Handford Wines Bordeaux En Primeur 2012 Offer ~ A Tale of Terroir
Bordeaux 2012 Vintage Report Vintage Report 'The worst vintages are average, and they are only declared average when sold out'... Etienne Hugel on the 2006 s in Alsace. In reality, there are great wines to be found, and many say better over all than 2011. The Weather There will be many reports of difficult weather conditions but even a brief study of the statistics shows quite normal temperatures and rainfall. In many areas temperatures were slightly above and rainfall below the norm. Budburst and flowering in early April and early June is perfectly timed. Ripening or hang time was lengthened due to cooler conditions in July, which is fine, and then a very hot August, which is not ideal, but not necessarily detrimental. The difficulty was all in the timing and/or extremes of weather. Rains spoilt flowering of Merlot but conditions were great for Cabernet. Then, how unlucky can you be... rains upset the Cabernet harvests when much of the Merlot was in before two big dumps on 25th September and 9th October. Even then, many growers found extra pickers to bring in the bacon before the worst of the weather. For 2011 s we reported a similar discrepancy between weather statistics and the quality of resulting fruit. Either we need to print the lines closer together or Chateaux are better at managing difficult years. Green harvest, selection in the vineyards, optical sorting, careful pressing and judicious maceration and ageing are some examples. I have seen vintages going back to 1985 and would point out a difference that is much talked about but rarely equated with enhanced quality, especially in a tough year. Farming in harmony with the environment, organic, or biodynamic culture creates a balanced and natural habitat for a vine. This is hardly rated when managing a difficult year. An important result of being in harmony with nature is the ability to coexist with organisms that others pay good money to destroy; a clear advantage in difficult seasons. Handford Wines has always preferred to buy from producers with this philosophy but such ideas are yet to be truly accepted by the market. The culture of buying by vintage does not sit well with biodynamic and organic farming. The Wines Rumours were rife. Which appellations and which wines were worth trying? We found surprises where we expected little and vice versa. The best wines are indeed in Pomerol, but there is no bad appellation. Perhaps the greatest concentration of good red is in the middle of the Medoc; La Lagune, Chasse Spleen, Palmer, Margaux and more. There are classically styled wines at Beychevelle, the Leovilles and Lynch Bages. Pontet Canet is the epitome of the biodynamic way but, in general, the top of the Medoc has the most disappointments. We have chosen just a few and, when prices appear, I doubt the list will get longer! There are some pretty second wines and chateaux where a little less ambition may have led to more
elegance and expression. Clos du Marquis, Haut Batailley, Langoa Barton and Reserve de Comtesse are excellent and should be good value. On the right bank Moulin Saint Georges (from the Vauthiers at Chateau Ausone) and the more elegant Corbin are great value. How the Offer Works Prices are quoted per case of 12 (unless stated) in bond (i.e. duty free) at London City Bond. Wines may be stored by us or transferred in bond. Most wines will be shipped in the spring or autumn of 2014 for onward delivery. When you choose to receive wines the duty (currently 24.00 per case) and V.A.T. on the total value (including duty) must be paid prior to delivery. Transfer under bond and delivery to the UK mainland are free for orders over 500 (in bond value). Otherwise delivery charged at 20.00 per address. Wines may be collected from 105 Old Brompton Road. Storage with us at LCB is 0.62 per case per month inc. VAT. Where possible I have included tasting notes to give an indication of style. More importantly Greg and I have tasted at least 10 wines for every wine chosen and most wines offered have been tried more than once during April 2013. Drinking dates give an idea of when the wines will be ready. There are never fixed rules and wines should be enjoyed at as many stages of their life as possible. Orders will be invoiced for payment by return. FOR A COPY OF THIS LIST WITH NOTES & DRINKING DATES FOR THE WINE PLEASE EMAIL MICK@HANDFORD.NET All wines offered subject to availability and subject to Handford Wines standard En-Primeur Terms & conditions of sale. Many wines are subject to allocation. Wines will be shipped to arrive Under Bond UK Spring/Autumn 2014. Free onward delivery or transfer (IB) for orders over 500. Contact James Handford MW or Greg Sherwood MW to discuss your portfolio requirements - 020 7589 6113 or email greg@handford.net
Handford Wines Bordeaux En-Primeur 2012 St Estephe Case Size Price IB Ormes de Pez 12 195 Cos d Estournel 12 999 Pagodes de Cos 12 310 Calon Segur 12 450 Marquis de Calon 12 155 Montrose 12 TBC Le Boscq 12 150 Lafon Rochet 12 250 Pauillac Case Size Price IB Pontet Canet 12 695 Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 12 655 Duhart Milon 12 610 Carruades de Lafite 12 TBC
Lafite Rothschild 12 Allocation Lacoste Borie 12 160 Grand Puy Lacoste 12 365 Petit Mouton (6) 6 380 Mouton Rothschild 12 Allocation d Armailhac 12 290 Clerc Milon 12 355 Lynch Bages 12 695 Pichon Baron 12 745 Reserve de Comtesse 12 235 Haut Batailley 12 250 Haut-Bages Liberal 12 245 Saint Julien Case Size Price IB Beychevelle 12 465 Lagrange 12 275 Le Petit Caillou 12 TBC Croix de Beaucaillou 12 250 Ducru Beaucaillou 12 795 Leoville-Barton 12 499 Langoa Barton 12 345 Talbot 12 299 Gruaud Larose 12 385 Leoville Poyferre 12 495 Le Petit Lion de Leoville Las Cases 12 TBC
Leoville Las Cases 12 TBC Clos du Marquis 12 335 Barrel cellar at Chateau Margaux Margaux Case Size Price IB Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux 12 TBC Chateau Margaux 12 Allocation Alter Ego 12 430 Palmer 12 1820 Rauzan Segla 12 420 Rauzan Gassies 12 285 Malescot Saint Exupery 12 TBC Cantenac Brown 12 290 Giscours 12 299 Lascombes 12 435 Siran 12 160
Graves / Pessac Leognan Case Size Price IB Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion 12 415 La Mission Haut Brion 12 1695 Haut Brion 12 Allocation Clarence de Haut Brion 12 685 Smith Haut Lafite 12 TBC Les Carmes Haut Brion 12 TBC Haut Bailly 12 480 Domaine de Chevalier 12 345 Medoc Case Size Price IB Cantemerle 12 210 La Lagune 12 TBC Belgrave 12 190 Poujeaux 12 190 Chasse Spleen 12 195 Beaumont 12 90 Clos Lunelles 12 160
Saint Emilion Case Size Price IB Beausejour-Becot 12 345 La Couspaude 12 TBC Tertre Rotebeouf 12 625 Chateau Lusseau 12 150 Monbousquet Rouge 12 290 Chateau Pavie Decesse 12 895 Bellevue-Mondotte 12 1130 Pavie 12 2000 L Esprit de Pavie 12 TBC Clos Fourtet 12 TBC Cheval Blanc 6 3795 Le Petit Cheval 12 1075 Troplong Mondot 12 615 Pavie Macquin 12 399 Larcis Ducasse 12 375 Figeac 12 550 Canon La Gaffeliere 12 435 Moulin Saint Georges 12 220 Ausone 6 TBC Chapelle de Ausone 6 TBC Angelus 12 2000 Corbin 12 195
Fermentation tanks at Petrus Pomerol Case Size Price IB Chateau Gazin 12 445 La Conseillante 12 655 L Eglise Clinet 12 Allocation Chateau Clinet 6 TBC Vieux Chateau Certan (VCC) 12 TBC Petrus 6 Allocation L'Evangile (Lafite) 6 TBC Lafleur Petrus (6) 6 Allocation Lafleur (6) 6 Allocation Trotanoy (6) 6 Allocation Certan de May 12 TBC Hosanna (6) 6 Allocation Le Pin (6) 12 Allocation
Sweet White Bordeaux Case Size Price IB Lafaurie Peyraguey 12 285 La Tour Blanche 12 350 Dry White Bordeaux Case Size Price IB Domaine de Chevalier Blanc Sec 2012 12 655 Margaux Pavillon Blanc 2012 12 TBC FOR A COPY OF THIS LIST WITH NOTES & DRINKING DATES FOR THE WINE PLEASE EMAIL MICK@HANDFORD.NET All wines offered subject to availability and subject to Handford Wines standard En-Primeur Terms & conditions of sale. Many wines are subject to allocation. Wines will be shipped to arrive Under Bond UK Spring/Autumn 2014. Free onward delivery or transfer (IB) for orders over 500. Contact James Handford MW or Greg Sherwood MW to discuss your portfolio requirements - 020 7589 6113 or email greg@handford.net