Bordeaux 2005 vintage hailed by experts as one of the best ever

Wine experts are unanimous that 2005 Bordeaux is the greatest vintage in living memory. This has been revealed during the week of wine tastings at the Union des Grands Crus Tastings, held in France, as young wines (en primeur) from the leading Chateaux were being sampled by foreign buyers and journalists.

Each Spring, the great wine-growing properties of Bordeaux produce young barrel sample as from the previous year’s harvest.  This is called “en primeur”, a trade term for wine that is sold as a “future”’ as in before it is bottled.  The en primeur is then tasted and assessed by members of the international wine trade in Bordeaux.  Depending on their criticism, prices are then set. The wine will stay in barrels and will be bottled and shipped to customers two years later.  It is expected that the prices of the 2005 vintage will be astronomical.

But there is a slither of good news.  Not only have the famous names made good wine in 2005, but many of the more modestly priced petits chateaux have also produced some very successful examples and, what is even more relevant to us here in Malta, at much more affordable prices.  Such good-value labels will be well worth buying en primeur either for investment or more simply for pure drinking pleasure in the years to come.

This month, Wands Limited, Malta’s leading fine wine merchant, is launching its en primeur offers on a selection of superb Bordeaux 2005 vintages from the best Chateaux to connoisseurs and wine lovers. This en primeur wine will be shipped to Malta in spring 2008.

“There are very good reasons to buy en primeur.  The most obvious is cost.  En primeur enables customers to buy the wines at an initial release price, which is usually the cheapest the wines will ever be,” commented Wands’ Wine Manager, David Micallef St John.  “Moreover, when buying en primeur, one is guaranteed of obtaining certain wines that may be difficult or rather expensive to acquire in future.  Thirdly, and very importantly, there is the comfort that comes with owning the wine from ‘chateaux to glass’, with the reassurance that, when you buy from a reputable merchant like Wands, your wine will arrive in perfect condition”.

It is anticipated that the fine wine market will go crazy and that prices will zoom up because, in the USA in particular, collectors will pay almost any price to secure top rated wines. Previous experience shows special vintages, like 2005, are great long-term investments when bought early.

Both the important red grapes of Bordeaux, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, did exceptionally well and everything points towards beautiful wines with the classic hallmarks of Bordeaux. White wines from the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes are also looking very good indeed.

“Anyone wishing to find out more about en primeur Bordeaux wines or is looking for an opportunity to buy may contact us without any obligation whatsoever. We can offer advice that is the result of decades of experience in this business,” said Mr Micallef St. John, on 2123 2121. Wands Limited is a subsidiary company of The Farsons Group of Companies.