Monthly Archives: April 2024

Next week will start seeing offerings of Bordeaux's 2023 vintage, the annual tradition of Bordeaux futures. Here's a preview of this vintage from the Bordeaux Institute of Vine and Wine (ISVV).

• Variability in Profiles: The red wines of 2023 are diverse, with some notable successes. Factors influencing this variability include regional thunderstorms, the diversity of soil types, and viticultural practices.
• Lower Alcohol Levels: Compared to 2022, the red wines generally have slightly lower alcoholic degrees but maintain good acidity, beneficial for their balance.
• Impact of Harvest Choices: The timing of the harvest and decisions made during vinification significantly influenced the quality. Merlot grapes, in particular, showed good color and fruitiness, reflecting their terroir authentically.
• Soil Influence: The expression of red wines varied by soil type—more structured on gravel, fuller on clay, and bright and saline on clay-limestone.

• Excellence in Whites:

One of many Bordeaux buyers' favorite wines is Château Pontet-Canet. Located in the tight-knit Pauillac village, Pontet-Canet has long established itself among the other great wines from its luminous neighbors: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Pichon Baron, Château Pichon Lalande, Château Lynch Bages.

For comparison shoppers, here is a price analysis of 4 recent vintages 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020:

Note: *Per Wine-Searcher data

2020: "The 2020 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aging in 50% new French oak barriques, 35% concrete amphorae and 15% in one-year-old barrels. Harvest began on the 14th September for the Merlot, and the final lot of Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested on 30th September.

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