Bordeaux 2011 En Primeur gets under way with calls for lower prices for an average vintage
En Primeur tastings of 2011 Bordeaux took place last week with the consensus amongst the trade that the quality of the vintage is mixed but when its good it can be very good. Jean-Christophe Mau of Chateau Brown said it was a difficult year and that 2007 is their reference point but that the wines wouldn't be as good as 2002. He said that as with all ‘difficult’ vintages it is the bigger, wealthier properties that have coaxed the best they can from a summer that was far from ideal.
It's clear from press commentary that the Chateaux need to get their pricing right and several producers are speculating that the wines could be up to half the price of the 2010 vintage. Domaines Barons de Rothschild managing director Christophe Salin said Lafite expected to release very quickly and at a healthy discount while some reports suggested the left bank first growths would come out at €200-€250, which would be a decrease of 60% on last year.
