WHAT ABOUT BORDEAUX PRIMEURS 2008?
By SUZANNE MUSTACICH
The 2008 Bordeaux futures campaign began under trying conditions. The economic crisis has flatlined sales. The 2007 vintage remains largely unsold. And bad press following a difficult growing season wrote off the vintage despite a glorious Indian Summer. For months — gloomy winter months, the brokers and négociants worked hard to persuade the chateaux to dramatically lower their prices on the 2008 vintage. Then there was an increasingly public demand that the First Growths cut prices by 50% and start the campaign early. The First Growths, typically, remained silent — until the end of last month.
I had already spoken to Denis Dubourdieu to get his opinion on the quality of the vintage. I headed to Pomerol to talk to Michel Rolland, followed by a long drive to Yquem to talk to Pierre Lurton. From Yquem, I stopped in Bordeaux long enough to pick up fellow journalist Jane Anson, and from there we drove to Pontet-Canet for dinner with Alfred Tesseron. The following morning, I began the day at Mouton Rothschild with Philippe Dalhuin and Hervé Berland. By the time I reached Branaire-Ducru for the Union des Grands Crus trade tastings, I felt I had a handle on the vintage. (suite…)