Top 10 wines of Bordeaux 2013
9th April, 2014 by Rupert MillarLiv-ex: the fine wine marketplace recently released the details of its Bordeaux 2013 survey where it canvassed merchants for their opinion of the vintage.
The responses made fairly grim reading, with the year largely voted the weakest since 2007 when it came to quality and 78% expected demand to be 20% less than last year.
At worst the vintage was described as “skeletal” and “rasping”, at best it was “charming” and “pleasant”.
The whites though were singled out for special praise with the majority described as “excellent” and even “superb” – though whether they will make a decent showing when it comes to buying is another question.
Prices are trickling out, with Pontet-Canet, Pichon Baron and Smith Haut-Lafitte being the only notable releases of late.
So here are the 10 estates that impressed the trade the most. The wines that disappointed them and those they believe will be the best value will be published soon.
Excited to see Pichon Lalande here — this was, for me the most enticing and intriguing wine of the vintage – by some distance the best of the wines on show in the Medoc UGC tastings … It would have been nice, however, to see Domaine de Chevalier (rouge ou blanc) make the top 10; Evangile, too, was very impressive (though I suspect few tasted it)
Colin Hay, Sciences Po, Paris
Thanks for these insights. Some big names here. Would be nice to see top 10 petit chateaux.
I’m sorry but Yquem is top (as it should be in this vintage) then you can’t rank Climens, l’Extravagant de Doisy Daene, de Fargues, Rieussec, Suduiraut, Guiraud, de Rayne Vigneau, SIgalas Rabaud, Coutet and Raymond Lafon below any of the reds. I’d accept happily a couple of the dry whites into the top ten but there should not be any reds anywhere near the top! Miracles of modern wine-making over extremely adverse conditions many of them are but that doesn’t make them good enough wines to beat any of the top Sauternes and Barsacs in 2013.
Whites from Entre Deux Mers region retailing for 8-15£ will be the best value you get out of Bordeaux region this year. Plus you do not have to wait 2 years for receiving your bottle!