In April, the Sotheby's Wine tasting team – Serena Sutcliffe MW, Jamie Ritchie, Adam Bilbey and Nicholas Jackson – spent eight days in Bordeaux tasting the most important vintages from 2017, from Pomerol to Pauillac and St Emilion to St Estephe. Read ahead to learn about the wines that have already been released; click here to view the current list of Bordeaux Futures releases.
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge
Coming from perennial high performer in Pessac, the Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2017 is such a good example of the house style: full of juicy bramble fruits and with an obvious complexity and class stemming from its excellent site. At a significant discount to last year, this is an attractive buy.
Tasting Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 30%. Violetty and scented on the nose, with the breed of the cru. Very polished, with nice glycerol and blackcurrants. The richness, dimension and complexity take a bit of time to show, but show they do. —Serena Sutcliffe, MW
Lovely aroma of luscious, bright, blackcurrant fruit. Good depth and intensity with more dimension than typical in this the vintage. Vibrant, juicy fruit which is harmonious and well-balanced. Lovely black cherry, blackcurrant finish with graphite and tobacco. An elegant wine with balance, finesse and good length. —Jamie Ritchie
US$360 (6 x 750ml)
US$720 (12 x 750ml)
US$60 per bottle compared to $72 for 2016; 17% decrease
HK$2610 (6 x 750ml)
HK$5220 (12 x 750ml)
HK$435 per bottle compared to $550 for 2016; 21% decrease
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc
The Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a candidate for best white wine of the vintage. An unusual combination of lightness of touch combined with intense concentration, it’s a beautiful wine in just about every way.
Tasting Notes
Sauvignon 70%, 30% Sémillon. A flinty/minerally nose starts to grow on you, followed on the palate by smooth silkiness, subtle grapefruit, style and class, refinement and length of flavor. This will develop really well in bottle, in that admirable Domaine de Chevalier way. —Serena Sutcliffe, MW
Very fine citrus fruits on nose. Delicate and precise. Lovely distinction on the palate – so pure and exact. A wine of real intensity – feels light but with such focus and length. Fresh and not heavy. A glorious expression – so vibrant. A sort of essence of Domaine de Chevalier, distilled down. Gorgeous, classical white Bordeaux. —Nicholas Jackson
US$558 (6 x 750ml)
US$1116 (12 x 750ml)
US$97 per bottle compared to $93 for 2016; 4% increase
HK$4128 (6 x 750ml)
HK$8256 (12 x 750ml)
HK$688 per bottle compared to $720 for 2016; 4% decrease
Clinet
Clinet is succulent, generous, spicy and rewarding – a lovely, well balanced Pomerol in a very good vintage for the area. Thoroughly enjoyable, the vintage’s reduction in price from last year makes it strongly worth considering.
Tasting Notes
Merlot 92%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%. 72% new oak, of which half in 500 hl barrels. This was our first wine of 8 days of tasting and it left a very good impression! A beautiful, aromatic nose, fruity and spicy, carrying on to the palate. There is some oak, but also very good glycerol and black cherries, with pepper. Nice fresh acidity, vibrating on the finish. —Serena Sutcliffe, MW
Aromatic, fresh, ripe, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant. The oak is very well integrated. Lovely combination of bright spicy fruit, oak and fresh acidity. Sweet blackcurrant and milk chocolate finish. A balanced and elegant Clinet. Classic Pomerol with a good concentration and energy. —Jamie Ritchie
US$468 (6 x 750ml)
US$936 (12 x 750ml)
US$78 per bottles compared to $98 for 2016; 20% decrease.
HK$3450 (6 x 750ml)
HK$6900 (12 x 750ml)
HK$575 per bottle compared to $750 for 2016; 23% decrease
Armailhac
From the Mouton Rothschild stable, Armailhac continues its good run of recent form with a particularly vibrant, open, loose knit style which will drink well relatively young.
Tasting Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon 68%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 7%, Petit Verdot 3%. A real aura of class on the nose. Intense cassis and spices on the palate, with marked tannins. The substance and matter is the fruit in the center. Curranty acidity and freshness. —Serena Sutcliffe
68% Cabernet Sauvigon, 22% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Fresh and vibrant, with plum, cassis, blackberry and a forest fruit lift. Full of life with a lovely flesh of fruit and spiced edge. A blackcurrant and cassis core and flowing flesh of fruit, balanced with grip tannins and fresh acid. The oak contributes to a nice lick of cream and spice to the finish. Not the biggest but a fresh and exuberant style. —Adam Bilbey
US$276 (6 x 750ml)
US$552 (12 x 750ml)
US$46 per bottle compared to $45 for 2016; 2% increase
HK$2070 (6 x 750ml)
HK$4140 (12 x 750ml)
HK$345 per bottle compared to $337 for 2016; 2% increase
Clerc Milon
As usual, Clerc Milon shows more concentration and is a classic Pauillac: all dark fruits, cedar and spice. This will be delicious for many years to come.
Tasting Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 23%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Petit Verdot 2%, Carmenère 1%. A refined scent, blackberries and cardamom. Loganberries and fresh acidity on the palate. The tannins are polished, the finish frank and with soft fruit. —Serena Sutcliffe, MW
A riper density to the Clerc Milon. Blackcurrant cassis and plums. A lovely spice and cedar from the oak. A density to the nose but approachable and fresh. So drinkable with sweet and fleshy blackcurrant, plum and cassis fruit. Lovely overriding freshness to the sappy fruit that guides the finish with the spice and cream of oak. Really well done. —Adam Bilbey
US$426 (6 x 750ml)
US$852 (12 x 750ml)
US$71 per bottle compared to $68 for 2016; 4% increase
HK$3252 (6 x 750ml)
HK$6504 (12 x 750ml)
HK$542 per bottle compared to $520 for 2016; 4% increase
Lynch Bages
One of the most attractive releases so far, Lynch Bages is exceptionally good in the context of the vintage. It is classic, concentrated, rich, savory Lynch Bages – so convincing already and with a long life ahead of it. This is super Left Bank Bordeaux by any standard. And, at a discount of 20% on last year’s release, it reflects the characteristically intelligent pricing approach of the Cazes family. This is the most obvious “buy” in the campaign so far – strongly recommended for this very attractive price.
Tasting Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 24%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%. 75% new oak. This has a really deep nose of pure cassis and dimension. Full, with big tannic structure, but it has all the fruit to cover this. Very luscious and long on the finish. Brilliantly managed and a super wine. —Serena Sutcliffe, MW
Bright, juicy, savoury, concentrated blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant fruit. Lots of graphite and mineral. Good depth and intensity. Fruit, acidity and tannins in balance. Delicious. —Jamie Ritchie
US$618 (6 x 750ml)
US$1236 (12 x 750ml)
US$103 per bottle compared to $129 for 2016; 20% decrease
HK$4788 (6 x 750ml)
HK$9576 (12 x 750ml)
HK$798 per bottle compared to $985 for 2016; 19% decrease
Wine currently held in Bordeaux. Estimated arrival in the US: fall 2020. Only available in 6-bottle original wooden cases.
Pricing for other formats (375ml, 1.5L, 3L, 6L) for select vintages available on request: please contact us at wine@sothebys.com to enquire.
Click here to browse the full list of current 2017 Bordeaux Futures releases.
