – updated
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
14 June 2017
Originally published in April, I am adding links to this page on specific 2016 barrel tasting notes by appellation/region. Live links coming soon for the red and whites of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, Margaux and Sauternes.
Pauillac & Saint Julien / Saint Estèphe / Médoc and Haut Médoc / Margaux / Saint Emilion / Pomerol / Pessac-Léognan and Graves
Sauternes
While tasting barrel samples in late March and early April this year, vintners called the wines “unusual” or “unique”.
2016 was not an easy vintage, given the roller coaster suspense in what I had called a yin-yang vintage in Harpers Wine & Spirit.
But 2016 turned out to be darn good from barrel.
Not as predictable as 2005 or 2010 or 2015, but in some ways better than all three, at least when it comes to some wines.
Vintners were at pains to compare 2016 to any single previous vintage, and this riddle can be explained in how 2016 Bordeaux combines positive aspects from other fine to great years.
Assessing some very well priced 2016s at the negociant Joanne. Sociando Mallet, for example, was excellent from barrel.
Current gold indeed
Posted on March 16, 2017
Zind-Humbrecht 2015
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
16 March 2017
In 2015, I reported for Decanter on the Alsace harvest as being warmer than usual. The Alsatian Wine Council (CIVA), for example, had allowed acidification in Alsace for the first time since 2003, because acidities were lower than in previous years. But, acidity is above 2003 in general, thanks to cool evenings in August and September.
So I do admit to having felt just a bit of trepidation before tasting the just-bottled 2015 vintage wines of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht earlier this week.
Some wine professionals judge Zind-Humbrecht as too rich, especially in warmer vintages. But as Eric Asimov noted in the New York Times, way back in 2011, the style has changed, for some time already. By the time I wrote an article in Decanter Magazine, in 2014, about a focus on making dryer wines in Alsace, the pace had only increased.
Getting set to taste the just bottled 2015 vintage from Zind-Humbrecht
How did I find the 2015s? My third year in row to taste the latest vintage to be offered from bottle at Zind-Humbrecht? Remarkably balanced, pristine and, for the most part, rather brisk. There is a Hermes-like quality, a velvety smoothness, to many of the wines, and much underlying power in the more prestigious brands like Brand and Rangen de Thann, coming from particularly advantageous terroirs and older vines. Read More
Wine sales expected to make further gains in 2017: Live-Ex
Posted on March 11, 2017
Industry report via Live-Ex
11 March 2017
Merchants are predicting further gains for the industry benchmark Liv-ex 100 index, which gained 25% in 2016.
Liv-ex members are expecting the fine wine market to rise further in 2017, according to the results of a survey conducted in February.
On average, respondents expect the industry benchmark Liv-ex 100 index to increase by 7.8% this year to close on 320.6. This would represent a second year of strong gains for the market. Read More
Petrus for over $30k a bottle
Posted on February 25, 2017
Prestige fine wine market is alive and kicking, especially driven by American and Asian buyers
25 February 2017
A Wednesday fine wine sale in London featuring a private collection totalled £1,716,922 (over $2.1m), exceeding the £1.5 million top estimate.
Lots found buyers across 21 countries, led by the UK, Hong Kong and Russia.
An Imperial (6 litre) of Petrus 1989 achieved £28,200, the highest price of the sale. There was keen competition for both mature and young Bordeaux and sought-after Burgundy producers such as Armand Rousseau and Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. Read More
Unsung? Perhaps, but well done!
Posted on February 19, 2017
The Salon des Vignerons Indépendants
By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com
Some great values from the Jura, the Côtes du Rhône, the Loire Valley, Saint Joseph and Champagne among others …
19 February 2017
As I prepare my trip to cover Bordeaux en primeur in late March, I took time to taste through wines from lesser-known French regions with partner in wine crime Kevin Gagnon, who was a fellow student for the WSET diploma in Rust, Austria. Kevin is a professional opera singer and wine expert – and a great guy. So it was fun to discover less famous appellations that yield much pleasure – and sometimes superb quality/price ratios.
The occasion was the Salon des Vignerons Indépendants, a massive grouping of often lesser known producers throughout France. It is a traveling consumer trade show, that traverses French cities, and thus wise to get their early, as the crowds get quite thick. And best to keep your coat in the car, and even wear a T-shirt as it gets hot. Read More
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