Where the Bordeaux bargains might be

I spent today in the northern Médoc and can report that there are many very nice wines there, although they are not necessarily the most expected.

The 2004s, when they succeed, should really please long-term lovers of long-term bordeaux. Tannins are marked and in the best cases both ripe and truly refreshing. This is not a vintage for bordeaux novices, who will probably find 2003s much easier to enjoy. Interestingly, when going round the various chateaux who, inconveniently, consider themselves too smart to belong to the Union des Grands Crus and whose wines are therefore not available to taste blind...