Over the past month, critics and wine trade buyers have been on the ground in Bordeaux, tasting the 2009 vintage before they go on pre-sale (as “futures&# ) in the coming months. In it, she expresses how difficult it is to taste unfinished wines, calling them “raw, hard, closed, astringent and achingly tannic.&# MORE >>

Other journalists from around the world are here to taste the 2011 vintage of wines from Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estephe, and Haut-Medoc. These represent some of my favorite vintages in Bordeaux and overall, the quality is excellent. "What a gorgeous chateau!". Lively despite the concentrated black fruit.". Total Acidity: 3,35. MORE >>

Apparently the latest issue of Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate came out yesterday with Parker’s reviews for the 2010 barrel samples and in-bottle tastings of 2008s. But Parker has given the general comment that 2010 ranks as one of “the three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career&# alongside 2009 and 2005. MORE >>

Perhaps today at En Primeur with the tasting of Haut Medoc and Pauillac and Saint Estephe it means "luck for the vintage" for the very important Asian market. Happily the samples today were quite on point, with several within my highest score. "Do you know the significance of a golden carrot? Spice. Coffee grounds. MORE >>

SPIT: scores. What drives Bordeaux prices? post on the Liv-Ex blog suggests a change from scores to brands. tasting sized poursSIPPED: a new meaning for, “wine, down the hatch!&# [ source via reddit]. SIPPED: skulduggery. vinography ]. SPIT: “Operation Suckling&#. from a local critic. montrealgazette.com ]. MORE >>