Offers for the 2022 Vintage Campaign have begun!
2022 Bordeaux Futures Offer #6 So far this campaign I've talked about some of the exceptional wines from this vintage, but I haven't talked too much, since the introductory email, about the vintage as a whole. It's a very strong vintage, with wines showing powerful concentration while still retaining freshness. it's a bit of a wonder considering the relentless heat and drought that the wines are showing so well. Many compared the heat to 2003, but by all accounts the wines here are fresher and more integrated. The difference might be partially due to the fact that, unlike 2003, the entire vintage was gown under hot and dry conditions, so the vines did not put out a lot of extra growth in a wetter spring, and were better able to handle the conditions long term. It looks like a fantastic vintage, but there are some producers, mostly at price levels that we do not normally offer, that did not do as well. While the 2022s at top estates are generally fantastic, unlike other great vintages the lower priced wines from more humble producers aren't as good as you might expect. This is probably mostly due to the serious, difficult steps that the best producers took to deal with the consequences of the heat, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. For example, most of the best producers took extreme care not to over-extract the wines via various means, including shorter maceration times and reductions in pump-overs.
Offers to us have been trickling in, so we've held up on these emails till we had some more to offer, and we've got a pretty good collection today with Grand Puy Lacoste, Kirwan, Marquis D'Asleme, and others. One wine, however that I'd like to focus on is Rocheyron. This property in Saint Emilion produced it's first modern vintage in 2010. It was founded as a partnership between Peter Sisseck, who founded the famous Pingus in Ribero del Duero, and Bordeaux veteran Silvio Denz, owner of Saint Emilion's Chateau Faugeres. While their first few vintages were workmanlike, they have made strong progress, and are producing some stunning wines. This is the first year that we have offered this wine as futures, and we are excited about it. From the Wine Advocate: A blend of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Rocheyron exhibits inviting aromas of blackberries, violets, lavender and spices, framed by nicely integrated new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and vibrant, with lovely purity of fruit, powdery tannins and a long, mineral finish. It will rival and perhaps surpass the 2020 as Sisseck's finest to date. 94-96, $99.38
If you want to make sure you receive offers by email going forward, you feel free to email me.
Please note: Prices do not include any taxes, duties or tariffs which are in existence or may be in effect in the future. There is no certainty with respect to the tariff rate, if any, or other duties and taxes that may be enacted or imposed at the time of shipment of the 2021 vintage. If any are in effect at the time of delivery of the wine to Houston Wine Merchant, they will be the responsibility of the purchaser and must be paid prior to transferring custody of the wine to you.
A copy of this PDF, containing all wines cumulatively offered thus far, can be downloaded here.
Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone or email. If you choose to email, we ask that you include "Bordeaux Futures" in the subject line. The remains of past vintages will be found on the shelf at regular retail pricing, |
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