Bordeaux Off Vintages
Off-vintages at Cru level require less investment up-front. Therefore Team noted in a 2003 study, these off-vintages sold for an initial cost of HK$2121 per bottle, on average, compared to HK $3471 per bottle for sought-after vintages. This means that collectors who took a chance on off-vintages from premium estates paid less up-front, and received a larger boost in resale value compared to their colleagues who only invested in the finest vintages. In the case of non-investment grade wines, and especially those who are in lesser vintages(2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012), the sub-investment categories(see below for 5th to Super Seconds outside the First Growth category) mostly for immediate drinking ,we believe that they will give better bang for the buck.
Another point Team would raise is that good Chateaux always make quality vintages, even in miserable weather. Indeed the good making will add excellent drinking value to the wines. Take for example, the following wines from 5th to Super Seconds from Margaux and Pauillac:
From Margaux.
Lascombes 1992, Lascombes 2011, Rauzan Gassies 2008, Razan Gassies 2007
Brane Cantenac 2012 , Malescot St. Exupery 2006, Giscours 2012 Desmirail 2006 Desmirail 2007, Ferriere 2007, Cantenac Brown 2007, Cantenac Brown 2011, Cantenac Brown 2012, Boyd Cantenac 2007 , Marquis D′Alesme Becker 2007, Pouget 2007,Marquis de Terme 2007.
項目, 酒名, 年份, 分數, 倉存, 單價 1, Lascombes, 1992, RP82, 22, $660 2, Lascombes, 2011, JS91, 32, $520 3, Rauzan Gassies, 2008, WS87, 36, $480 4, Rauzan Segla, 2003, JS95, 35, $580 5, Rauzan Segla, 2006, JS92, 64, $580 6, Brane Cantenac, 2007, WE90, 211, $440 7, Brane Cantenac, 2012, WE93, 167, $430 8, Malescot St. Exupery, 2006, JS93, 175, $540 9, Giscours, 2012, WE94, 117, $380 10, Desmirail, 2006, WE87, 113, $310 11, Desmirail, 2007, WE88, 191, $410 12, Ferriere, 2007, WE87, 149, $440 13, Cantenac Brown, 2007, WE92, 20, $430 14, Cantenac Brown, 2011, WE94, 50, $430 15, Cantenac Brown, 2012, WE93, 60, $400 16, Boyd Cantenac, 2007, WS86, 38, $400 17, Marquis D'Alesme Becker, 2007, WE91, 53, $370 18, Pouget, 2007, WS86, 148, $810 19, Marquis de Terme, 2007, WS85, 187, $440
From Pauillac
Pichon Lalande 2006, Pichon Lalande 2007, Pichon Lalande 2012, Pichon Longueville Baron 2012, Duhart Milon 2002, Duhart Milon 2008, Duhart Milon 2011, Clerc Milon 2011, Ch′d Armailhac 2007, d’ Armailhac 2010, d’Armailhac 2012, Haut Batailley 2006, Haut Batailley 2007, Haut Bages Liberal 2007, Pedesclaux 2007, Lynch Bages 2011, Lynch Bages 2012, Lynch Bages 2013, Grand Puy Lacoste 2007, Pontet Canet 2002, Pontet Canet 2004, Pontet Canet 2007, Grand Puy Ducasse 2006, Croizet Bages 2007, Duhart Milon 'Baron de Milon' 2008
Hélène Génin, Château Latour’s technical director, believes there are common points between the five vintages, such as early growth cycles, perturbed flowering and problems with fruitset and the uneven size of berries. ‘All required heavy green harvesting and careful triage of berries, so the wines resemble each other in some respects, although each vintage has its own personality.’ Despite tricky conditions, she says, ‘the wines are better than most people think’.
Nicolas Thienpont, technical director at Pavie Macquin, feels that 1997 and 2007 were both saved by late season sunshine, and finds the wines resemble each other most. Jean-Claude Berrouet of Pétrus and Eric Perrin of Carbonnieux feel 2002 is slightly underrated, characterised by lovely, gentle wines.
Overall, we find most wines from these years to be either perfect for current drinking or shaping up to be delicious. These vintages, ugly ducklings once, have turned into beautiful swans.
