Demand for 2005 burgundy (see our 1,300 tasting notes) from the UK merchants who have already made offers has been phenomenal (see A sizzling market) and practically all their allocations of the grandest wines have already gone to their best customers alas. However there are still bargains to be found in the lower ranks, and I hope that at least our notes may be helpful for those buying in other countries, particularly the US where the bulk of wines have yet to be offered.
For the record, those making 2005 burgundy offers in the UK are, to my knowledge:
A&B Vintners
Armit
Averys
Ballantynes of Cowbridge
Berkmann
Berkmann
Berry Bros & Rudd
Bibendum
Bowes Wine
Bowes Wine
Corney & Barrow
Clarion
Domaine Direct
Dunells Premier Wines of Jersey
Dunells Premier Wines of Jersey
Farr Vintners (Verget, Jean-Noel Gagnard)*
Fells (Bouchard Père et Fils and William Fèvre)*
Genesis
Goedhuis
H & H Bancroft
H & H Bancroft
Hatch Mansfield (Louis Jadot)
Haynes Hanson & Clark
Howard Ripley
Jeroboams
Justerini & Brooks
Lay & Wheeler
Lea & Sandeman
OW Loeb
Louis Latour (Louis Latour)*
Liberty Wines (Boisset and Jaffelin)*
Montrachet
Pol Roger (Champy)*
Raeburn Fine Wines
Stone Vine & Sun
Stone Vine & Sun
Swig
Tanners
Uncorked
The Wine Society
* denotes those making offers to the trade rather than the public
Do let me know in the box below if you know of any offer I have missed out – although if you are a buyer you will probably want to get your order in before you do.
As is usual with an important primeur offering, I have been too busy with my notes to place my own order. Grrr. If, like me, you fear you may have missed the boat, look for smaller merchants with a smaller proportion than most of those listed above of customers who have large bonuses to spend. A modest burgundy specialist such as Irma Fingal Rock may have some interesting 2005s to offer eventually.
Julia and I between us covered 18 tastings last week and I am just off to the last one, Louis Jadot. But for the first time, the tasting notes from the London tastings will be supplemented by the notes I took in Burgundy in December at some of the most desirable addresses whose wines are too grand to be offered at London's preview tastings.
This Saturday's article for the FT and free for all will be mainly about the market and that on Jan 27 will cover the vintage and the wines in more depth, but I will try to find the time before then to offer a few hints on buying strategy.