Help with last minute '01 Sauternes futures?

Jason,

sounds like you have most of the big names (excluding Yquem, which of course releases late, and which is going to be $$$$$$$$ with the 2001 hype). I guess you're missing La Tour Blanche and Rieussec (I think Rochambeau might even still be taking orders for those). I generally like Doisy-Daëne on a more value-oriented level, and think I saw that PJs still has for reasonable price.

Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

I would definitely go for some Rieussec as Dale has suggested.

I am very picky about sweet wines, and most of what I have is German. In Sauternes/Barsac I only mess with Rieussec, Climens and Yquem because none of the others really give me what I am seeking years down the road.

As for 2001, I have taken a big pass on futures so far.

Noone in Texas is releasing 2001 Climens futures that I have seen, and there are all these silly rumors about- including a recent one that "only one case of Climens will come to Austin and it will be half bottles" etc.

Hogwash.

Sauternes have never been fast sellers, even in the best of vintages, and I think the seemingly short supply at high prices- especially since most collectors tapped out on 2000 reds- is hype of the worst sort.

I am willing to bet (as HAS happened with most 2000s by the way) that this time next year there will be plenty of 01s for sale at prices equal to current futures tranches as prearrival wraps up.

If you got in early, as you mentioned you did, it was a smart move and you will save money.

But anyone looking to enter at this stage of the game is- as you would be with subsequent purchases, I think, best advised to sit back and await arrival.

The false shortage bit has been played with Silver Oak and other Cabs for a while, and it was done with 2000 Bordeaux too.

It was moderately successful with those wines at times when they were in peak demand- but in this economy and considering the limited audience for Sauternes I do not see it working here.

Tom.

Hi Tom,

All I can say is "maybe". I tend to not worry about what prices are going to do

-how can one know (I'm thinking back on a couple of folks telling me in 2000 "the stock market can only go up!"). I only buy futures on wines that I feel I know I want to have- and where I don't want to kick myself later if I can't get them later. Which I'm pretty sure is a strategy I've seen you articulate re Burgundy.

Hmm. There were quite a few '90s & '97s I wished I had bought at first prices I saw. (I wasn't paying attention to '89 & '88 vintages)

That I probably won't argue with. From a value standpoint there's seldom much value to the last round of prearrival offers(hough it can still be valuable if you just GOTTA have that wine)

Well, that was my theory too after 2nd tranche-I'd wait. Now it looks like I'll just miss out on 2000 Lynch-Bages and Leoville-Poyferre. :(

In any case, I think we're mostly in agreement: Buy early if you can Buy only because you KNOW YOU WANT the wine Be prepared to shrug it off if you're wrong re prices (either way)

As to 2001 Sauternes, I tasted a few barrel samples and ws amazed. But in additon, I've thought the profile of the 2001 dry white Bdx I've had was perfect-rich fruit and good acids-that combined with reports of lots of botrytis, sounds good to me. I'm looking forward to arrival (I might decide to screw Jason out of his Lafaurie-Peyraugey - just kidding! )

But......I'm with you re the Germans, Tom. Best value in sweeter wines. If you want clear botrytis (as I think maybe Jason does), Sauternes/Barsac is maybe cost-effective. But there are some Ausleses out there in good vintages that are mindblowing from a "value in sweet wine" standpoint. Shoot, some 2001 Spätlesen are almost BA in sweetness.

Last random thought; we've talked about the best Sauternes/Barsacs available. Jason, have you thought re going the other way? Go with the idea of a "rising tide lifts all boats". There were some amazing red wines in 2000 from CdCastillon, Fronsac, etc. The equivalent -it might be worth your while to look for 2001s from Loupiac, Cadillac, or Ste.Croix-d-Mont (or Monbazillac, going farther afield), which should be being released right now. You could buy one and try, rather than more futures of wines you haven't tried. And even best wines from those appelations tend to be less than $10/375. You can try a lot at those prices. Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

This is my first time with futures, and I would already agree completly with those three statements. I just casually checked in on some of the latest prices on what I did buy and was totally amazing at how much things had jumped. I debated long and hard over buying Climens at $30/375ml, and was shocked to see it at $79 now!!!!

I think that you have another solid point here. I might grab some Latour Blanche and Doisy Daene but hold off a few more moths until the others hit the shelves.

No, No, No.... you must resist the urge! Remember Dale, I am working on a bottle of '89 Petrus for us to get into... :)

I have little experience with sweet Germans, though I love their "dry" conuterparts, and I am such a sucker for the clear Botrytus of Sauternes/Barsac. I am convinced of the great value Germany has to offer, but am not so convinced of such in their dessert style wines. The few that I have seen have been well over my price range especially for a 375ml bottle. Availability and ageablitiy are also issues for me. I am slowley putting together a celler of mostly European wines that I wont start to draw mature wines from in years to come, and Sauternes has a well document track record for me to study up on.

Yes I have thought about '00 Red Bordeaux specifically. I picked up a half dozen or so diffenrent reds and am always on the lookout for more. I think that I am going take a poke around Zachys and Rochambeau when I get back to NY in '04 when there might be a little less hype.

Availabilty is again an issuse for the time being, but I will surely start to sample some wines form these lesser know regions. I am espceially interested in a good value.

Thanks for all of the input, jason

While the BAs, TBAs, and Eisweins are very expensive, sometimes there is some real value in Auslesen. I'd show you a '01 Selbach-Oster Auslese 1star that would blow your socks off ($16/375) next time you're in Dobbs, but I want to save for 15 years. I have a couple of '89 Auslesen 1 star or GK that might make the point, though. Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

Wow, sounds great!

jason