I'm seriously thinking about buying a few cases of top chatueaux' second wines of the 2002 vintage en primeur just so I'll be alloocated a share of the 2003. Anyone tried that this year and have bad stories to tell?
I have no TNs for the vintage yet, but I can share some bad stories about people buying a vintage in the hopes of getting an allocation of a better vintage coming up.
It may work out, but I am just saying do not count on it. If 2003 turns out to meet the hype out there, the first tranche futures will be sold to people who have been loyal customers of the wine stores for many years.
Most of the people I know who got multiple cases of first growth 2000s at first tranche prices have been buying multiple cases of the first growths for several vintages. It takes a lot of time and a lot of money to work yourself into a guaranteed piece of the first tranche when a top vintage comes around.
That is not to say you would miss out, but if you are buying 2002 only because you want 2003 and not primarily because you want the 2002s as well, then you are better off just waiting for the 2003s.
Either way your risk will be about the same, but by not buying 2002 you will have extra money to spend in the event you are not able to secure the 2003s at the first tranche price.
Given the wine glut and the recovering- but still slow- economy, I fully expect the chateaux and negociants to release very small early tranches of 2003 Bordeaux. They can afford to hold most of the wines back for future release when the market can absorb them at a desired price point- and have done so in the past to achieve maximum profit.
Also, the 2003 crop is going to be quite small. And with voracious demand for high scoring wines and a surplus of wine in the current market, I fully expect the chateaux to be rather brutal in their selection process- ensuring even fewer bottles for sale. 8 bottles of 99 point wine are worth more than 10 bottles of 94 point wine- and this is why I think the top chateaux have severely cut back on the % of production used for the grand vin and even the second wines (many now make a 3rd level wine.)
Therefore, be prepared for a situation like 2000 where the first tranche is very small, sold to a select few, and then future tranches are easier to obtain but at a much higher price.
Not trying to sink your idea or anything- but I also do not want you to be one of the many people who spends a lot of money on one vintage because they expect a future benefit to be guaranteed. 2002 is a solid year, but if your purchase is only to secure 2003s, then I advise passing on 02.
Tom.
DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.