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1996 VINTAGE

General Comments

1996 was essentially a great year for Cabernet Sauvignon dominated wines, and at the time (prior to 2000), some properties in the Médoc had probably produced their finest vintage ever.

Merlot based wines were generally speaking, less reliable and in Saint Emilion and Pomerol the overall quality lacked the concentration and stamina to be found in the Médoc. However, some top "Right Bank" Châteaux with a high percentage of Cabernet Franc were extremely successful, as were one or two Properties with a high Merlot content, such as Clinet and l’Eglise Clinet, where spectacular wines were made.

Investment Potential

Such was the reputation of some of the top Medoc wines that within two years of being offered "En Primeur" some wines had already doubled in price, and as often happens when this is the case, prices have remained on the flat side.

Already a small number of recommended wines are becoming a little scarce (POA), but generally speaking, there has not been very much upward movement in price yet. However, our belief is that this situation will change in the near future as, compared to prices being offered for many similar wines of the 2000 vintage, 1996 is now beginning to look rather cheap. The question is certainly “when” rather than “if “ prices will start to increase. The wines we have selected are all of the highest quality and have great ageing potential. We anticipate an exciting and healthy growth in value for many years to come.

Recommended Wines for the 1996 Vintage

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1995 VINTAGE

General Comments

Bordeaux had enjoyed a wonderfully hot summer, and in spite of rain in September, most of the grapes were fully ripe and in good condition when harvested. Nevertheless most of the top Châteaux maintained their policy of a rigorous selection for the final blend of their "Grand Vin" and some really sensational wines were produced across the region.

Tastings held soon after the wines were bottled led many people to believe that, due to the fact that the soft tannins were fairly easy on the palate, the wines would be reasonably accessible after about ten years. However – again generally speaking – our recent tastings show that if anything the wines have taken a step backward in development. The tannins on many have firmed-up with deep concentration, power and depth of flavour being the key words. All these “safe” and beautifully made wines have the ingredients to carry on developing for another 25 years.

Investment Potential

Those selected for investment are truly great wines that have already established their reputation within the wine trade. Following a rapid increase in value very soon after the “En Primeur” campaign, the market has remained rather flat. However, for the same reasons given in our assessment of the 1996’s potential, this vintage now looks to be rather good value and we confidently expect exciting growth from our recommendations below.

Recommended Wines for the 1995 Vintage

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1990 VINTAGE

General Comments

This superb vintage owes its quality to a fabulously hot, sunny and dry summer, with rain arriving in September, bang on time to help swell and therefore ripen the rather dried out, small and thick-skinned grapes, that had hitherto been gasping for water.

Wines of quite outstanding quality were produced across the Bordeaux region and our selection of top, super-rich, powerful and elegant wines have all the ingredients to enable them to go on developing and improving for 20 years or so.

Investment Potential

A good number of recommended wines are now in very short supply due to strong international demand and again we have listed these as POA. Although the top wines offered are already quite expensive, we firmly believe that there will be enough wealthy people in the world who will only want to drink the very finest Claret in the future, and we fully expect that the sky really will be the limit on prices.

Recommended Wines for the 1990 Vintage

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1989 VINTAGE

General Comments

Yet another enormous crop that we remember being heralded as the "vintage of the century", even before the grapes were picked. After an absolutely roasting summer, which continued through for most of the harvest, all the signs were there for a potentially great vintage throughout the region. However, it turned out to be more difficult for some producers than anticipated, and not everyone achieved the quality they had been hoping for.

Having said that, recent tastings indicate that some wines we had previously thought to be rather tough and reticent, now appear to be gaining body and weight, and show altogether more fruit in the mouth. We shall see.

Investment Potential

The wines in our selection are all acknowledged to be the greatest wines of this vintage, but it will be noted that even some First Growths and other famous names are not included. In spite of certain encouraging signs of development, we are still not absolutely certain which way these wines will go, and have decided to play safe with our recommendations.

The 1989 wines in our selection tend to have a higher tannin content than their 1990 counterparts, and may well continue to develop for longer. Although the two vintages are different in style they are similar in quality, and both have the same exciting potential to grow in value. In the last six months our 1989 recommendations have, in fact, increased in value at a higher rate than the 1990 recommendations.

Recommended Wines for the 1989 Vintage

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1986 VINTAGE

General Comments

A great and exceptional year for the Cabernet Sauvignon, enabling top Châteaux in the Médoc to produce truly classic wines, steeped in tannin and full of deep concentrated fruit. Wines that will go on developing for another two decades, with Chateaux such as Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux and Léoville-Las Cases marching on happily for another 30 years or so.

Investment Potential

Believe it or not, thirty years ago the Wine Trade was saying that the seriously tannic 1945’s would "never come round", and look what happened. If ever there was a post war vintage to compare in style to the 1945, we believe 1986 is the one. Buy it, forget about it, and eventually a lot of money should be made.

Recommended Wines for the 1986 Vintage

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1982 VINTAGE

General Comments

A great vintage which produced wines of truly outstanding quality, characterised by a concentration of rich fruit, complexity and balance. Colleagues in Bordeaux have recently tasted many of the top wines, and confirm that they still have a long way to go before reaching their peak. From an evolvement point of view they remain dormant, concentrated and backward.

Investment Potential

Wine Trade professionals with long memories all agree that the 1982 vintage is going to be held in the same esteem as 1949, 1947 and 1945 by future consuming generations, and prices of those vintages have gone through the roof! There are a few bottles of wine currently on the market at the following case-price equivalents: 1947 Ch.Cheval-Blanc £36,000.00, 1947 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild £27,000.00, and 1949 Ch. Latour £17,400.00. Of course this is speculation, but we can see no reason why 1982 Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Margaux and Mouton-Rothschild should not attain the same levels.

Recommended Wines for the 1982 Vintage

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