Just as the campaign got flowing again my computer sprang a leak. No kidding. We use water-cooled machines which consume less electricity and generate less heat but on Tuesday night the cooling unit decided to empty its contents. This didn't go down well with some of the other components.
Luckily, it's been a quiet couple of days sales-wise. For the moment, this is very much a buyers' market. Nevertheless, after the blockage caused by the release of Cos last Wednesday, this week has seen something of a downpour of releases ahead of two big events for the Bordelaise. Later today, we have the release of Wine Advocate issue 200 containing the Parker scores, which are still pretty much as important as ever. More importantly, next Tuesday is the Labour Day holiday in France, which means no one is working and, on Monday, only the "stupid people", as one negociant just put it.
Herewith prices added to the website this week, of which we'd like to highlight:
Senejac, now organic and under the direction of the Pontet-Canet team of Alfred Tesseron (pictured);
Capbern Gasqueton, from the Calon-Segur stable;
Chasse-Spleen, our favourite Moulis of the vintage;
Les Ormes de Pez, from the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages;
Cantemerle, which we hope will turn out like the fabulous 2001;
Bellevue, owned by Hubert de Bouard and magnificently sited above his flagship property, Angelus;
Rabaud-Promis, which has got to be the best value in Sauternes this year;
and Doisy-Vedrines, which is its equivalent in Barsac;
and finally Climens, Barsac's answer to Sauternes' Yquem - except in price
/AR
Halves & magnums £10 extra per 9 litre case; other formats on request
