More releases for Bordeaux 2019
Bordeaux 2019 releases have continued steadily this week, again with chateaux dropping prices by as much as 25% against last year’s opening prices.
- Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse 2019 has released at €78 per bottle, down 13.3%.
- Canon (St Emilion) 2019 has been released at €69.60 per bottle, down 17.1% on last year.
- Carmes haut Brion has released at €64.80 per bottle, down 6.1% on last year’s price.
- Chateau L'Eglise Clinet 2019 has been released at €204 per bottle, down 2.9% on 2018.
- Fleur Petrus 2019 has released at €160 per bottle, down 16.6% on 2018’s opening price.
- Larcis Ducasse 2019 has released at €44.40 per bottle, down 15.9%.
- Lacombes 2019 has been released at €45.60 per bottle, down 15.6% on last year’s price.
- Leoville Las Cases 2019 has been released at €138 per bottle, down 23.3% on last year.
- Pavie Macquin has released at €46.80 per bottle, down 11.3% on 2018’s opening price.
- Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2019 has released at €104.50, down 20.8%.
- Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2019 has been released at €54 per bottle, down 25% on 2018’s opening price.
- Smith Haut Lafite 2019 has been released at €64.80 per bottle, down 20.5% on last year.
- Chateau Troplong Mondot 2019 has been released at €60 per bottle, down 19.4% on 2018.
- Vieux Chateau Certan 2019 has released at €168 per bottle, down 20% on last year’s price.
Cult Wines Bordeaux En Primeur 2019 Vintage Report
Christie’s announces ‘exceptional’ online auction
Christie’s New York has announced its next single owner fine wine sale. Taking place online from 16-31 July, ‘The Benjamin Ichinose Collection’ comprises 626 lots representing the world’s best wines and spirits from the cellar of a celebrated connoisseur.
Highlights will include large formats of 1961 and 1964 Bollinger, top vintages from First Growths including Latour, Margaux, Mouton, Petrus and Cheval Blanc, plus a wide range of superb Burgundies. A jeroboam of 1970 DRC Romanee-Conti is expected to fetch as much as $60,000.
Californian wines will also be strongly represented, with lots including verticals from Inglenook, the impressive Beaulieu Vineyard Private Reserve 1951 and magnums of 1975 Heitz Martha’s.
Almaviva gears up for ‘spectacular’ 2020 vintage
Despite the challenges presented by drought and the spread of coronavirus, Chilean fine wine producer Almaviva says its 2020 vintage will be “spectacular”.
Speaking to The Drinks Business, Almaviva MD Manuel Louzada said that an earlier-than-usual harvest – spurred by coronavirus lockdowns – means the most recent vintage is slightly fresher in style.
“The wines are spectacular, the ripeness is there, and there is a bit of tension, we have a bit more acidity because we harvested a bit earlier,” he said. “The wines this year are a bit more vertical, and we are going towards a situation where elegance is more important than weight, and this year was the right year to go a step forward.”
Louzada added that this year was a particularly important harvest, representing the 25th to take place at Almaviva: “Now we can say that it is an exceptional vintage.”
China sees first conviction over counterfeit Bordeaux
Bordeaux’s wine council (CIVB) has claimed a landmark victory against counterfeiters in China. With the help of local authorities, a counterfeiter who displayed fake Bordeaux wines at a trade show in China has been found guilty and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence by a court in Shanghai.
The CIVB said it marked a major milestone in its years-long battle with wine fraudsters. “Bordeaux is the first collective trademark to have won a victory in criminal proceedings in China,” the organisation said in a statement.
Alongside the suspended prison sentence, the conviction included a fine of 100,000 RMB (£11,000) for the company involved and 50,000 RMB (£5,700) to be paid by the guilty individual.
It’s hoped that the case will set an important precedent for future convictions. Speaking to Decanter a spokesperson said there are currently a further 15 wine-related criminal cases pending in the country.
Turkey’s first £100 wine sells out within six months
Turkish producer Chamlija launched its Django Cabernet Sauvignon earlier this year, and just six months later it’s completely sold out.
The wine – believed to be Turkey’s first wine to retail for £100 – was made from grapes harvested in Turkish Trace in September 2016, and recently won a Gold medal in the latest edition of the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters.
Despite its relatively high price and the ongoing effects of coronavirus, Chamlija founder Mustafa Camlica said the wine had seen “strong demand” in the markets where it was released, in particular Taiwan, the UK and Switzerland.
Camlica added: “The demand for top end wine in the global market is still, and will continue to be, strong. I am very happy with Django’s commercial success in spite of the weak economies both abroad and in Turkey. The most important part of Django’s achievement was in the export markets. We were able to export a third of our entire production. Chamlija will continue to export high end wines and surprise markets by its quality.”
