My annual scorechart is now live - delayed as I’m n holiday in HK
If anyone wants to help input scores, please request edit access and I’ll sort it. Otherwise I’ll try my best as I can 
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is this the case at HBL as well or just DV?
Tsim Chai Kee time
Have you seen the vineyards?
From a quick look on google maps, it looks like they have a roundup guy…
Utter madness when the wine costs as much as theirs does
Hi William, thank you for posting here. Your posts in this thread made me think about a topic I have been wondering about.
Would it be possible to include information/reasons for not including certain producers in WA reports? To me, the absence of information creates space for unnecessary speculations. Maybe schedules just did not align, maybe producers did not think yours or Yohans scores were high enough, or maybe there was a stylistic or qualitative shift (like microbiological issues you mention), and you are no longer a fan of those wines and don’t want to rate them? Or maybe the reason Is completely different - Tertre Roteboeuf?
My point being, is this not something your subscribers should know? I for one would appreciate the information.
No, we didn’t have time but plan to do this next visit.
Batailly?
I would think that would enrage the selected estates even more
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From a subscriber perspective, who cares? They deserve to be lit up if they’re pulling nonsense like this.
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I liked the 2023 a lot Jeff , not light in style . But it’s silly they do not want you to taste the wine .
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Hi Herwig
A fun story for you. I was at lunch with a top property, just me, the owner, and their winemaker. They said point blank to me, “You know, you gave us the lowest score of any critic with our 21!” I felt a bit nervous until they added, “That’s OK, we knew you would, it’s not your style. On the other hand, when you like the wine, you give us your highest scores, so now, we like you more, because we know you’re consistent and honest.”
Over the years I’ve had a few estates not happy with my scores. Some have invited me to taste a vertical together, allowing for a mutual discussion on their wines over the years. I’ve reached to others for a frank discussion on how I see their wines. Those tastings created fair relationships. The best DV would allow was a visit without any wine to taste. I declined. I wonder why?
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Exactly. I assume publications seeking to collect all the big names have two options… they can publicly shame or humiliate the winemakers and convert a potentially short-term learning experience into a take-it-to-the-grave feud. Or, they can take the high road and let readers use their imaginations and allow the winemaker to either dig their own hole or demonstrate some measure of growth in terms of transparency.
I honestly don’t know what the Lurton side is thinking, though. Wine stores will put up the top score from any reviewer on the placard in a retail store. Those who use many sites to triangulate their buying decisions are surely savvy enough to see a lack of a score with multiple publications after multiple down years as a giant red flag. The winemaker in that scenario appears to be doubling down stylistically on something that might not be popular or is at least divisive. I’m certainly not rushing to purchase wines from an estate that is afraid of what some people might think.
I didn’t really need any explanation from TWA, either. I inferred what (perhaps) happened pretty quickly as I’ve been a fan of the Lurton wines from 2016 through 2020 and always look for TWAs reviews on them. I’ve noticed the decline in score mixed with the helpful notes, and I noticed the absence in scores this year after last year’s “Castaing” of serious doubt on the brand’s 2024s. Now that the scores are completely missing and multiple critics are shadow banned, I can only surmise they are throwing a tantrum, as much as I hate to cast them in that light as I’ve loved their wines in the past.
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La Serre £195/6
La Tour Pomerol at £320/6
Belair Monange at £530/6
Hosanna at £580/6
La Fleur Pétrus at £725/6
Trotanoy at £945/6
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Sighs… A reminder of the tragic loss of Magdelaine. I might still be an EP buyer if the Moueix family had kept Magdelaine as a separate estate.
None of that is gonna get me off the couch
Same view here
Laroque at 115/6 is definitely not bad but it drops like a rock on BBX post release
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How do these prices compare with last year’s, Henry?
Trot - £850/6 in 2024 (e.g. 2025 is 11% up)
Lafleur Petrus - £678/6 (2025 is 7% up)
Belair Monange - £530/6 - flat
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If this sets the pattern for the rest I am afraid I am going to give this year’s en-primeur another big pass…
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