Decanter August 2020

Bordeaux 2019: prices reflect global events This year’s Bordeaux en primeur campaign launched into an uncertain market with a wave of discounts for what was ‘unhesistatingly a successful vintage’, according to Jane Anson. Pauillac fifth growth Château Pontet-Canet fired the starting gun on 28 May with its release at £61 a bottle, a 31% drop versus the previous year. Liv-ex reported it to be one of the lowest priced vintages of Pontet-Canet on the market and the lowest ex-Bordeaux release price since 2008. Rather than a statement on vintage quality, en primeur discounts appeared to be recognition of the uncertain economic climate, coloured by 25% US tariffs and the widespread impact of the Covid-19 crisis. ‘Our 2019 is definitely one of our best vintages,’ Pontet-Canet co-owner Justine Tesseron told Decanter, adding that they released…

The art of wine Rathfinny Wine Estate Sussex, UK These vines were planted in 2012, on a site in England’s South Downs, just 5km from the English Channel. The traditional Champagne grapes are grown on clay-loam soils over chalk, but the rows are spaced more widely than in Champagne, and the planting density is lower. This model, which is typical of English and indeed New World vineyards, allows for better airflow throughout the vineyard, reducing the chance of disease. Photograph: Leigh Simpson…

A Cognac pre-dating the French Revolution – one of the world’s oldest-surviving bottles – has been sold by Sotheby’s via online auction for US$144,525. Sotheby’s said that the 70cl bottle of 1762 Gautier Cognac was ‘the oldest Cognac vintage ever sold at auction’, adding that the winning bid, from a collector in Asia, had set ‘a new auction record for a bottle of Cognac’. Bordeaux wine expert Jane Anson has released a comprehensive guide to the region, titled Inside Bordeaux. The guide, published by UK merchant Berry Bros & Rudd and priced at £60, aims to offer fresh insights into ‘the châteaux, their wines and the terroir’. It includes 65 new maps and 20 appellation overviews, as well as more than 800 estates indexed using Anson’s own ranking system. Australian…

News Month in wine All the important issues affecting you across the globe, compiled by Laura Seal Bordeaux 2019: prices reflect global events This year’s Bordeaux en primeur campaign launched into an uncertain market with a wave of discounts for what was ‘unhesistatingly a successful vintage’, according to Jane Anson. Pauillac fifth growth Château Pontet-Canet fired the starting gun on 28 May with its release at £61 a bottle, a 31% drop versus the previous year. Liv-ex reported it to be one of the lowest priced vintages of Pontet-Canet on the market and the lowest ex-Bordeaux release price since 2008. Rather than a statement on vintage quality, en primeur discounts appeared to be recognition of the uncertain economic climate, coloured by 25% US tariffs and the widespread impact of the…

In brief Stay up to date with the latest wine news on Decanter.com, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @Decanter ■ A Cognac pre-dating the French Revolution – one of the world’s oldest-surviving bottles – has been sold by Sotheby’s via online auction for US$144,525. Sotheby’s said that the 70cl bottle of 1762 Gautier Cognac was ‘the oldest Cognac vintage ever sold at auction’, adding that the winning bid, from a collector in Asia, had set ‘a new auction record for a bottle of Cognac’. ■ Bordeaux wine expert Jane Anson has released a comprehensive guide to the region, titled Inside Bordeaux. The guide, published by UK merchant Berry Bros & Rudd and priced at £60, aims to offer fresh insights into ‘the châteaux, their wines and the terroir’.…

Memories of Pomerol The sad passing of Denis Durantou reminded me of a visit to L’Eglise Clinet in the summer of 2007. My wife and I were touring Bordeaux with friends and our last visit of a hot summer’s day was to L’Eglise Clinet in Pomerol. Upon our arrival, a man (who it transpired was Denis Durantou) rushed out to meet us looking a little stressed and asked if we would mind waiting 20 minutes as he had some important guests. One minute later, he ushered us in saying his guests were very happy for us to join. So began one of the most memorable tastings I have ever had. The guests were buyers from Justerini & Brooks and we had the opportunity to taste a flight of L’Eglise Clinet, including…