Decanter September 2020

The art of wine The 1976 Judgement of Paris Displayed at The Vineyard at Stockcross, Berkshire, UK Next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the legendary tasting organised by Steven Spurrier to compare the top wines of California against those of Bordeaux and Burgundy. This 2012 painting by London artist Gary Myatt was commissioned by Sir Peter Michael, owner of the eponymous California winery and the Berkshire hotel where it hangs. Mural: Gary Myatt, www. garymyatt.com, IG account: garywilliammyatt…

Favourites emerge in Bordeaux 2019 sales Price cuts and good ratings sparked strong buyer interest in several Bordeaux 2019 en primeur wines, beating low expectations for the campaign in some quarters. Bordeaux 2019 en primeur arrived amid Covid-19-related disruption to the tasting schedule and fears of a global recession, and against a general backdrop of young Bordeaux wines struggling for price momentum. The usual early-April tastings had to be cancelled, though some smaller-scale tastings were later organised in Paris and other cities in France. But, with price cuts averaging 21% compared with the 2018 releases, this year’s campaign brought back ‘some of the magic of the past’, said a Liv-ex report. It added that the top 20 UK merchants reported sales revenue down by 10% on average versus last year, but volume sales…

News Month in wine All the important issues affecting you across the globe, compiled by Chris Mercer Favourites emerge in Bordeaux 2019 sales Price cuts and good ratings sparked strong buyer interest in several Bordeaux 2019 en primeur wines, beating low expectations for the campaign in some quarters. Bordeaux 2019 en primeur arrived amid Covid-19-related disruption to the tasting schedule and fears of a global recession, and against a general backdrop of young Bordeaux wines struggling for price momentum. The usual early-April tastings had to be cancelled, though some smaller-scale tastings were later organised in Paris and other cities in France. But, with price cuts averaging 21% compared with the 2018 releases, this year’s campaign brought back ‘some of the magic of the past’, said a Liv-ex report. It added…

I was interested to read the letter from Dave Cronin in your August issue. I agree that Andy Howard’s ‘Bordeaux Reds Under £20’ feature was very helpful (see also ‘Notes & Queries’, p88). Both he and your other excellent contributing editor, Jane Anson, emphasise that more modestly priced Bordeaux red wines have never been better. In my experience, there are superb wines to be found from the Côtes de Bordeaux (Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs) along with the Bourg, Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac areas. I think the key to Dave Cronin’s disappointment lies in his reference to focusing on wines from high-street retailers. You can search out brilliant wines from family-owned estates from UK merchants such as The Wine Society and Tanners, where their buyers develop good long-term relationships with the producers. Excellent…

Letters Your letters Enraged or inspired by what you’ve read? Email editor@decanter.com, or write to: The Editor, Decanter, 1st Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, UK Buying local I share Dave Cronin’s frustration about the quality of the ‘more affordable’ Bordeaux wines found on the high street (August issue). I read his letter, however, having just finished what was to my mind a high-quality and good-value Bordeaux bought from a local wine merchant: Château Buisson-Redon 2016, priced at just £9.95. It’s from a 41ha estate, owned by the Sèze family since 1918, with parcels sited within AP Fronsac – which may explain its high quality for the price. As a fellow Hertfordshire resident, Mr Cronin will be pleased to know it’s available from Cellar Door Wines in St Albans,…

Letter of the month Bordeaux’s value gems I was interested to read the letter from Dave Cronin in your August issue. I agree that Andy Howard’s ‘Bordeaux Reds Under £20’ feature was very helpful (see also ‘Notes & Queries’, p88). Both he and your other excellent contributing editor, Jane Anson, emphasise that more modestly priced Bordeaux red wines have never been better. In my experience, there are superb wines to be found from the Côtes de Bordeaux (Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs) along with the Bourg, Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac areas. I think the key to Dave Cronin’s disappointment lies in his reference to focusing on wines from high-street retailers. You can search out brilliant wines from family-owned estates from UK merchants such as The Wine Society and…