Ch Pontet Canet’s proprietor, Alfred Tesseron, is very much a leader amongst the Cru Classe estates but he certainly took us all by surprise when he released his primeur 2013 price this morning at the same price as last year and 5 days before merchants and importers have even had the chance to taste it!
The release price is £675 per case and it is difficult for us to comment without tasting the wine. We had hoped he would have reacted to current market conditions by reducing the price some way below his 2012, but sadly it wasn’t to be.
Following rigid biodynamic practices in the vineyard and with yields down 50% due to the difficult climatic conditions, Alfred decided to maintain his price and come out in advance of his neighbours before the start of the campaign next week at the Union des Grands Crus tastings.
James Low and I head out to Bordeaux on Sunday for a week of intensive tastings of the 2013 vintage. It will only be at the end of the week that we will really have a true feel for the overall quality and style of wines.
Early indications are that the sweet wines from Sauternes and Barsac are of very high quality, there will be some very appealing white wines, but the reds will be variable with most likely highs and lows in all the major appellatons. A full report will follow after our visit.