St-Emilion wines remain without classification

WINE TALK
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As if the 06 and 07 vintages weren’t enough of a problem.

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Does this just bolster the prices of the already “rated” growths?

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Probably not. What it does, is cost the newly relegated Grand Cru classe wineries to the lower classification and probable lesser prices for their wines.

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That’s tough, especially for '07 and '08. '06s are already sold by wineries and, as you know, prices from château to negociant didn’t go down much from '05.

Those “upgraded” in '06 who haven’t closed sales of their '07s to negociants before that was announced (I doubt there are many though) are in for another round of hard negotiation for sure.

Vintage '08 will be really hard to sell for a lot of Bdx châteaux. Even if they lower their prices materially, what with the current financial upheavals and the generally bad weather in '08 in the Médoc, the producers will have a really bad time.

N

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Shit, you’ve got to be kidding me. I read this “genius” on another wine board who swears that Bordeaux prices will never fall. He can’t be wrong can he?
[rofl.gif]

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I don’t know who you’re referring to, but I wouldn’t agree with that assessment. I actually got to see the prices lists from château to negociant for most all the UGC members for the '06 vintage and have seen some of the '07s.

While I believe the '06 prices should have been materially lower than they were (even for certain right bank wineries who made pretty nice wine in '06), they were, of course, lower than the ridiculously priced '05s. The '07 prices I’ve seen are lower still, and, given the terrible weather of '08, I’d be shocked if the '08s are not materially lower than the '07s.

We’ll see…

As regards old vintage Bdx, I get at least a dozen e-mails a week from US wine shops reducing prices for Bdx and Burgs. I’m sure everyone else receives those too.

N

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[cheers.gif]

'It sounds like you have not posted on the eparker board. You are fortunate. [cheers.gif]

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Yes, you’re right. I didn’t join that board and never posted there. From what I’ve read and heard through several years, the vast majority of that board are rabid Parker fans. I figured if all I’m going to get to read are opinions echoing those of Parker, I would be far better off just buying Parker’s books.

Add: Not that I’ve ever bought any of said books. I have a couple, but they were just given to me.

N

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although there’s an element of truth to this, it is definitely not literally true … eBoob participants have a wide variety of opinions, even if many (but not all) of them are Parker sycophants.

although it’s not the best wine board around, it’s worth participating on, IMO.

ok … let the roasting begin. [diablo.gif]

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Yes indeed. More than 1/week from Winex alone about reductions on new finds or new offerings from Bdx. This thing with StE cru only gives me more to choose from.

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My observation too - although it’s understandable how when you’re metaphorically in someone’s house, you don’t necessarily challenge their opinion at every opportunity.