The 2014 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign: a fine vintage

 

Bordeaux Primeurs 2014:

After unfavorable weather conditions in July and August 2014, the sunny month of September allowed this vintage to redeem itself. This 2014 vintage is indeed a true terroir vintage, with a quality that is clearly above those of 2011-2012-2013.

As we announced in a previous article, this year Robert Parker will not be handling the ratings for the 2014 Bordeaux En Primeur wines; it is the British Neil Martin who will handle it on behalf of the Wine Advocate. He doesn't have as much influence as Parker. The 2014 vintage is, however homogeneous, of a very high quality and is easy to readThe left bank holds some pleasant surprises, while the right bank is quite heterogeneous. We particularly enjoyed the large Pomerols and the Saint-Emilions.

With a market that demands price drop and stocks from previous vintages, a phased marketing or in very limited quantities is expected. American buyers will surely position themselves; all the conditions are in place to make this a favorable vintage for investment; it's a great vintage and the dollar is favorable. The British have already stated that they will be positioning themselves. There is therefore interesting pressure on the price, so vigilance will be necessary.

The reliable choices of the Rhône Valley 

Chapoutier, the specialist in single-vineyard selections and holder of the record for Parker scores of 100/100. His 2014 vintage has been released, with a slight price increase for L'Orée and Le Méal. These are rare wines, from small productions, that can age for 40-50 years: true wines for agingThey can easily change hands to generate a profit. There is a real difference between the initial release prices and the prices at bottling.