10 Hidden Gems From Bordeaux’s 2010 Vintage

June 22, 2011

As the potentially classic 2010 Bordeaux vintage begins unveiling futures prices, some U.S. retailers are suffering sticker shock. The first growth 2009s went for over $1,000 a bottle and the 2010s are expected to soar to even higher prices—beyond the reach of most American wine lovers. But, says James Molesworth, lead Bordeaux taster at Wine Spectator, the strength of the vintage also means that there are great values to be had from some of Bordeaux’s lesser-known producers, if retailers and consumers are willing to hunt for them. Shanken News Daily checked in with Molesworth to get a few specific high-quality, low-hype recommendations.

SND: You’ve already called Bordeaux 2010 potentially a “modern classic.” And you believe that will be apparent across the region, not only in the top chateaus’ wines, correct?

Molesworth: The thing about 2010 is it’s such a strong vintage that you can buy outside the big-name appellations. The Bordeaux Superieurs or generic Médocs for instance can really provide some delicious wines in 2010. It was a warm, dry season, so those areas that generally may not ripen as well as the premier areas, they also ripened well last year and have produced really solid wines.

SND: Looking at the list of values below, how many of these wines have any name recognition at all in the U.S.?

Molesworth: A lot of these are really small names that don’t get any hype whatsoever, and they’re all either fairly new or have made a turnaround in terms of quality, so they all have fairly interesting stories to tell. Other than Gloria and maybe Pibran, I don’t think anyone in America is really going to know these wines well.

SND: And what do they bring to the table?

Molesworth: A lot of them are just coming out with pricing, so that’s going to be a fluid situation, but especially the ones below the $25 mark are going to be some super values. They’ll have potentially outstanding quality, and they’ll age a couple of years—these aren’t wines that you’ll put down for 20 years. But they’re going to deliver very solid Bordeaux character and stay true to the vintage style as well as the appellation that they’re from.

SND: How do you think retailers are handling the prices of the top chateaux? Is there an opportunity for some of the lesser-known Bordeaux wines?

Molesworth: I think retailers are taking fewer allocations the last few years because they feel like they can’t move the expensive wines, which continue to get pricier. And Americans seem to be getting tired of the same old Bordeaux names that just keep getting more expensive every year. So the retailers are hedging on that, and saying, “I don’t know if I can sell some of the big second-tier names anymore,” like Pichon Lalande or Cos d’Estournel, for example. Where 10 years ago they could sell 100 cases of those wines easily, now it’s a struggle to get through 50 cases, and they don’t want to sit on the inventory. So there could be an opening for wines down below that first or second tier that present strong values.

SND: Do you believe the aggressive 2010 pricing by the Bordelais will come back to bite them, even considering the strength of the vintage?

Molesworth: The only way it will bite them is if Americans lose interest in those higher-end wines totally, and yet even that won’t hurt the Bordelais unless at some point they lose their other markets. Right now they’re starting to sell so much more wine in Asia and elsewhere that they don’t care that the Americans aren’t buying as much. If it’s a situation where one market jumps out as two new markets jump in, producers will have no incentive not to continue raising prices. But there are definite buying opportunities for 2010. Yes, it’s an expensive vintage, but for consumers who are willing to sacrifice name cachet and for retailers who are willing to do some digging there are some really good wines—whose names you may not know but which deliver great quality.

Source: http://www.shankennewsdaily.com/index.php/2011/06/20/924/10-hidden-gems-from-bordeauxs-2010-vintage/

Many tourists and residents of Manila traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Pampanga Angeles City, Clark Philippines are surprised to find a a large wine shop so near Manila right in the heart of Pampanga, just 70 minutes from Manila. Even residents of Subic travel to Clark via ScTex to do some wine shopping in this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center, a project of Hong Kong-based Yats International.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Public wine tastings are held by this well known wine shop of Pampanga from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com