Bordeaux's Quandary

With quality up and the market down, vintners ponder how to price their 2008s
James Suckling
Issue: June 30, 2009

James Suckling made his annual trip to Bordeaux to taste the 2008 vintage from barrel. But many of the region's vintners seemed more concerned about possible prices for their 2008s than about the potential quality of the wine they were pouring. In spring and early summer each year, the top châteaus set prices for their newest wines and offer them to merchants as futures; payment now, with delivery of the bottled wines in about two years. But this year, they are wondering if anyone will buy, even if prices are slashed to levels not seen in years.

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