The Influential Bordeaux winemaker, Gavin Quinney, owner of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux, has picked out his Top 10 picks from this year's en primeur campaign that he thinks show the best value and quality for the trade to invest in. It is part of his wider analysis of the overall en primeur campaign for Harpers.co.uk which includes his comprehensive scores of all the main wines from the leading chateaux.
The Influential Bordeaux winemaker, Gavin Quinney, owner of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux, has picked out his Top 10 picks from this year's en primeur campaign that he thinks show the best value and quality for the trade to invest in. It is part of his wider analysis of the overall en primeur campaign for Harpers.co.uk which includes his comprehensive scores of all the main wines from the leading chateaux.
His overall verdict of the campaign was "better than expected", but he still thought the vintage was one it "seems no one wanted". While some wines were good, "the majority, however, lack depth, concentration, intensity and, most of all, joy". He added: "Many of my notes include the line 'a good effort for the vintage' but with a score below 90."
To read his complete analysis and assess his point scores read En Primeur 2013 final verdict is "better than expected".
If you are brave and determined to invest in this year's en primeur, Quinney's top 10 wines are as follows:
1 Calon Ségur: £420
2 Grand-Puy-Lacoste: £345
3 Clerc Milon: £330
4 Feytit-Clinet: £330
5 La Petite Eglise: £240
6 La Dominique: £240
7 Domaine de Chevalier: £300
8 Climens: £430
9 Coutet: £265
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Grand-Puy-Lacoste: £345www.grands-crus-direct.fr |
10 La Tour Blanche: £340
(Price in £ in bond ex tax)
Sauternes and Barsac
Quinney's verdict:
"If you're a fan of sweet white wines, there are some great wines here. I'd pick out Climens and Coutet in Barsac for star quality at a terrific price. The only downside, if you can call it that, is that 2013 is the fifth top vintage for sweet whites in just seven years: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Compare prices, style and quality with 2007 and 2011 (I slightly prefer 2011 to 2013)."
Dry whites
Quinney's verdict:
"You don't have to be one of the few that can afford the Pessac-Léognan dry whites from La Mission and Haut-Brion (500 cases produced of each, for the world). Try Malartic-Lagravière, Latour-Martillac, de Fieuzal and Olivier."
Small-production reds
Quinney's verdict:
"Many chateaux made much less wine in 2013 - through low yields and draconian selection - and this could be the reason for adding the better, small production wines to a collection. Several Pomerols that fit into this category are l'Eglise-Clinet (830 cases), La Petite Eglise (540 cases) and Trotanoy (1,500 cases instead of 2,500). I didn't go for Vieux Château Certan 2013 as much as recent vintages but, with only 1,000 cases of 2013 instead of 4,000, there's not much to go around of this popular wine. Clinet made 3,750 cases."
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Clerc Milon: £330www.hungrygowhere.com |