by
Atlas Fine Wines | Jul 31, 2017
In the News
Atlas has recently been quoted in a number of news sources, with Simon Larkin MW (Atlas' Managing Director) interviewed throughout the 2016 Bordeaux campaign for his thoughts on the vintage. You can find his comments in the
World of Fine Wine magazine,
Bloomberg news, and the trade publication
The Drinks Business.
2016 Bordeaux
Speaking of 2016 Bordeaux, we saw the campaign come to a close without much of a fanfare. As we said in our
2016 Bordeaux Report, we were fascinated by the style of the vintage at the outset, but price would always be a concern. As the campaign unfolded, we found that prices tended to be higher than we anticipated for the vast majority of wines and there was little compulsion to offer.
As has always been our approach, we assessed each release on its merits, taking into account both value and quality to determine whether or not a wine warranted a recommendation. Our campaign kicked off with
Cos d'Estournel (£700/6 IB) which we championed prior to the Neal Martin (98-100) point score. We felt that only a few Château released at the right price and offered the following across the vintage:
Lafite-Rothschild (£2900/6 IB),
Figeac (£925/6 IB),
Pontet Canet (£650/ 6 IB),
Haut Bailly (£500/6 IB),
Haut Brion (£2450/6),
Mouton Rothschild (£2450/6 IB) and
La Clotte (£285/6 IB).
Missed the Offer?
En Primeur aside, you may have seen recent a offer on Domaine Alphonse Mellot, described by Simon as 'something of a trailblazer'. The
2014 Cuvée Edmund (£195/6 IB) is markedly mineral on the finish with superb persistence - a highly individual Sancerre, way removed from what typifies this region. You may also have seen an offer on
Kapscandy Family Winery, a Californian estate producing some of the best and most age-worthy red wines. This 2013 vintage of a three-bottle mixed case (an Atlas exclusivity) included a bottle each of the Grand Vin, Roberta's Reserve and Estate Cuvée (£995/3 IB). Also from the Americas and the 2013 vintage, we tasted
'River Stones' Malbec (£185/3 IB) from Mendoza, Argentina's Catena Zapata. As you come to expect of a top-end Catena Malbec, this is a sleek, finely-honed style with no hard edges or headiness.