Welcome to our October edition. This month we’re pleased to announce (if you haven’t already heard) that we have chosen to reduce our minimum order requirement from £500 to only £100. We have so many great wines below £500 per case on the list that we didn’t want to restrict our clients who enjoy buying their wines to drink from indulging.

If you have any wines for sale then we are keen to purchase them too providing they fit the right criteria. Take a look at our Cellar Valuation page to see how easy it is.

Several events to report upon too, such as our latest themed dinner at the Ledbury where Dominus was the star, the latest blog from our HK MD Doug Rumsam, Michael Schuster’s latest class and the usual “What We’ve Been Drinking Recently” column.

As it’s October, we also have our Quarterly Report for Q3 2011. Feel free to give your account manager a call in relation to any of the above.

We hope you enjoy the read.

Bordeaux Index is always looking to buy or broke your fine wines. As well as showing bids on LiveTrade, our Purchasing Department are at your disposal to provide you with quotations for brokerage or outright purchase. We also offer free Cellar Valuations, a service which allows fine wine collectors to ascertain the true value of their cellars.

Headlines:

• Volatile market sees prices decline 7.5% from H1
• Asia solid, UK suffers as sentiment turns negative on wider economic concerns
• Stand out performers mostly second growths as UK and Asia consumers seek value
• First among firsts – Mouton heads for the first time in 5yrs+
• All hail the new kings - is this the time for Montrose and Pontet Canet?

‘It’s a while since I did Northern Rhone tasting. So high time again, with a bunch of characterful wines that have between 10 and 30 years of age. Four wines from the glory days of Jaboulet, with two of the best Thalaberts from the past thirty years, along with the glowing 1989 La Chapelle and the fine 1979 from magnum. “Modern” northern Rhône is represented by Courbis and Guigal, splendid tradition by Clape and Rostaing, all from fine vintages for the region.’ –Michael Schuster (Wine School)

‘Here we are, on a rainy September evening, fifty wine lovers gathered together at The Ledbury in Notting Hill, many with no idea what to expect from a Dominus vertical spanning 20 years accompanied by Edouard Moueix.

In 1982, Petrus owner Christian Moueix set out to craft a Bordeaux blend in Napa to rival the very best of Bordeaux. After that night's performance, few disagreed that this was exactly what he has achieved….’ –Gareth Birchley (Buyer)

With the 2010 En-Primeur Campaign winding down, July was beginning to feel more like the wine market of yesteryear as the trade began to trim positions in advance of the holiday season. In contrast with the summer of 2010, the important HK / Asia Market still appeared well supplied and with larger macro-economic concerns over the US debt ceiling and Eurozone periphery, prices remained static albeit on strong turnover.

Whilst the high prices of the EP 2010s resulted in a somewhat muted campaign (particularly for the secondary market) there was very strong demand for the top wines. It’s likely that the experience will have gone a long way to convince the leading Medoc Chateaux to continue to price ‘great’ vintages aggressively in the future

While prices for the very best Bordeaux and Burgundy have risen to levels beyond all but the most special occasion, it has become increasingly important for us to search high and low for outstanding everyday drinking wines. For years we have supplied top restaurants and other merchants with everything from entry level Bordeaux to 20-year old Romanée Conti, and have traditionally modelled ourselves as wholesalers of fine wines with doors wide open to private buyers.

As the breadth of our private customer base has increased, the diversity of our stock has too. We understand that serious wine buyers like as much to find that undiscovered bargain as to splash out on a case of top Cru Classé. With this in mind, and in the spirit of continually improving and adapting our service to our customer's needs, we are pleased to announce a permanent reduction in the minimum required spend at BI to just £100.

Everyday drinking is now an option.

1989 Henri Bonneau Reserve des Celestins
‘ “So what are some of the best wines you've ever had?” This was the great question of the night. A lot of great names were mentioned; Petrus, Haut Brion, Jaboulet, Rayas. This monumental effort went straight into the list for me. A classic Chateauneuf of yesteryear possessing that great rarity of brute force and elegance. Initially compact at first, this grew and grew in the glass, with black cherry and mocha giving way to wilder, more feral characteristics. The perfect wine to enjoy whilst plotting how to bring ‘In and Out Burger’ to Asia. This is an insanely good wine - if you see it, buy it.’
99 pts - Guy Ruston (HK Sales)

1990  Meo Camuzet Vosne Romanee Brulees
‘I am now most fortunate to have enjoyed both 1989 and on this occasion the 1990, and I simply cannot call one being better than the other. This was majestic and as good as Burgundy gets. Sweetly fruited with incredible power and density, this just grew on the palate and went on and on. I would say it’s not as elegant as the 1989, but perhaps it has a bit more structure and length.’
98+ pts - Sam Gleave (Sales Director)