2008 Bordeaux the best since 2000 excepting 2005!?!

You know, it's really bad when the chateaux try to keep up the 'best vintage ever' syndrome in a year like 2008. I received an e-newsletter from JJ Buckley, in which they state: "From talking to some friends in Bordeaux, the early report is that the vintage is good...perhaps better than all vintages since 2000 outside of 2005." This is utterly in contrast to what I've heard everywhere else: that the better chateaux that were willing to work really hard might produce some outstanding wines, but that the rest will be mediocre. That sounds an awful lot like 2006, and they certainly didn't try to claim that 2006 was the best since 2000 excepting 2005. Is this some lame attempt to sell wines because they know it will be a hard sell in the current economic climate? Broadbent has such a good perspective on the vintage variation in Bordeaux: that the maritime climate naturally produces some vintages meant for the cellar, and some meant for drinking, and wouldn't it be boring if every vintage was excellent. They should be thankful for the variation: if every vintage was insured to be excellent, there could be no hype, no en primeur sales, no one caring whether the vintage was good or not, no one memorizing the good vintages and the bad. What is it going to take to deflate the Bordeaux ego? You'd think they'd be pretty pleased that there hasn't been a truly bad vintage in 15 years - perhaps they're so spoiled now as to have become delusional . . . . ?

[David M. Bueker]

Is this some lame attempt to sell wines because they know it will be a hard sell in the current economic climate?

Yes

Is this some lame attempt to sell wines because they know it will be a hard sell in the current economic climate?

Yes

Oh, yes indeed. There's a story in this morning's NY Times: "Wine Market Struggles to Adjust...". Choice quote:

Simon Staples, director of fine wine sales at Berry Bros. & Rudd in Hampshire, England, said the gap between the pricing expectations held by wine merchants and the châteaux over what is expected to be a decent, though not great, vintage was the widest he had seen in two decades.

His next quote was about right for me to look at buying:
The top châteaux are hoping to cut prices by 15 percent from the 2007 en primeur to show good faith, he added, “but cutting the price by 50 percent to 60 percent is the only way it’s going to work.”

His next quote was about right for me to look at buying:
The top châteaux are hoping to cut prices by 15 percent from the 2007 en primeur to show good faith, he added, “but cutting the price by 50 percent to 60 percent is the only way it’s going to work.”

15% is not a show of good faith - its more like bear baiting: and sometimes the baiters get their hand bit off!

Well, there is some consolation: this has shaped up to be one of the best decades ever for Sauternes, and prices there have stayed quite sane.

I'm sure they're hoping the take-up from US, far east and the rest of europe will be good or more realistically - almost acceptable. The UK having seen the exchange rate drop from ~ 1.4 euro to the pound to the current 1.05 euro to the pound... well I guess you can see why selling into the UK will be very tough (as if 2006 and 2007 were bad enough).

Still Bdx has succcessfully established itself as a luxury commodity now, so must accept the market cycle, even though in Bruno Prats' words "we are just simple farmers"

regards

Ian

There are a lot of rumors and nonsense going around about the 2008s.
What's particularly galling is the B.S. written by people who have never actually come into contact with the wines!

One thing at a time.
First thing is quality.

I've tasted about 30 great growths today from the 2008 vintage (great growths in the Margaux, Pauillac, and St. Estèphe appellations).
My cursory analysis - but at least first-hand experience and not wild imaginings - is that this is a mixed-bag vintage, but with some very fine wines indeed.
Second comments: these are charming wines with good acidity but some of the châteaux are lacking in body and "stuffing".
Bold generalization: light, elegant wines that will nevertheless have staying power and provide much pleasure. Not an off-vintage.

Second thing is money.
The Bordelais have seen it all before, and calls for guillotining the people who sell the stuff are like water off a duck's back.
There will be a drop in prices, but no drop will satisfy some of the nay-sayers, I realize.
The Bordelais will sell for as high a price as they think the market will bear (which is exactly what you would do if you were in their shoes).
If they cannot obtain it (which is not sure), they will lower their prices.
It's a simple as that.

Too much emphasis is being placed on the economic crisis and not enough on what, exactly we are talking about, i.e. what the wines actually taste like.

Best regards,
Alex R.

The Bordelais have seen it all before, and calls for guillotining the people who sell the stuff are like water off a duck's back.
There will be a drop in prices, but no drop will satisfy some of the nay-sayers, I realize.
The Bordelais will sell for as high a price as they think the market will bear (which is exactly what you would do if you were in their shoes).
.

Alex,
Thanks for the report on 2008 quality.
Personally, I've never called for anyone's head nor cried about the greed of the Bordelaise. But what I have not done is buy any 2006s (nor do I plan to buy any 2007s at reported prices). I bought some 2005s, but mostly "lesser" bottles than what I have in other vintages. But when 2nd growths in a good not great vintage cost more than dinner for two at a nice restaurant, I pass.

My favorite quote of the NYT article was the last:
“In England and other countries people have a view of wine as a financial product that can go up or down in value,” she said. “In France, wine is sacred.”
So, the sanctity of the 2005 required huge price increases, but the sanctity prevents price decreases? Hilarious.

“In England and other countries people have a view of wine as a financial product that can go up or down in value,” she said. “In France, wine is sacred.”
So, the sanctity of the 2005 required huge price increases, but the sanctity prevents price decreases? Hilarious.

What a great quote. And with those prices, I think I'll stick to buying the odd cheap old Bdx deal when I see it, or buying my Cabernet from Coonawarra and Margaret River. Terra Rossa Cab at $20 (and with no bad corks now) seems far more reasonable.

Alex, thank you very much for chiming in - the first hand information is really appreciated! I hope it didn't seem like I was claiming to know anything beyond what's been said elsewhere by various folk 'in the trade.' But you said it yourself - anybody with a product wants to get the highest price they can for it, and therefore they put out the best spin and sales pitch they can.
If 2008 is shaping up as you say - a nice little drinking and mid-term cellaring vintage perhaps - then great . . . . except if they price it for collectors instead of those of us who actually want to drink it. Best Wishes!

First: Alex, thanks for your notes and your on-site perspective.

Second: I ran across this quote on the Decanter web site:

As for the Americans that are here, prices are all that matter. Hinting at a 50% reduction on last year would be welcome, Annette Alvarez Peters of giant American wholesaler Costco said, 'This is a better vintage than 2007 but we are making no decisions yet. It will come down to price.'

It strikes me as important to remember that there are some new behemoths on the buy side now.

First: Alex, thanks for your notes and your on-site perspective.

Second: I ran across this quote on the Decanter web site:

As for the Americans that are here, prices are all that matter. Hinting at a 50% reduction on last year would be welcome, Annette Alvarez Peters of giant American wholesaler Costco said, 'This is a better vintage than 2007 but we are making no decisions yet. It will come down to price.'

It strikes me as important to remember that there are some new behemoths on the buy side now.

Until you said this and I googled for the answer, I had no idea that Costco was the US's largest wine retailer. Given their sales model (small, rotating selection of wines) I can imagine that that has changed the landscape of sales for the wholesalers and importers who deal with the retailers. Interesting.

Mark Lipton