What are your thoughts on 2013 wine of the year ?

[JimHow]

Starting to get to that time of year...

[robert goulet]

All i know is that the '98 la grave a pomerol and '82 Talbot rocked my face off this year....honorable mention '95 Pontet Canet

[Outlier]

It feels like a WOTY should be a recent, relatively available wine vs. something old (even though an older wine is the more ready to drink).

Some candidates for me would be '10 Lafon Rochet, '10 d'Issan and '09 Malartic Lagraviere (Rouge)

[pomilion]

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but perhaps there should be two BWE wines of the year -- one from a relatively recent vintage, and a second WOTY 10 or more vintages old. I think the former is important if part of the point of anointing a WOTY is to serve as a heads-up to BWEers to think about stocking up -- but the latter is equally important, obviously. I'm guessing someone will respond with a link to an old thread discussing this...

[finner]

Something from 2004. That is a BWE kind of vintage. The Smith Haut Lafitte comes to mind.

[robert goulet]

My '04 SHL (a favorite of mine) was I think runner up a couple years back to '08 leoville poyferre...as mentioned earlier I do think D'issan has a place in the discussion, great wines

[Comte Flaneur]

I think 2004 SHL would be most deserving of the award. Also SHL 2002 and 2006 are equally brilliant.

My Bordeaux wines of the year so far are the following:

Chateau Certan De May: 1998, 2001
Chateau Lafleur: 1995, 2001
Chateau Lafleur Petrus: 1971, 1998

Figeac: 1990

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild: 1985, 1990
Chateau Latour: 1970, 1982
Chateau Pichon Baron: 2002
Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse: 2004

Chateau Talbot: 1996

Chateau Margaux: 2001, 2010

If I had to nominate one it would be between Grand Puy Ducasse 2004 and Talbot 1996

[robert goulet]

Wow GPD '04 ....heard this was a good one for them

[JimHow]

I like the idea of 2004 SHL.
2004... a BWE kind of vintage... and SHL has been producing some consistently delicious wines, without being over the top.
But there are many other choices as well...
Still time to cast your vote!

[robert goulet]

Well u know my vote

[Nicklasss]

2002 Château Smith Haut Laffite? Top notch In that vintage.

2004 Château l'Église-Clinet, a thrilling Pomerol.

2009 Château Brane-Cantenac, superb in that " poor" vintage.

Nic

[Bacchus]

2005 d'Issan.

[hautbrionlover]

As I am first and foremost a Bordeaux lover, it's surprising to me that my wine of the year was probably the 1997 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet.
If I must choose only among Bordeaux, it would be the 1985 Cos d'Estournel or the 1988 Lynch Bages.

[DavidG]

Jim, post the lineup of past winners...

I've had some superb mature Bordeaux, including '85 Cos and '88 Lynch and '82 and '86 Talbot, all of which have been mentioned above and which I would happily second. But I feel that the BWE WOTY should be a recent release. Of course that means still too young to drink (unless you're Jim How!). I like 2004 SHL - though it's trending a bit modern and it isn't exactly a new release that choice sits well with me. Or maybe a value play from 2009 that's not too modern, like 2009 Lanessan?

[JimHow]

The past winners!

2000: 1996 Sociando-Mallet
2001: 1989 Lynch-Bages
2002: 1995 d'Yquem
2003: 1999 Haut Brion Blanc
2004: 2000 Pichon Baron and 2000 du Tertre
2005: 2000 Margaux
2006: 2003 Pontet-Canet
2007: 2002 Leoville Poyferre
2008: 2005 Burgundy vintage (protest vote)
2009: 1989 Lafite Rothschild
2010: 2005 Cantemerle
2011: 2008 Leoville Poyferre
2012: 2009 Giscours

[stefan]

2000 du Terte, co-wine-of-the-year in 2004, is really singing now. Lucie and I drank it again last night while eating popcorn and watching Games of Throne. The Margauxberries are tasty and aromatic and the balance is just right.

Du Tertre continues to be one of the best values in Bordeaux IMO.

[Outlier]

It feels like there should be a WOTY from one of the most recent available vintages (2010 or 2009) and perhaps another worthy mention from an older ready-to-drink vintage. A recent vintage means not only that it's available for sale but that others have (or can) try it pretty readily.

While I've tasted about fifty Bordeaux from 2010 at the UGC, its difficult to discern how the wines will evolve with time but standouts for me were Lafon Rochet, Clos Fourtet, Clinet and Lascombes (though the last one seems to have gotten too expensive for what it is..). A particular fond spot has been Haut Bergey - always an over achiever at the price, the 2010 really stands out as a very serious wine and the best yet, eclipsing the '05 or any other vintage. Also, it may be interesting to put forth a white Bordeaux, for a change - the '10 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc was my favorite wine of the night at UGC, and I've since ordered a case - to my palate it was better (and cheaper) than the SHL and Pape Clement blancs..

'09s (which am guessing we've all tasted more and their taste profile is more apparent and discernible now) that standout for me have been Phelan Segur, Fleur Cardinale, Monbosquet and Malartic Lagraviere - all reasonably affordable too. Again, another standout is the Domaine de Chevalier blanc - I had a half bottle last night and am still reeling from the experience.

For the older wines mentioned above, I can definitely second' the mention of '05 d'Issan and '88 Lynch Bages. The d'Issan is so stunning and exciting and surely the best d'Issan ever, until maybe the '10 which I've also drank, though it's so hard to get a read on just now but it is also a monumental behemoth. Interestingly, the '05 is also very ready to drink now, as far as I can see anyways (and I've drank about six bottles of it in the last year or so ). I picked up a case of the '88 Lynch Bages about four years ago at a Christies auction in NY - worked out at about $105 a bottle after tax and shipping and was worth every penny; it's so refined, elegant and sumptuous - not a food wine but deserving to be drank by itself - it needs no accompaniment - a great example of luxurious Bordeaux with real pedigree - an example of you-get-what-you-pay-for. Apart from one bottle which a friend bought from me, I drank all 11 - none left alas

[stefan]

'88 Lynch tends to get overshadowed by the '89 and '90, but I love the '88.

[dstgolf]

Agree with Stefan. du Tertre has been a staple since 2000 which is dwindling in the cellar with 3 left. 2003 is wonderful right now working through a case as table wine and in my view carrying a little more fruit,openness and ready to drink life than 2004. No arguments though with Stefan that 2004 is up there and would still get my support as one of the great value wines of Bordeaux with classic Margaux character. Would certainly vote for either 03/04 du Tertre as wine of the year. Have had better wines without question but for QPR this is hard to beat!

[stefan]

Oops! I meant the 2000 du Tertre. I corrected the typo. I agree that the 2003 is also wonderful. I have not drunk the 2004.

Current low price on the 2000 du Tertre is $60; average price $98. Not surprisingly, being named a WOTY by BWE drove the price up. That being the case, I suggest that we name a spoofilated wine as WOTY for 2013.

[JimHow]

indeed, there is the BWE Wine of the Year effect on pricing.
We have a social responsibility to choose carefully.

[jckba]

I have 2 opinions that I would like to make. The first being that I think the WOTY should come from the most recent Bordeaux vintage and in this case that means the 2010 vintage. I also attended the 2010 UGC and had the opportunity to taste through a majority of the chateaus that participated in the event. And while my top wines were the Leoville Poyferre and the Pichon Baron both of which I thought were best ever, there was just one thing that I had trouble digesting and that was their current pricing. Which brings me to my second point, that I think we have a responsibility to take price into consideration when selecting the WOTY, and as to what degree is up for you to decide. As for my picks;

My overall wine of the year - 1995 Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny

My Bordeaux wine of the year - 1989 Montrose

My 2010 Bordeaux wine of the year - 2010 Gruaud Larose (Gruaud Larose is back baby!)

[JimHow]

I have a wine of the year in mind. Time is running out, make your recommendations now!

[stefan]

03 du Tertre or 02 La Lagune. Good, unheralded wines that have excellent QPRs and are approachable now.

[pomilion]

Older:

1985 Lynch Bages
1990 Angelus
1990 Pichon Baron

Newer and not astronomically priced:

2005 Sociando Mallet
2009 Gruaud Larose
2009 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge
2010 Canon La Gaffeliere

[DavidG]

I could get behind a Gruaud selection...

[Comte Flaneur]

We had a super wine tonight.

It was a Chateau Chasse Spleen 1982, which cost 75 English pounds.

Charcoal/graphite with black berries, umami and wonderfully resolve on the palate, despite being 20 years younger than the real thing.

[Jay Winton]

How about a Sauternes? The 2005 Guiraud was sublime this year over 3 days.

[Nicklasss]

The 2006 Château Gruaud Larose is very old school claret, but superb noneless.

I loved the 2000 Château Canon La Gaffelière early in 2013.

But I plan to open some other nice Bordeaux soon. So more proposals to come.

Nic

[Gerry M.]

If we're going recent then I would support the 2010 Gruaud Larose or the 2009 Giscours.

For older vintages my wines of the year were 86' Talbot, 90' Palmer, 89' Pichon Lalande

Oooopps! I forgot that the 09' Giscours was last years winner.

[Comte Flaneur]

Gruaud 2010 would be an excellent choice.

But it would continue the tradition of a right bank being denied the accolade.

Like Gruaud La Conseillante made their best ever wine in 2010 and that would be a worthy choice.

If not there are many fantastic 1998 right banks that would deserve recognition: Figeac, VCC, La Fleur Petrus, Certan De May etc

[robert goulet]

Oh for SHL