What a thrill...

[Nicklasss]

Before the BD names the 2010 Chateau Cantemerle as BWE 2015 wine of the year!

I guess, you have to give credit to that nice 2010, so complete, so complex, so compelling, at that young age, and at the same time, very promising for the future.

But let say we forgot about that one, what other wine would be a good candidate this year?

[Tom In DC]

2012 du Tertre seemed to make an impression during the trip.

[Comte Flaneur]

That Du Tertre 2012 is a good wine, has any one tried it recently?

I would also nominate some other wines from the trip which were very special.

In no particular order: Leoville Lascases 2012, Chateau Palmer 2006, Pavillon Rouge 2004, Chateau Margaux 2004, La Lagune 1981, SHL 2009, Yquem 2011, Pontet Canet 2011 and Pichon Baron 2010

[JimHow]

Yes, that time of year has snuck up on us, all nominations for the 16th annual BWE Wine of the Year are welcomed!

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
2013: 2004 Smith Haut Lafitte
2014: 2010 Chasse Spleen

[DavidG]

It should be something from your trip to Bordeaux. One of the Pontet Canets? One of the over-achieving 2012s?

[Jay Winton]

2010 Cantemerle seem to be a front runner now but is it a Trump that could be overtaken by something more substantial?

[JimHow]

Working against Cantemerle -- and du Terte, Pontet Canet, SHL, and Pichon Baron -- is the fact that they have all been past winners.

[Blanquito]

2010 Cantenac Brown. Has the advantage of being a Cinderella story.

[Nicklasss]

Come on BD, a wine you rated 96 or 98, sold for 50 $, that a good number of BWEers tasted and liked, will not win the BWE 2015 wine of the year because a previous vintage (2005) already won?

I guess I don't understand anything related to red Bordeaux wines anymore, or to the members of the BWE community...

Nic

[jckba]

I am still of the opinion that the wine of the year should come from the vintage that has been released that year otherwise I could see myself voting for a different 2010 every year until until I get upgraded to the tasting room in the sky.

Wines that I think have improved quite a bit over the past couple of years are wines from Clinet and Troplong Mondot both of which are on the modern side of the spectrum and even over delivered in the tough 2011 and 2012 vintages. I am happy to own them both especially when factoring in the discount of not buying in a vintage of the century. And if that's not the most telling endorsement I don't know what is.

[Harry C.]

2010 Pape Clement or 2010 du Tertre

[RDD]

I am still of the opinion that the wine of the year should come from the vintage that has been released that year otherwise I could see myself voting for a different 2010 every year until until I get upgraded to the tasting room in the sky.

Wines that I think have improved quite a bit over the past couple of years are wines from Clinet and Troplong Mondot both of which are on the modern side of the spectrum and even over delivered in the tough 2011 and 2012 vintages. I am happy to own them both especially when factoring in the discount of not buying in a vintage of the century. And if that's not the most telling endorsement I don't know what is.

What a Right Banker on the list?
That would be a first.

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Bingo.

2010 Fleur Cardinale checks all the boxes including the "controversial" one.

[DavidG]

Does Jim even consider Right Bank part of Bordeaux?

[Blanquito]

Does Jim even consider Right Bank part of Bordeaux?

I'm not sure even the Bordelais do. Is there electricity and indoor plumbing in the Liborne yet?

[Nicklasss]

Ok, I agree. let's 1934 Petrus be the first "right bank" BWE wine of the year.

Or, if I think about it seriously, the honor should go, without doubts, for the moment, the people, the magic, to the 1962 Chateau Pontet Canet!

Nic

[Comte Flaneur]

I would narrow my nomination down to four candidates

4th - Pontet Canet 2011 - the wine that made me a true believer - rather than a cynic - about what is going on at Pontet Canet, it is the wine that left the biggest impression on me at that lunch on Friday May 22

3rd - Pavillon Rouge 2004 - after being given the cold shoulder by the sour puss precious youth thing with the blonde hair extensions the Margaux tour took a dramatic turn for the better when she opened this. Classic Margaux out of the top drawer and the best second wine I have ever tried by a country mile. It was more accessible than the Grand Vin.

2nd - Pichon Baron 2010 - this showed a clean pair of heels to the 2009 and 2008 and was magnificent. Everyone should have this in their cellar from a super second that has not put a foot wrong since 2000 - this is surely their crowning achievement. The only things that prevent it from being my nomination are that Baron has won before and 2010 won last year.

1st and the winner - Leoville Lascases 2012 - the vintage consistently impressed us on the tour, and this quite simply was the perfect glass of claret. Perhaps a reincarnation of the 1985. I remember watching Jim How's face light up when he tasted this wine.

One more thing to mention, and I am not sure whether old wines are eligible but Tim's magnum of 1975 Cheval Blanc we drank in Bordeaux on the Saturday night was fabulous, the best 1975 I have ever encountered.

[JimHow]

Boy some tough choices this year.
Still kicking myself for not picking 2010 Fleur Cardinale last year

[Blanquito]

Deleted.

[DavidG]

Ian makes a strong argument for 2012 LLC and 2010 Baron.

[stefan]

1961-2012 La Lagune.

After the great times at Pontet Canet and Pichon Baron, it would be nice to name wines from there. We drank some great ones at both estates. One possibility is to name Pontet Canet 2011 and Pichon Baron 2010 as winners.

But Ian makes a good argument for the wonderful 2012 LLC.

BD, you have a very difficult decision to make.

[JimHow]

We have indeed drunk well this year!

[Nicklasss]

Even if we had great wines at BWE 2015, i'm still strong on the nomination of 2010 Chateau Cantemerle. It is a perfect BWE wine of the year.

But if you want something from recent vintages, I guess the 2012 Chateau Léoville Las Cases is the choice to make. But the 2012 Chateau Smith Haut Laffite was also something great.

The 1975 Chateau Cheval Blanc, in magnum, was sublime.

From Pontet or Baron, both 2009 were ma favorite. The 2009 Chateau Pontet Canet, ma favorite red amoung all red wine sampled at BWE 2015.

If you really want a 2011, it is the easiest choice: 2011 Chateau d'Yquem.

Though decision.... Hurting decision.... That can change forever the face of BWE...

Nic