Bordeaux in November 2021 - big report on several vintages!

[greatbxfreak]

Dear members of BWE,

If you have time and a lot of patience, please visit my website.

I've just published my report from almost two weeks stay in Bordeaux. It's very, very long and richly illustrated. I wanted to include everything, be unbiased, honest and give a lot of information.

I visited places in Bordeaux that didn't send me 2020 and 2019 from the barrel nor bottled 2018. I'd a chance to taste several 2017, 2016 and 2015. I've tasted many bottled 2019s.

I hope those who will read it will appreciate the enormous amount of time and work I put into it. It's still free of charge to visit my website. By the way, there are two new pictures on the front of my website (photos that are movings ). Top photo - Trotanoy when you look from the vineyard of Gombaude Guillot replacing Ausone. Bottom photo - Jonathan Maltus at his new winery (Le Dôme) replacing the picture of women welcoming at D.d. Chevalier.

Link - https://www.greatbordeauxwines.com/vint ... 1-bordeaux

[Dandersson]

Thanks Izak! Excellent report!

Best, Dan

[JoelD]

Thanks for the report, Izak. Fun to live vicariously through your trip and birthday dinners. Seems like you are really enjoying the 2020 vintage. What other vintages would you compare it to?

[greatbxfreak]

JoelD,

A mix of 2019 and 2018!

[Comte Flaneur]

Nice report Izak, thanks for putting it together.

So how would you sum up the relative merits of the three vintages 2018, 2019 and 2020?

I was watching a Belair-Monange promotional video a couple of days ago and Christian Moueix described these vintages as the best ever triumvirate. Would you agree?

[greatbxfreak]

Ian,

Three outstanding vintages like three children with different colour of hair, temper and looks.

Yes! Christian Moueix is correct, but I'd maybe add 1988-1989-1990.

JoelD,

I chose the chronological way of writing about visits/wines to make everything easy and manageable to read. I believe my photos are the perfect addition to the report.

[barsacpinci]

Very nice notes, bookmarked!

[JoelD]

JoelD,

A mix of 2019 and 2018!

Interesting, but I have not gotten to try almost any wines from either vintage. Do you have past vintages that you would compare 2020 to? And also 2019/2018 for that matter. Some say 2018 is similar to 2015.

I liked how you noted that 2021 is likely similar to 2008 and 2014.

And yes I like the chronological order. It makes it fun to see how you did your trip and tastings.

[greatbxfreak]

JoelD,

I think 2018 is better than 2015 in terms of creamier fruit, better tannins and more precision. This vintage is so homogenous over the whole Bordeaux and even in satellite communes, the wines are just stunning. I don't buy verdicts from other wine critics (among them some famous ones) that it's too warm and too concentrated and too powerful. They get it wrong! One guy didn't give one single 100p in vintage 2018! I love this vintage!

2019 and 2020 are like twin brothers, but they both have analogies to 2018 and 2016 concerning ripeness. 2019 is more flamboyant and 2020 calmer.

[DavidG]

Izak, you are a true Bordeaux Wine Enthusiast! Loved your report and pictures. Your notes on the 2020s are tempting me, but it would be foolish for me to buy.

I’m curious about this “wine globe of glass” at Arche. What is it used for?

[greatbxfreak]

DavidG,

For ageing, I believe. They give it a try to see how it works. It's perfect for ageing Cabernet Franc, I hear.

[dstgolf]

Izak,

What a great review to read and visualize with your photos. If we can't be there ourselves it certainly was nice to escape through your words and images. Nice to see Alex in some of the photos looking well. Thanks for taking the time putting this report together and sharing it with the BWE family.

[Musigny 151]

Makes me envious. I remember those days of crisscrossing Bordeaux, and how much organization it took to plan the trips.

Curious, when Annabelle at Corbin was using Rolland, it was only in the vineyards. Is Thunevin taking a more active role?

[greatbxfreak]

dstgolf,

Yes, Alex looked good. I arranged 99.999999% of all the visits, so he only had to come from Bordeaux and participate in visits. You can only imagine how hard it is to make a visiting schedule, move visits around according to necessary changes and ask proprietors to prepare tastings. My friends from Copenhagen donated all 1946s to my pre-birthday party except Trotanoy and also this well-preserved 1911. It was f..... great to see and enjoy Bordeaux again!!

[dstgolf]

Izack,

I certainly appreciate the time and effort that goes in to planning an itinerary through Bordeaux. BWE's cancelled 20th anniversary tour for 5 days of bliss was tough to coordinate with lunches/dinners and tastings being put together for 20 people. I only arranged 4 dinners, 3 lunches and one day of visits (4 chateau) and it took a huge amount of time/emails back and forth etc. I couldn't imagine putting together your itinerary on my own. That was truly an amazing week you planned out. I still reminisce about what could have been regardless.

This is what we gave up!! Hopefully we'll have another opportunity in the future.

7p - Welcome Dinner at La Tupina6 Rue Porte de la Monnaie, 33800 Bordeaux, France
12 - Bus pick-up
3 – 4:30
10a - Château PalmerLIeu-dit Issan, 33460 Margaux, France
5 – 6:30
12p - Lunch Le Saint Julien Restaurant11 Rue de Saint-Julien, 33250 Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, France
7 – 8:30
2p - Château Montrose3 Avenue des Vignolles, 33180 Saint-Estèphe, France
8:45 – 10:15
345p - Château Sociando-MalletRoute de Mapon, 33180 Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, France
11 – 2p
6p - Dinner at Château KirwanChemin de Kirwan, 33460 Cantenac, France
12 - Bus pick-up
3 – 4:30
10a - Vieux Château Certan1 Route de Lussac, 33500 Pomerol, France
7 – 8
2p - Château Bélair-MonangeRue de la Madeleine, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France
8:30 – 9:30
330p - Château La Fleur-Pétrus7 Rue de Tropchaud, 33500 Pomerol, France
10 – 11
5p - Château Tour Saint Christophe1 Casse Vert, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, France
11 – 3p
6p - Dinner with Howard Kwok at Château de Bellefont Belcier33330 Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, France
4 – 6:30
12p - Lunch at Château Teyssier (Maltus)Château Teyssier Vignonet, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France
12 - Bus pick-up
4 – 7
11a - Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande with Nicolas GlumineauPauillac, 33250 Pauillac, France
7:30 – 9
230p - Tasting at Thunevin (Valandraud)
10 – 11
5p - BD's Champagne Reception
12 - Bus pick-up
2:45 – 4:15
9:45a - Château Mouton RothschildChâteau Mouton Rothschild, 33250 Pauillac, France
4:30 – 8
1130a - Lunch with Alfred Tesseron at Château Pontet-CanetChâteau Pontet-Canet, 33250 Pauillac, France
8:30 – 10
330p - Château Lafite Rothschild33250 Pauillac, France
11 – 2p
Dinner at Château du Tertre14 Allée du Tertre, 33460 Arsac, France
12 - Bus pick-up
3 – 4:30
945a - Domaine de Chevalier102 Chemin de Mignoy, 33850 Léognan, France
5 – 7
1130a - Lunch at Château Haut-Bailly103 Avenue de Cadaujac, 33850 Léognan, France
8 – 9:30
3p - Château Pape Clément216 Avenue Dr Nancel Penard, 33600 Pessac, France
12p – 4p
7p - Dinner at Château Rychlewski

[greatbxfreak]

Danny,

I've done it for years. It's not difficult to schedule the visits for 3 people or 4. The problems occur when one of the group starts asking chateau owner om everything between heaven and earth, delaying tasting and delaying others.

I always try to be in the given area and choose chateaux close to each other, so I can do 5-6 visits a day. Rarely I have dinner at the chateau after lunch, as it's too much and you got quickly tired and go to bed late and you have to get up 6.30 am.

But for 20 people? I wonder if the other participants pay your lunch or dinner for you immense work to get all the things fitted in?

For me, it's too many people at one time.

[Comte Flaneur]

dstgolf,

Yes, Alex looked good. I arranged 99.999999% of all the visits, so he only had to come from Bordeaux and participate in visits. You can only imagine how hard it is to make a visiting schedule, move visits around according to necessary changes and ask proprietors to prepare tastings. My friends from Copenhagen donated all 1946s to my pre-birthday party except Trotanoy and also this well-preserved 1911. It was f..... great to see and enjoy Bordeaux again!!

Which hotel did you stay at in Bordeaux Izak?

[greatbxfreak]

Ian,

One night this time at Ibis Euratlantique opposite Bordeaux train station. I get an upgrade on my booked room there because I have stayed at this hotel for the last 7-8 years. 7 minutes to the centre of Bx with tramway and so easy to catch a bus to the airport.

[Claudius2]

Izak
Thanks for the great notes.
Seems like the 2019's are outstanding, noting the number of wines receiving high marks.
I also have numerous vintages of La Confession St Emilion and most were reasonably priced as I bought them before this wine was getting a lot of attention.

I bought quite a lot of 2019's on EP so I am relieved that you like the vintage so much.
I have not bitten in relation to 2020, but that is more about being pragmatic.
Also the strength of the Euro meant some price escalation over here in Singapore, so I could not justify buying more.
I really don't need any more wine and I am going to have to hire another storage unit when the numerous cases of 2019's show up, along with the recent Burgundies I bought EP.

cheers
Mark

[smoore4]

Wow. That is one heck of a 12-day trip. I would be happy to do that in a lifetime! I'm a fan of small vinyards and would love to see a trip like this done exclusively with "vignerons independants"...if you are looking for ideas!

Steve

https://www.vigneron-independant.com/ap ... n/bordeaux

[Nicklasss]

Izak, i thank you for that tremendous report. I bought some 2018, more 2019, and just one mixed case of 2020, and it seems like a good choice.

I really appreciate the part about your pre-birthday dinner, with these nice 1946.

I like what you say about latest vintages for Châteaux like Gombaude-Guillot and Bourgneuf in Pomerol. I will surely look for these.

I agree that 2014 Domaine de Chevalier is stunning for the vintage.

I also like your comments/rating of Smith Haut Laffite second wines, red and white.

And of course, all the usual suspects look good in the latest vintage, but I guess that what was a half surprise for me, are the 2017-2019-2020 Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande that are following very well the 2015-2016.

What a good time for Great Growth!

[greatbxfreak]

To make it easier for readers who would like to have an overview of a single vintage, I put my TNs from November 2021 marked by violet colour in each chapter, meaning 2020 barrel samples, 2019 barrel/bottle and 2018 in the bottle. In each of these three, TNs are at the bottom of the report.

[JimHow]

Thoughts on 2019 Rauzan Segla, Izak?
I’m on the verge of buying some at $79 per bottle.

[greatbxfreak]

JIm,

??

The wines I've mentioned are the only ones I tasted. No bottled R. Segla 2019.

[Musigny 151]

Thoughts on 2019 Rauzan Segla, Izak?
I’m on the verge of buying some at $79 per bottle.

A close friend in the Uk, a merchant who has what I consider a very good palate, in other words similar to mine , said it was in the top five 2019s he tasted.

[Musigny 151]

I am curious about something. A lot of the conversations about the 2019 futures are being conducted by people in their fifties and sixties. I am in that category, and make no secret that buying them is purely for investment, as the chance of me drinking them twenty plus years from now is slight. Are those buying with the expectation of a very long life, and forgiving doctors?

[JimHow]

Ha Musigny, it was that note that inspired me to buy it.
I didn't know Zachys was moving, kind of poignant, I didn't get there very often but I always liked driving into downtown Scarsdale.

I like my Bordeaux age 10-15 years of age. That will be 8 to 13 years from now for the 2019 vintage.
I'm 63, so I'll be drinking them between age 71 to 76.
I don't want to live past 80 but I should still have some in the 15-20 age range in the last 5 years of my life.
2016 was going to be my last vintage, 2019 does feel like I'm pushing it but the price-quality seems excellent.

[greatbxfreak]

Jim,

I've neither tasted R.Segla 2019 from the barrel nor from the bottle.

There are so many excellent 2019s. Corbin?

I'll soon start to ask chateaux in Bx to send me bottles from 2019 for tasting.

[JimHow]

Corbin is on my list for sure GBF.
I've bought Montrose, La Conseillante, Tour St. Christophe.
Also planning on buying Rauzan Segla, Leoville Barton, and Calon Segur en futuro.
Then I'll buy more of everything when they got on sale in NH.

I also want to buy some 2019 Burgundy.

[greatbxfreak]

Jim,

2019 Burgundy is becoming utterly expensive. I just heard from an importer of wine fra Arnoux Lachaux that 2019 is 100% up compared to 2018, meaning that Premier Crus from him will cost more than super seconds from Bordeaux. Another producer, Perrot Minot, increased prices by 50% already from the 2017 vintage.

Bordeaux is not expensive as some posters here on the forum try to convince us that it's.

[Musigny 151]

Of course there are inexpensive Bordeaux like there are Burgundies in the $30-50 range. Those who inhabit these boards tend to go for more expensive wines. And that is when you avoid discussing prices with your non wine friends.

I opened one of my beloved VCC 2014s for some friends (incredible after a long decant) and they loved it too. They asked where they could find some and the price. You can guess the rest. Shock, horror and a definite reassessment of us took place. So it is all relative; Bordeaux is relatively cheap when you compare the best wines to Rousseau, Leroy and DRC, but most people will never understand our passion and what we are prepared to pay.

[stefan]

>>
Shock, horror and a definite reassessment of us took place.
>>

One good thing is that it discourages them from bringing you a bottle of wine when they come to dinner.

[DavidG]

I am curious about something. A lot of the conversations about the 2019 futures are being conducted by people in their fifties and sixties. I am in that category, and make no secret that buying them is purely for investment, as the chance of me drinking them twenty plus years from now is slight. Are those buying with the expectation of a very long life, and forgiving doctors?

I figure to start trying the 2019s in 2029, early for me but time waits for no man. I’ll be 74. If they’re too young, I’ll wait. If they outlast me, they will convert from drinking wines for me to investment wines for my heirs.

[Nicklasss]

>>
Shock, horror and a definite reassessment of us took place.
>>

One good thing is that it discourages them from bringing you a bottle of wine when they come to dinner.

[Musigny 151]

I bought heavily the 2019 Palmer. Partly because I have always loved the wine, partly because I think the label is one of the most beautiful in all of Bordeaux. But mostly because it was $100 less than similar quality Palmers.

The chateau just released its own notes. I think it makes for some interesting reading.
2019, THE SCHOOL OF NATURE
May 2020 - While January was marked by a few days of extreme cold, the rest of the winter proved relatively mild. Throughout the season rainfall was moderate but sufficient to partially replenish essential reserves in our soils. The vines’ bud burst began almost a week ahead of schedule, but would progress thereafter in a smooth and even manner. The spring that followed was cool and rainy, requiring a high degree of precision in our management of the vineyard. Despite the capricious weather, flowering unfolded without difficulties, fuelling hopes of a bountiful harvest.
Then, at the end of June, the weather conditions would change radically. A lasting period of hot and dry weather set in. Two heat waves between the 26th and 27th of June and the 22nd and 25th of July were fortunately endured without consequence. The limited summer rainfall – 50 mm between July and August – fostered the accumulation of polyphenols in the berries. The grapes underwent their colour change in excellent conditions and by mid-August the prospect of a fine vintage was clear. We began harvesting the Merlot on the 19th of September amidst weather conditions close to those of summer. The berries were concentrated, aromatic and loaded with sugar. The harvest continued and we entered the autumn under fine, steady rain- fall which lowered the potential alcohol of the Cabernet Sauvignon. By the 11th of October the harvest was complete.
A Palmer wine remains the intimate reflection of a mosaic of terroirs specific to this beautiful estate. But it is also the expression of a unique combination of fleshy Merlots and silky Cabernets, complete with a touch of Petit Verdot. In 2019, the Merlots enjoyed dry and sunny weather conditions up to the very end, giving rise to wines full of power, exuberance and flesh. The Cabernets, harvested after the scattered rains of late September, would develop a certain coolness and reserve, to produce wines of rare distinction. The Petit Verdots, for their part, would exhibit remarkable finesse.
Today, both Château Palmer and Alter Ego express a purity and aromatic clarity rarely seen in an abundant vintage. These wines don’t lie; they are remarkably true to the terroir of Château Palmer. And are already part of the rarefied circle of exceptional vintages.

[Musigny 151]

>>
Shock, horror and a definite reassessment of us took place.
>>

One good thing is that it discourages them from bringing you a bottle of wine when they come to dinner.

They loved the wine, and could have become serious wine lovers if they collected earlier. Now their only chance to enjoy good stuff is at our table. I have enough, they are good friends, and most important of all, I have no intention of drinking dreck after having slaved for hours grilling a steak.

[DavidG]

I bought heavily the 2019 Palmer. Partly because I have always loved the wine, partly because I think the label is one of the most beautiful in all of Bordeaux. But mostly because it was $100 less than similar quality Palmers.

The chateau just released its own notes. I think it makes for some interesting reading.
2019, THE SCHOOL OF NATURE

…

A Palmer wine remains the intimate reflection of a mosaic of terroirs specific to this beautiful estate. But it is also the expression of a unique combination of fleshy Merlots and silky Cabernets, complete with a touch of Petit Verdot.

Glad I bought some as well, though not as heavily as I would have liked. The write-up is certainly mouth-watering. The bolded struck me as odd, because I think of Cabernet as fleshy and Merlot as silky. Has my perception or use of the terms been off all these years? Or are they describing atypical characteristics that sets the finished wine apart from other Cab/Merlot blends?