Come September, Bordeaux doesn't just shine - it dazzles, showcasing iconic wines well beyond the borders of the Gironde. As usual, we will be attentive to the latest releases to offer you the best advice possible and help you secure some outstanding wines for your cellar. Some wines have already received the perfect 100 points, making them very attractive and new entries are also expected from Penfolds and Marques de Riscal.
What is La Place de Bordeaux?
La Place de Bordeaux was first created to distribute the finest wines from Bordeaux. This is a three-tier system where producers sell their wines to a network of negociants (known as a courtier). Then, the negociants sell the wines to the merchants. Recently, they have broadened the offer outside Bordeaux and now include iconic wines from Napa, Tuscany, Chile and more countries. These wines have the potential to enjoy similar investment performance than Bordeaux First Growths, giving the chance to any collectors to diversify their fine wine portfolios.
What to expect?
Demand for trusted and cult wines such as Opus One, Masseto, Viñedo Chadwick and Solaia should be high as always. So far, Masseto and Solaia are the only ones to have received the perfect scores from Antonio Galloni but most critics are still to rate the wines. Expectations from Napa cult wine Opus One are particularly high. James Suckling has awarded 99 points to the 2021, which is the only score available at present. With the previous vintage not released last year, collectors will look to secure some stock.
We also think the savviest wines are from lower key wineries and could provide good returns. Rising star Galatrona has received 100 points from James Suckling and will be one of the highlights of the year. Testamatta, one of the three Super-Tuscans to have ever been awarded the perfect 100 points from Decanter (the other two being Redigaffi and Sassicaia) should maintain a stable price and is clearly one to watch. Siepi 2022, a wine that "could easily compete with a first-growth Bordeaux", as stated in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, is also highly anticipated as it will be marking its 30th anniversary. From the same winery, Concerto is another superb Super-Tuscan offering great value.
Outside Italy, Spain has also a lot to offer. Vivaltus and Yjar are two fantastic wines respectively made by legendary winemaker Jean Claude Berrouet (former winemaker at Petrus) and Telmo Rodriguez. They are still affordable and will catch the eye of the wine connoisseur.
Finally, bold Australian masterpieces from Penfolds and Spanish delights from Marques de Riscal will be making their debut at La Place this year. There is a lot to be excited about.
La Place's latest releases
Please note this is only a short list of the wines to be released in September. Please email us if you would like to receive the latest releases at info@petershamcellar.com.
Tuscany – Italy
Masseto & Massetino, Lodovico Antinori
Galatrona, Petrolo
Solaia, Antinori
Siepi, Castello di Fonetrutoli
Testamatta & Colore, Bibi Graetz
Napa Valley – California
Opus One, Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild
Inglenook, Francis Ford Coppola
Pym Rae, The Tesseron Family (Owner of Ch Pontet Canet)
Rhone – France
Hommage a Jacques Perrin, Château de Beaucastel
Mendoza - Argentina
Cheval des Andes, Ch. Cheval Blanc & Terrazas de Los Andes
Nicola Catena Zapata, Bodega Catena Zapata
Rioja & Ribera del Duero – Spain
Yjar, Telmo Rodriguez, Rioja
Vivaltus, Ribera del Duero
Chile
Almaviva & Epu, Baron Philippe de Rothschild & Concha Y Toro - Maipo
Seña & Rocas de Seña, Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi – Aconcagua
Vinedo Chadwick, Chadwick-Errázuriz family – Puente Alto