In early April journalists and wine merchants tasted the new vintage, the 2011, during one week in Bordeaux. This is called the primeur tastings. The wines are not ready to drink yet, of course, they still have at least a year and probably more to spend in oak barrels, but this is the Bordeaux way of doing things. Later in April or in May/June the chateaux will announce their prices for the vintage.
Château Lafite-Rothschild was the first of the premier grand cru classé this year. A bottle of Lafite 2011 sells to negoce for 350 € excluding VAT. The price to end consumer is thought to be, according to Vitisphere.com, at least 420 €. 350 euros is 50 % less than the primeur price of Lafite 2010.
But in view of the sky-rocketing prices of top Bordeaux wines in recent years it may perhaps not be such a bargain anyway?
Will you be buying 2011s?
[box type=”info”]Why not go to Bordeaux and taste the wines yourself? You can go on a wine tour to Bordeaux with BKWine and experience both the food and wines of France![/box]
