Howdy!

It’s been far too long since we have been able to host our annual Bordeaux preview tasting – an event conceived long before my time by our friend and my mentor, the incomparable Bear Dalton.

After a prolonged hiatus, however, I am thrilled to announce that we are once again hosting a preview of the newly released 2019 vintage!

The 2019 vintage was easily the most challenging of my nascent career. One week I was planning to travel to Bordeaux with my associate, James; the next, a set of indefinite travel restrictions threw not only our plans into flux, but the entire En Primeur campaign for 2020. Producers scrambled to find solutions that would allow members of the trade access to their wines. I was fortunate to have the relationships Bear built over the years with so many great partners who shipped me as many samples as they could. Unfortunately, although many showed up in decent shape, just as many got held up in warehouses long enough to arrive spoiled.

For that reason, I am chomping at the bit to finally taste these wines. This 2019 vintage preview will be just as much of a learning experience for me as it will be to you all. Attached is a list of producers who will be represented at the event. This is a larger group than has been here for previous shows – close to 100 producers will be represented. From Pavie Macquin (referred to by Vinous as “one of the most exotic Saint Emilions of the year”) to Leoville Barton (which Wine Enthusiast said had “all the hallmarks of one of the stars of this vintage”) to Pichon Baron (rated 97-100 in barrel by Wine Advocate!), this lineup has tremendous pedigree.

If you are interested in attending, please email me (adennis@specsonline.com) with your contact info as well as the number of attendees in your group, and I will arrange for payment.

Let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you there!

CHATEAUX TO BE POURED:

Property Appellation
Château de Chantegrive Graves
Château Bouscaut Pessac – Léognan
Château Carbonnieux Pessac – Léognan
Château Les Carmes Haut – Brion Pessac – Léognan
Domaine de Chevalier Pessac – Léognan
Château de Fieuzal Pessac – Léognan
Château de France Pessac – Léognan
Château Haut – Bailly Pessac – Léognan
Château Haut – Bergey Pessac – Léognan
Château Larrivet Haut – Brion Pessac – Léognan
Château Latour – Martillac Pessac – Léognan
Château La Louvière Pessac – Léognan
Château Malartic – Lagravière Pessac – Léognan
Château Olivier Pessac – Léognan
Château Pape Clément Pessac – Léognan
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac – Léognan
Château Beau – Séjour Bécot Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Canon Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Canon – La – Gaffelière Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château La Dominique Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Clos Fourtet Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Franc Mayne Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château La Gaffelière Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château La Couspaude Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Larcis Ducasse Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Pavie Macquin Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château La Tour Figeac Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Troplong Mondot Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Valandraud Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Villemaurine Saint – Emilion Grand Cru
Château Beauregard Pomerol
Château Le Bon Pasteur Pomerol
Château La Cabanne Pomerol
Château Clinet Pomerol
Château Gazin Pomerol
Château La Pointe Pomerol
Château Clarke Listrac – Médoc
Château Fonréaud Listrac – Médoc
Château Fourcas Dupré Listrac – Médoc
Château Fourcas Hosten Listrac – Médoc
Château Chasse – Spleen Moulis – en – Médoc
Château Maucaillou Moulis – en – Médoc
Château Poujeaux Moulis – en – Médoc
Château Beaumont Haut – Médoc
Château Belgrave Haut – Médoc
Château de Camensac Haut – Médoc
Château Citran Haut – Médoc
Château Coufran Haut – Médoc
Château La Tour Carnet Haut – Médoc
Château Cantenac Brown Margaux
Château Dauzac Margaux
Château Giscours Margaux
Château Kirwan Margaux
Château Lascombes Margaux
Château Malescot Saint – Exupéry Margaux
Château Prieuré – Lichine Margaux
Château Rauzan – Gassies Margaux
Château Rauzan – Ségla Margaux
Château Siran Margaux
Château du Tertre Margaux
Château Beychevelle Saint – Julien
Château Branaire – Ducru Saint – Julien
Château Gloria Saint – Julien
Château Gruaud Larose Saint – Julien
Château Lagrange Saint – Julien
Château Langoa Barton Saint – Julien
Château Léoville Barton Saint – Julien
Château Léoville Poyferré Saint – Julien
Château Saint – Pierre Saint – Julien
Château Talbot Saint – Julien
Château d’ Armailhac Pauillac
Château Batailley Pauillac
Château Clerc Milon Pauillac
Château Croizet – Bages Pauillac
Château Duhart – Milon Pauillac
Château Grand – Puy Ducasse Pauillac
Château Grand – Puy – Lacoste Pauillac
Château Lynch – Bages Pauillac
Château Lynch – Moussas Pauillac
Château Pichon Baron Pauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac
Château Cos Labory Saint – Estèphe
Château Lafon – Rochet Saint – Estèphe
Château Ormes De Pez Saint – Estèphe
Château de Pez Saint – Estèphe
Château Phélan Ségur Saint – Estèphe
Château Bastor – Lamontagne Sauternes
Château Doisy Daëne Barsac
Clos Haut – Peyraguey Sauternes
Château Suduiraut Sauternes
Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes

Thank You,

James C. Barlow, CWE, CSS

Spec’s Fine Wine Buyer