Left bank vs. right bank Bordeaux bottles and crates

Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: Which Should You Invest In?

Bordeaux, Collecting, France, Investing, Wine Regions

Before you invest in Left Bank or Right Bank wines, you’ll want to understand their key differences. For example, while both banks make age-worthy, collectible wines, the Left Bank tends to make wines with better aging potential overall compared to most wines from the Right Bank. This is why many collectors perceive the Left Bank to be more collectible; the Left Bank is also home to all five of Bordeaux’s First Growth producers. However, when it comes to Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux, the differences go beyond collectibility.

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Storing Bordeaux wine can be complicated

Tips on Storing Bordeaux Wine: How Long Should You Keep Your Bottles?

Bordeaux, Investing, Storing Wine

When I bought my first Bordeaux wine, I learned the hard way that storing Bordeaux requires careful planning. For instance, I didn’t realize that wines like 1999 Palmer and 1990 Château d’Yquem mature at different rates. I soon found out that each wine has its own timetable; the Palmer is already drinking well now and I may have to uncork it soon, whereas the Yquem could stay in my cellar for another 30 years.

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2017 Bordeaux wine futures are worth careful investment

The 2017 Bordeaux Wine Futures Report: An Approachable Vintage

Bordeaux, Buying Wine, En Primeur, Investing, Wine Markets

With ripe, perfumed aromas and lively acidity, the 2017 Bordeaux vintage is shaping up to be a very approachable release for collectors. It’s true that these wines aren’t quite as exciting and sumptuous as the recent 2015 and 2016 vintages, but 2017 Bordeaux is still worth consideration. This vintage is perfect for early to mid-term drinking, with a great expression of terroir. However, before you invest in 2017 Bordeaux wine futures, keep in mind that quality varies in this vintage and many producers had to overcome poor weather conditions. You’ll need to choose your bottles carefully, but if you do, you can expect to find supremely drinkable, fresh-tasting wines that you can enjoy while your more legendary bottles mature.

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Canon wine label image

Should You Invest in Canon Wine? Here’s How to Make the Most of Your Purchase

Bordeaux, Collecting, Producers and Wineries

With rich, dark berry flavors, spicy aromatics, and a lavish (yet still well-structured) personality, Canon vintages are among the most interesting Classe B Saint-Émilion wines. And if you haven’t already sampled this estate’s incredible wines, then now is an excellent time to start. The producer is gaining in popularity on the secondary market and is showing great promise for investors as well as for avid drinkers. There has never been a better time to be a passionate Canon fan.

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Best 2006 Bordeaux

The Best 2006 Bordeaux Gifts: This Unusual, Breathtaking Vintage Will Impress Nearly Every Collector

Bordeaux, Holiday

In Bordeaux, there are vintages that seem destined for success from the start—and then there are the “sleeper vintages,” the wines that hide their true power for a decade or more. The 2006 Bordeaux vintage is one of these rare sleepers. While it was overshadowed by the legendary 2005 vintage in its youth, today, the best 2006 Bordeaux is rich, intensely concentrated, and an absolute joy to drink. These qualities, coupled with the wine’s potential for aging, make it the perfect gift for wine collectors on your holiday list this year. In order to take advantage of all that this vintage has to offer, you’ll need to consider which appellations had the most success, and choose the wines with the greatest potential for aging.

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Pickers during the Bordeaux 2017 Harvest

Analyzing the Bordeaux 2017 Harvest: Low Yields and Early Harvests Mark This Vintage

Bordeaux, News

The Bordeaux 2017 harvest was grueling for most wineries, to say the least. Even on Premier Cru estates, it took winemakers every ounce of effort to grow and pick a minuscule number of grapes by the end of the harvest season. In many terroirs, yields were down by an average of 41 percent, sometimes more. This means that some winemakers were left struggling to find enough grapes with which to produce wine.

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2005 LaFleur is one of the Best Bordeaux Blends in the history of the producer

Hidden Gem of the Month: 2005 LaFleur is the Best Bordeaux Blend for Patient Collectors

Bordeaux, Buying Wine

Renowned wine critic James Suckling is fortunate enough to sample some of the greatest wines in the world, from legendary DRC vintages to the rarest Lafite-Rothschild. So when a critic as experienced as Suckling calls a wine “mythic,” it certainly commands attention. Suckling’s review of 2005 LaFleur Pomerol is downright gushing; he calls this wine “fine and beautiful” with a “rich, powerful palate” that continues to build long after the last drop hits your tongue. This is one of the many reasons why 2005 LaFleur is considered the best Bordeaux blend for collectors who adore a more muscular wine.

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Bordeaux from the Graves region like Liber Pater

Are Liber Pater Bordeaux Wines Worth Collecting? Only If You’re Loyal to the Graves Region

Bordeaux, Buying Wine

Over dinner one evening, I had an animated discussion with a group of wine-loving friends about which Bordeaux wines are overrated. None of us could agree on a producer; there was always at least one person in the group who loved a particular “overrated” estate. But when one of my friends suggested that Liber Pater is the most overrated wine in Bordeaux, it gave all of us pause. It’s surely the most expensive wine in the region–the question is whether the added expense is actually worthwhile for collectors, or if the wines are more hype than substance. Ultimately, the value of Liber Pater Bordeaux will depend on your own collection and goals. Before you invest in these bottles, consider whether the current Quality-Price Ratio (QPR) matters to you, or if you’d rather spend a little extra to stay loyal to Graves craftsmanship.

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2009 Cos d’Estournel

Hidden Gem of the Month: 2009 Cos d’Estournel Is a Legendary, But Controversial, Wine

Bordeaux, Buying Wine

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Cos d’Estournel -2009 Cos d’Estournel -Harlan -Mouton-Rothschild  If you want to get a room full of shy wine enthusiasts to talk, just say the words, “2009 Cos d’Estournel.” I’ve seen collectors come close to fisticuffs over this seemingly unobtrusive vintage. This is the very definition of a polarizing wine; most collectors either…

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Guide to Bordeaux Vintages

Your Guide to Bordeaux Vintages: How to Pick the Best Bordeaux Years for Your Collection

Bordeaux, Wine Markets

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Cos d’Estournel -Lafite-Rothschild -Latour -Mouton-Rothschild -Haut Brion -Petrus -Cheval Blanc -Angelus -Talbot -L’Evangile After spending nearly a week in France last year, I quickly learned which recent Bordeaux vintages were worth my time. I already knew which vintages critics loved best, like 2009 L’Evangile or 2005 Lafite-Rothschild, but trying these superb…

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