'21 Futures being priced at where they were (compared to relative vintage strength), I’m scared for '22
Production of 22s (or lack there of) could have a big impact on pricing. Though the French have definitely kept an eye towards outside variables to price futures to make sure there is interest.
Hard to say until they release the wines.
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I get excited every year - no idea why!, except for maybe last year and 2017 in recent years. Suckling is already tasting but not giving too much away for now, I know everyone else will be arriving in the next week. Damn I need to attend one of these years.
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There was a time before all the Corporate take overs, when a peasant mentality existed in Bordeaux. Revenues equaled price x production. If production was low prices went up. It explains why the dismal but short vintage of 1984 was priced close to 1983. And also why it did not sell.
Bordeaux is a lot more sophisticated now, and the negociants take into account many factors: overall inventory, quality and the state of the market. Even though 2022 is a small vintage, and quality is said to be high, it will not necessarily increase markedly, though I suspect it will be higher than 2021. But then the 2021 vintage itself was priced high not to sell but to place a marker on the 2022s and subsequent vintages.
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There are some Northern Rhones from the 64999800BC vintage that are slowly entering their drinking window. Nice vintage, just a little cold. Some claim some ash taint on it but I’ve never experienced any.
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But did they move much 2021 via futures? I felt like very few people bit on those offers.
I’m admittedly at the lower end ($60 and below) and only started purchasing in '19. However, I’m in my mid 30s. I went from 12 to 4 to 1 (LCHB) from '19-'21. Felt like the lower end wasn’t worth it for '21.
Wouldn’t you say there are some “very exciting wines” in every vintage?
Should we be interpreting “there are certainly going to be some very exciting wines” as “the vintage, generally, is not favorable but there are some very exciting wines to be found, nonetheless.”?
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+1
I’ve had a couple '03 Bdx that I enjoyed, but on the whole I strongly dislike them. I am extremely skeptical about this '22 vintage.
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2003 Pontet-Canet is drinking very well right now.
Unless you are @Robert.A.Jr. 
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Wait to do the interpreting until I write the report!
Comparisons with 2003 are simply irrelevant. In 2003, herbicide use was ubiquitous in Bordeaux as in many wine regions, promoting shallow rooting, and canopy management and harvest practices were adapted to cool vintages - so lots of deleafing, late picking, no thought of needing to rapidly chill fruit. In the winery, tanks were temperature controlled in most cases but surprisingly few barrel rooms were; oak choices were coarser and élevage practices more oxidative. And then there’s the 2003 season itself, going from cool and rainy to an historic heatwave and drought including warm nights: vines simply were not at all prepared for this, and the shock for shallow-rooted plants was immense. That is why 2003 seldom set records for alcohol and some wines were chaptalized (the drought in 1976 also resulted in generally modest alcoholic degrees). In 2003, the canopies yellowed and defoliated; in 2022, they remained green. This alone should tell you that the two years are very different.
Now, one may be able to say that one doesn’t like the style of 2022 (I myself don’t care for the style of 2018 Bordeaux, for example). But it is not comparable with 2003.
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Have to say, for me personally, any time I’ve seen a vintage report saying “excellent wines in challenging conditions”, we all know that means that they aren’t that great, but will be released at a high price.
Of course we’ll see what the critics actually say when it comes out, but to be honest, I think many wine enthusiasts are a bit frustrated with the “double speak” from many wine critics; few people would ever call a bad vintage a bad vintage, and the critics who do get a lot of respect for it.
I’m not saying 2022 will be a bad vintage, I dont have a clue to be honest, but every vintage seems to come out as one of the best ever vintages, must have, must buy, etc etc.
I will almost certainly pass up any scale of buying this EP, and I suspect pricing wont be sympathetic to global economic conditions either.
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Hm, I still fail to find an exciting 2013 Bx … same for 1991 …
while I had some outstanding 2007 and 1997 …
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Did anyone claim 1991 produced anything drinkable?
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Dont know, well before my time, but in recent vintages such as 17, 14, I’d have to check for 13, they’ve all been given a lot of stellar language. Dont get me wrong, by any vintage chart 17 is a decent vintage, but its also not one anyone should be buying en primeur realistically.
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Ha, I’d drink it, just aint buyin or lovin it! Recently had it a couple years ago, ironically at Bern’s. A client ordered it after a pair of wines that I helped curate. I’d take 2003 Montrose or Sociando instead! I wonder how Calon segur is drinking . . . .
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I didn’t buy a single 2013. I recall enjoying 1991 Lalande, but that was moons ago. Didn’t buy anything from that vintage, either. The 2007 Magdelaines are quite lovely. I had four last year.
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Tasted the 2003 Montrose recently. I say tasted because I could not drink finish the first glass let alone start a second.
Not sure how Magdelaine was able to make very good wines in off vintages. 2011 as well as the 2007 you mention.
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Had 2003 Sociando last week, and it was drinking beautifully!
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