Chateau Palmer 2017 Released

Chateau Palmer 2017 has been released at €192 per bottle ex-negociant, down 20% on the 2016 release price of €240. It is being offered at a recommended retail price of £2,350 per 12×75, a decrease of 18% in sterling terms on the 2016 release of £2,880 per case.

James Suckling scored the wine 97-98 points and described it as a “sexy and well-formed 2017”. James Molesworth was also full of praise and awarded the wine 92-95 points. In his tasting note, he said that Palmer 2017 “stands out from the pack”.

Prices for Palmer are 63.6% correlated to Wine Advocate score. Based on today’s release of £2,350 per 12×75, the wine would need to receive a score of 96-97 points to be considered fair value.

Buyers looking for value may consider the 2012 vintage. The wine received a score of 96 points from Robert Parker and is available at a 20% discount to today’s release. Top vintages with several years in bottle can also be found at a small premium to the 2017.

Palmer Alter Ego was released at €48 per bottle ex-negociant, down 2% on the 2016 (€49).

Source: www.liv-ex.com

THE CHAMPAGNE REGION IS #2 ON THE LIST OF TOP 10 WINE DESTINATIONS FOR MEN

Where does one go for the full oenophile experience? Men’s website AskMen.com offers its top 10 list of wine destinations for those keen to travel for the grape.

No.1 Burgundy

The ancient ocean beds that have receded to give life and fertile soil to the Beaune give Burgundy its depth and complexity. Like an ever-evolving maze, each sip of luscious Pinot Noir or clean, crisp Chardonnay lends itself to a bevy of adjectives and thoughts. The gem among the subclassifications of Burgundy is the Côte d’Or, or the “Golden Slope.” The hillsides in Burgundy gather up the sun’s rays, and paired with the nutrient-rich dried seafloor, give character to famous vineyards like Domaine Romanée-Conti, Vosne-Romanée and Chassagne-Montrachet. Not only do these wines age perfectly if kept in a climate-controlled storage system, but the subtle nuances of the Pinot Noir evolve and mature into silky, smooth perfection.

No.2 Champagne

Champagne is a region known not only for its quality but also its consistency. Big-name producers make both consistent house styles as well as single vintage products, and the quality is unrivaled. With a combination of steady prices and a surge of smaller producers who are meticulous about their quality — like Pierre Gimonnet et Fils — the region offers new products as the big names of Perrier Jouët, Dom Perignon and Moet & Chandon continue to provide classic styles that define elegance, sophistication and celebration. Life would be a little less special without Champagne.

No.3 Tuscany

The home of some of the most recognizable and consistent wines in the world, Tuscany produces such wines as Chianti Classico, Brunello, Carmignano, and the red blends known as Super Tuscans. (Due to the government regulation on the blending of wines, Super Tuscans do not have to adhere to a formula.) Tuscany embodies hard work, dedication and passion. The terroir and texture imbue Tuscan wines with a richness that stands out.

No.4 Bordeaux

No one region has had as much influence over the past century as Bordeaux. Creating everything from a wine culture to mythical vintages that garner more attention than some celebrities, these wines have set standards and tasting profiles worldwide. The two rivers that separate Bordeaux into “left bank” and “right bank” are the Garonne and the Dordogne. Merlot is the granddaddy here and lends its texture to historic wines like Pétrus and Château Ausone. Due to over production, many of the Châteaus are failing to make the same landmark wines they were able to in the early 2000s.

No 5. Mosel

Two rivers, the Saar and Ruwer, cut through the dramatic German landscape and converge into the Mosel River, creating a gorgeous backdrop for some of the most complex wines in the world. The steep south-facing slopes gather as much sun as possible as the delicate Riesling grapes gain a deep minerality from the rich slate soils. Riesling, the soft wine grape, is king here. Before Bordeaux took the world by storm, it was the Rieslings produced here that basked in the world’s attention

No. 6. Napa Valley

The first of the wine regions in the United States to garner international praise and attention, Napa, California, is home to some of the world’s greatest wineries. With a tradition that spans from early settlers to finding a “legal” way around prohibition, the American “cowboy” mentality comes through in the determination to make a world-class wine when they were told they never would. The outstanding Mediterranean microclimate and a mixture of decomposed oceanic fossils and lava ash give the rich grapes of Robert Mondavi, Chateau Montelena and Harlan Estate their bold and elegant flavors.

No. 7. Piedmont

Wine in Piedmont is as much a part of life as breathing. The leading grape here is Nebbiolo, which produces the superb Barolo and Barbaresco wines. To complement the depth of the Nebbiolo wines, sweeter wines Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante are made from Moscato Bianco. The mineral-rich wines from Azienda Cerreto feature the citrus and pear flavors of the Arneis grape.

No. 8. Ribera del Duero, Spain

Sitting on the northern plateaux of Spain along the Duero River, the rocky terrain of Ribera del Duero is home to the vines that give birth to the most expensive wine in the world, Vega Sicilia. The Tempranillo grape and the ability to grow world-class Cabernet Sauvignon give this region the leg up on its Rioja brother.

No. 9. Barossa Valley, Australia

Wines from Australia continue to push the envelope in terms of the amount of flavor you can pack into a bottle. An anonymous Australian winemaker once said, “We make wines that punch you in the face and then kick your teeth down the road.” Even though they’re jam-packed with intense fruitiness, the wines are well balanced. For wine drinkers who are looking for a fruit-forward wine that cuts through a meaty steak or a rosemary lamb roast, try a Grenache or a Shiraz.

No. 10. California’s Central Coast and the South of France.

Dubbed by aficionados as “the next frontier,” California’s Central Coast is filled with bar-setting vineyards like Longoria, Foxen and Sanford. Heavy producers of fresh, strawberry-scented Pinot Noirs and clean, woody Chardonnays abound, and producers often experiment with biodynamic farming.

The South of France sets the tone for most of the “green” farming in wine. Coupled with huge flavors and floral bouquets, these wines span palate ranges and have set the groundwork for a new breed of wine making. Regions like Côtes du Rhône and Gigondas produce some of the most complex and dynamic wines in the world. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape style of red-blended wines inspired some of California’s Central Coast’s best Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre wines.

LA Times

Bordeaux Under One Roof (Toronto) Interview with Pascal Loridon, Marketing Director, Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) by Liz Palmer

October 28, 2009, Polson Pier, Solarium, 11 Polson St. Toronto

The venue surprised me – it had a stunning view looking out onto Lake Ontario with lots of natural light. The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) hosted a wine tasting/seminar in collaboration with wine agents to help discover the diversity of Bordeaux wines under $30. These wines are available through LCBO and/or through relevant wine agents. There were 18 tables with over 40 wines to sample. Most of these wines were relatively young, with a preponderance of ‘05 and ‘06 vintages. There were some ‘07 and with limited ’08. I found the better ones were closer to $30. None of the wines were overly-complex.

I had the opportunity to interview Pascal Loridon, Marketing Director, Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB).

Welcome to Toronto Mr. Loridon…
Can you give me your thoughts on the harvest this year?

The harvest this year has been excellent – the weather could not have been better; we have had cool dry nights, rain whenwe needed it, and lots of sun. The weather has not been this good for a long time.

Do you believe 2009 will be another great vintage?

We are predicting 2009 will be a great vintage and are very happy with the high levels of ripeness, healthy grapes, rich colours, promising acidity, and overall balance.

For the 2009 vintage we will have a true Bordeaux: elegant with garnet/ruby colours, black fruits, wood, with “cigar box” aromas.

Do you have any suggestions for investors?

The outlook for 2009 is very promising and it would be a good opportunity for investors.