SPLASH DECANT 08/07/17

The Great Canned Wine Craze

The Great Canned Wine Craze is on.

Canned wine has been on a solid run nationally for a few years and finally, it is gaining traction in NYC.

According to Nielsen, canned wine sales more than doubled from $6.4 million in 2015 to $14 million in 2016. More often than not, Nielsen numbers don’t line up with the New York City beverage scene. We are a special bunch that enjoys our old world flavors and scoffs at the Costco mainstream. But against the odds, canned wine (…and canned wine “products,” stay with me!) are en Fuego, and when NYC starts to gobble up more and more product, it makes national numbers jump steeply skyward. Easy prediction: Sales will more than double again in 2017.

So what’s happening on the street? Canned wine on the buyer brain, rapid brand proliferation and the repeated sound of cans popping open. When a category gets traction like this, new brands start falling from the sky, and the retail facings multiply at a dizzying pace.

The wine store tell

Recently I found myself in a tiny natural wine store in Brooklyn. I was passing by on the way to dinner and popped in. I enjoy checking out these types of stores because they are often just off the radar enough to give insight on the fringe, and what may be next. Walking towards the center of the store I saw a prominently displayed wine in a can. It was well-packaged enough, so I asked about it. The gentleman behind the counter responded:

This is the only organic wine in a can from France.

Those words stopped me in my tracks.

While this may seem like a total Brooklyndia moment: Two bespectacled bros talking about zero-zero wines, etc. This is the instant where I begin to think that a category has moved from a notable outlier into something that will be a real mover. What he said may not even be true, but it is a strong market tell. Every time I have heard the “this is the only….” line about a category and it had nothing to do with South Africa (remember the Swartland revolution?), the category goes on a run.

The Alt Format Arc

For many years, I have watched the slow and steady rise of the alternative format. Boxed wines, Boxed wines with a wooden outside, kegged wine, Tetra Paks, 40 oz. wines (actually it is 33.82 ounces), the list goes on….There is an arc of alternate format interest, and this arc hasn’t climaxed, yet. Cans are not new, but they fit perfectly into this overall trend because they feel comfortable, like a walk in the park. We are as familiar with the canned format as our own childhood. It shouldn’t be surprising that Cans have a more immediate it factor compared to Tetra Paks or larger boxes of wine. If you are accustomed to Tetra Paks, you ain’t from around these parts.

Cans also solve an important issue that most other formats don’t solve: the single serving problem. This has historically been a tricky issue and Cans have this covered in a perfect little package. People like finishing things. Also, everyone keeps telling me that the Can is a strong play for millennials. Now, as a non-millennial wine guy in the big city, my instinct is to call bullshit on this in a giant way. I want to yell back that all this millenial talk is annoying and stupid. But I have seen it first hand on numerous occasions: Young people enjoy drinking wine from a Can. I imagine the Biebs will probably be caught on TMZ sponsoring a wine in the can brand soon enough. The audience is there, and it is a mighty one.

“ ..you will see a lot of sparkling rosé in a can. A couple reasons for this: no vintages, sparkling, and rosé, effectively hitting a home run of category hotness.

What is next?

Right now it is all hands on deck and we are going to get more of everything, and not just wine. More canned cocktails, canned wine coolers, organic wine in a can, sommelier branded canned products, a celebrity endorsed line of canned libations. This is also line extension Prime time for Sofia, Underwood and others, so watch for these bigger players to make some moves.

Also, look for a lot of “sparkling” wines, rosé, and “sparkling rosé.” Ok, you will see A LOT of sparkling rosés. A couple reasons for this: no vintages, sparkling, and rosé, effectively hitting a home run of category hotness.

So who wins the race in NYC? In the short term, almost everyone in the game. Provided the brand work is solid enough and the juice is palatable, canned wine products and extensions will continue on a run until the category gets much more density. Sidenote: Is the Wine Cooler a better play? Maybe. I think back on those Seagrams Golden Wine Cooler commercials and get thirsty.

While I am at it, how does Swartland Revolution sound for a Can brand? Swartland Wine Cooler #liveyourpinotage #pinotagelife ??

Shit. Back to the drawing board.

SPLASH DECANT 05/22/17

A Line in the Sand – Barolo in NYC today

The 2013 vintage in Barolo is a line in the sand. While many thought that the 2010 vintage was the before and after vintage, I believe the 2013 vintage is the inflection point for Barolo; the game is changed going forward.

Why? I think the market wasn’t quite ready, and now, I think it is. I recently spent a week in Barolo tasting with some of the great estates, some under the radar estates, etc. And, from what I experienced in the glass, 2013 is a truly grand vintage — One to buy in on. Buy producers you enjoy and you won’t regret it.

Barolo on the Street

Less and More

With every new vintage release, the rising interest in Barolo is squeezing the allocations* offered to buyers from big name producers. There is not much juice to go around considering the level of demand, and this is causing notable market shifts.

When buyers start getting minuscule allocations, they start to look beyond the normal scope of distribution for the wines they want. Further, the name-dropped producers dominate NYC lists, and buying in on older vintages from these producers outside the three-tier is a full-time search for many wine buyers. Why? Because it looks good, and the wines may attract big game hunters — Even if these older wines and their sources are extremely variable in quality. So, smaller allocations via distribution intensify the search for Barolo outside the three-tier system. Does this support the producers? That is another question altogether.

In contrast, young vintages of Barolo propel the by the glass game and Retail shelves. Barolo is a prime pour, and for Retail, the big vintage, direct import offer is still a relative juggernaut, especially with a vintage like 2013. Buyers looking for by the glass and fresh vintage releases will look for value. The effect: demand for Barolo in lower price strata increases.

If you happen to have both value and a big name on your side in a Barolo, it is like having Usain Bolt on the blocks: you have a winner. I suggest you grab as much as you can.

Old Arguments – Modern vs. Traditional

The modern producer versus traditional producer argument has gone stale because the lines are not as strongly drawn; the stark contrasts have faded along with the sales speak that drove both sides. This stems directly from the source: the Barolo zone. It is currently quite rare to find a producer that will not call themselves traditional. And on the street, this conversation has definitely faded from the fever pitch of a few years ago. I don’t want to misguide you: traditional remains THE buzz word for Italian wine sales. But there is no doubt that the modern vs. traditional argument with regard to Barolo comes up strikingly less in dialogue with buyers compared to before.

The Forgotten Sideman – Langhe Nebbiolo
For years, I have wished that Langhe Nebbiolo would get a little love, and I see a few spots in the market where it is starting to happen. While Barolo overall remains one of the greatest values in the world, Langhe Nebbiolo bottlings have long been the hidden, secret track of the area: the gateway drug to Barolo. And yet, on wine lists and shelves in NYC, Langhe Nebbiolo is largely forgotten.
Langhe Nebbiolo is generally much more easily bought (often in open inventory, and not allocated), and only a very few savvy wine buyers have keyed in on this. I also believe that like buying secondary wines from producers in Burgundy, buying a bottling like Langhe Nebbiolo will get wine buyers more immediate access/connection to producers.

“ A staggering number of Barolo producers remain dramatically undervalued for the quality of wine that they produce and this bodes well for the future.

Hitting home runs – The Monfortino mentality
Wine buyers have to get over the home-run mentality that has driven the over the top sales of the big boy Monfortino, Monprivato, etc., and created a high-end Barolo sales addiction. I have had buyers push back on certain Barolos because the one sale of Monfortino numerically equals several bottles of others AND the only argument with regard to Monfortino table-side is price. I have to call Bullshit on this. With this mentality, you are playing to a very small audience. Monfortino is the rare answer; value in Barolo can work in your favor.

But the big question is: will wine buyers start to look beyond the name producers to overlooked producers? All signs point to yes. This is the hardest habit to break, but if they don’t, they will keep chasing the same wines and end up buying at the end of the wrong tail.

What is to come
A lot more great wine from Barolo. A staggering number of producers remain dramatically undervalued for the quality of wine that they produce and this bodes well for the future. Also, look for some forgotten Barolo names to come up and “re-enter” the market. Overall, producers are making better wines, and the landscape of choice is going to broaden as the run for Barolo starts to speed up. We have entered the golden age.

Sidenote: If I had to bet on the next big producer to be anointed by the critics it would be Brovia. I could see a lot more attention for them with the classic, “difficult” 2014 vintage. Maybe Galloni gives them the big 100 pointer next? Brovia is still strangely misunderstood in the NYC market, and I am hoping that only a few that are really paying attention catch on….

*Allocation – when you are offered an allocation, it is implied that the wine is in high demand and you can only get a certain amount.

SPLASH DECANT 03/20/17

The Underdogs

Remember when Chinon, Rosé, Txakoli and Muscadet were the underdogs? If you had told me fifteen years ago that the above categories would be something real today, I would have laughed.

So here goes: Some long shots and come back possibilities to spark your imagination. The below have absolutely no chance….or do they?

Côte Chalonnaise – the un ‘grammed Burgundy

Undeniably the least utilized of all in Burgtown. But, with where Burgundy is going (ascending prices, squeezed allocations, attention, high demand, blah blah blah, etc.), could the Chalonnaise move in as a real option? One major issue here is that wine buyers really want to buy the big $$$ unicorn bottles and be connected to the top producers of the Côte-d’Or. And can you blame them? Another issue is the long-held view that the wines from the Chalonnaise are generally lacking. However, recent tastings suggest there is a quality shift happening in the overlooked Côte. What happens when Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge from the big dog producers get even more “uncomfortable” to buy? This is probably the biggest long shot of the bunch, but I already see a few prominent pours in the city that could indicate a shift.

Austria – Beyond Liters and Cherries

There was a time not so long ago where Grüner graced almost every serious restaurant BTG, and store shelves were full and flowing. Austrian was on fire. I fondly remember incredibly talented wine buyers and sommeliers pivoting their customers towards Austrian wines, and away from Burgundy! Well, that was then, and this is now: Austria is outside the conversation. The liter bottle enabled the category to expand but also pushed it towards a retail focus. And, to further partition the category, the overall pricing on the non-liter selections ascended to a solidly uncomfortable level. But here is the thing: The wines can be transcendent. At the moment, the primary hurdle is that big-boned, slightly elevated in alcohol wines are difficult to get behind for most NYC wine buyers. If you look out into the market, lists and shelves are primarily made up of the top producer cherries, liters and very little else. AND, the red wines from Austria are in even worse shape.

Sherry – is this thing on?

What the f*^&% happened here? Has Sherry been relegated to the dusty corner bottle….again? Not quite. The sales are probably higher on the whole comparatively to a decade ago, but Sherry is certainly not in the dialogue like it was. We once had a ‘Queen of Sherry‘, and since she is not in NYC shouting from the rooftops anymore there isn’t a fervent ambassador at the buyer level. Commerce may have gotten in the way here: The Sherry D. O. appears to operate a lot like the Port aristocracy. This probably needs further overall examination, but I have to believe that there is enough stuffing for Sherry to stage a little comeback.

South America – The Meat in the Middle

Some would argue that Pedro Parra is single-handedly changing the conversation, but I definitely don’t see it translating into the NYC marketplace. A ‘sense of place‘ is a good start, but there seems to be a disconnect with buyers: They enjoy learning about South America but don’t enjoy buying South America. South America is still burdened with the value play one one side and a fantastically heavy bottled, old vine wine monster on the other. So, where’s the meat in the middle? Where is the real wine? That’s precisely where the magic can happen. I can’t believe that we have seen all that this category can offer. Distributors will have to broaden selections and challenge buyers for this one to fill out/grow. Right now, the cash generating value bottlings are easier to put on containers, even if sales are beginning to point downward.

“ Do the market underdogs of today give us hints about the possible trends of tomorrow?

Washington State – The ‘Never Seen’ State

This is the red-headed step child of the domestic wine scene. Find one restaurant in NYC outside USHG that has more than 5 producers listed and I will buy you a glass of Sherry. The downside is that the NYC wine buyers have the general view that the wines are monolithic and that the notable exceptions are going to cost you. The upside is that Washington has a myriad of wines to offer and the wines definitely have end consumer appeal. Could we be missing something?

Sweet wines – not sticking at all

Is there a more out of fashion overall category? Zachary Sussman wrote a piece covering this neglected group of wines that was spot on. Let me add further confirmation: At the street level, the wines are almost without exception a DOA mover. Could the category be poised for something more? Possibly. It is going to take a lot more than a giant vertical of d’Yquem to get this one going. Someone imaginative will have to take a position and really get beyond the cherries, and behind the category. We may need the aperitif move….

Alsace – Dry as a bone, sometimes

Alsace is the most confusing, annoying and at times exhilarating group of wines in the market. Are there more amazing values still available in France? I struggle to find better producers at relatively low prices in other appellations, and yet interest in the wines is elusive. I can tell you from experience that selling the non-sparklers from Alsace is a tough game to be in.

Valpolicella – Style blunders

This one is sad, actually. There is plenty of good wine, and takers are few and far between. Is it because a couple names dominate the category? Probably. Is it because no one cares about how varied the terroir and crus are? Maybe. The styles of the two dominant producers define the territory and shape market expectations here. For instance, showing a fresh-styled Valpol is typically met with a raised eyebrow or two. Until the frame is changed Valpolicella has a tough road ahead.

Honorable Mentions:

Cahors – Vader without the voice

All I have to say is: OUCH. This baby is in the corner. And, if you try and say that it is the “real Malbec” to buyers, the reaction you get is reminiscent of my face watching a Kanye performance. The mineral-driven ones are interesting, and the entry is not expensive. Maybe?

White Rhone – Flatlined forever?

About as en vogue as Carrot Top. Say the below words to a wine buyer and you will see what I mean.

“Great Condrieu”

Who am I kidding? This one is a Hail Mary….

SPLASH DECANT 02/22/17

The NYC Beverage Market – February

February is about to end and it has been an exciting start in the NYC beverage market. It feels different this year, faster moving than ever. Hold on to your hats….

Here are a few dominant topics in the NYC market from the street level:

The Sancerre War

Love it or hate it, the market is about to hear about Sancerre even more. Should we get more into the terroir of Sancerre? Maybe. But one distributor is going to make a big play here–predominantly because they have to. This will test the wine buying community because they will have to answer this question: Do I buy the Sancerre that I never entertained before just because of a distribution shift? Not an easy one to answer in this particular case.

Rosé Madness

Rosé offers are going out (since January!!), buyers are committing and the question still remains: will darker hued rosés above the value line sell this year? I am still not sure. There are some outliers like Bandol, but the darker colored Rosé thing has historically been a difficult play. And, just in case anyone forgets: Rosé is still a seasonal game. The pre-arrival fashion in which it is distributed has something to do with it, but more importantly, the ‘Rosé all year round’ consumer is a small segment for now. Here’s to a long, mild summer….

Turnover Time

Almost like clockwork, Beverage Director/Wine Director positions are becoming available in restaurants within major restaurant groups and beyond. Circumstances are driving this particular round, but the question remains: Why is the speed of turnover in buying positions seemingly gaining in velocity?

Recent big time, notable sales rep exits at top companies mean that new blood is in the water with accounts that have had the same rep for many years. Look for a few street level skirmishes here, especially if the Rep moves over to another viable company. These transitions are always harder than they seem….in both directions.

Can’t say this one enough: Producer shifts are the third big play in this market turnover trio. Big changes are imminent. Keep an eye.

What does all this movement say about the NYC market today? Some might say the rampant turnover indicates a ‘chaotic market’, but I think it is a new geometry: A natural recalibration of a market that has been in a super growth mode for at least a decade. Turnover is not at all new, but it does feel more frenetic than before.

“ Faster turnover in distribution, buying positions and sales reps is just one of the effects of a recalibrating market.

Natural Wine

The buzz created from the fairs in the Loire valley this year is blaring loudly. New discoveries and most importantly, some serious heritage Natural wineries in play that have not been in play for a long time are going to continue to make waves. This bears repeating: Don’t sleep on this “category”. The wines are only a prologue, there is much more to it.

Bitterness – Behind the Bar

While the press has already anointed this year “the year of Rum” (I really hope this is true..), I am still seeing Amaro at a serious inflection point behind the bar. There is vintage, old, new, more domestic (and more coming). And, via a recent tasting: a lot of the dominant Amari are kind of terrible. Actually, a LOT worse than I remember them ever being. This leaves some bar space and an opportunity for market development. There is not one industry person I know who isn’t pro-amaro. If the beer and a shot thing goes beyond fernet, we could have something real.

Bonus: I have had multiple complaints from buyers about having to buy a certain required Negroni component from one of the giant companies. Whoever can answer this question with a replacement product, and provide a fair quantity for a decent price will get the gold….

SPLASH DECANT 01/16/17

The Big-Game Hunt

The ‘Big-Game Hunt’ for producers is on and this year it will be different.

Today we are in the most muddled and fast-evolving wine market I have ever seen. In distribution, the fastest way to grab attention and a bump in the NYC market is to go on a big-game hunt and pull a prominent producer from their current import/distribution* partner. In many cases, these prominent producers are represented by historic importer/distributors and have been for years.

The chase to represent top producers is not at all new–it is as old as the wine business. However, last year saw some notable shifts in distribution that hint strongly at a domino effect towards a new paradigm: Smaller distribution players now have a stronger shot at taking an important, top-tier producer.

So what is different now? There are three primary reasons for the shift:

Old and slow

Up until recently, old-school, historic importers and distributors were close to untouchable. Approaching and taking the top producers from their portfolio was damn near impossible. Their relationships were strong, their numbers were rising, and their market penetration was deep. Further, there used to be a gentleman’s agreement among the historic players in the biz that poaching a producer was bad form**. That is definitely over. Over time, many of these old-school distributors have grown in size and are now starting to show wear and tear. They are the big, rusty ship with the small rudder: Immense power with slow turns.

The Brand mid-life crisis

After an incredible run of more than a decade in this market, highly successful producers are coming to a decision point. The proverbial fork in the road. At the winery, many are experiencing a shift in leadership via a change in ownership or the owner/winemaker is passing along to the next generation. In turn, the next stewards of these well-regarded estates are being forced to make difficult decisions about how their wines will be distributed. Do they stay with their current relationship, or make a move to a smaller, more up-and-coming distributor? It is likely that they have witnessed the change in the distribution landscape of the NYC market from afar and also likely that they understand enough to know that the market is more competitive and complex than ever. Making a change could provide a much-needed brand reset…

Under pressure

Rampant growth over the years in the sheer number of distributors in combination with the NYC Market volatility creates immense pressure on the importer/distributor. In this climate, the middle players in distribution have to make a move up, or it gets difficult to retain your current producers, salespeople, etc. They NEED to get aggressive and pick up some attention, or they begin to go the way of the dodo…

“ The tide has turned and now a smaller player has a stronger shot at grabbing a historic producer.

The once untouchable, top distributors are going to continue to get beat up this year by up-and-comers. Which producers will be with whom is up in the air, but for the first time in a decade, the big-game hunt from importer/distributors coincides with a free agency of producers, so I think we see some surprises.

Will these producers and their new distributors get the short-term attention bump and then the mid-term slump? Only time will tell. But I guarantee it will be fascinating to watch.

Note: Agility in distribution will win much more going forward. Like a great linebacker: You need enough size (but not too much), intelligence, speed, AND agility.

*Above I have avoided addressing the nuances between the importer that is also the distributor (one that works directly), the importer that works with a distribution partner, and national distribution. There will be changes in all, and I refer to them generally as ‘importer/distributor’.

**The term ‘poaching’ also refers to stealing producers. It is used often and is more complicated than it seems. A producer has to go through legal shifts, etc. to make a change, and changing distribution is always a two-way street.

SPLASH DECANT 01/06/17

Easy predictions for the coming year in the NYC Market:

More grower import portfolios.

More arguments over Natural wine.

More Sommeliers.

More good, buyable wine.

More mainstreaming of ‘Organic‘.

More Sommelier owned projects.

More “Lowest price in the Nation” marketing.

More ‘Craft’ spirits.

More Loire wines.

More old wines on Wine Lists.

More ‘small-scale’ California brands.

More wine programs with a value focus.

More appointment chasing.

More artisan producers changing hands..

“ We have more choices than ever before in the NYC market.

If you are part of the ‘fray of more’ above, the important questions are: How is it special?

How do you say something meaningful and truthful that resonates beyond a product or price?

What actually deserves attention?

If you can answer these questions well, you might move a market.

SPLASH DECANT 01/02/17

What Worked in 2016

Happy New Year.

Below is a look at a selection of the top-line things that worked in the NYC beverage market in 2016, ‘fast and dirty’ style..with a few 2017 calls woven in.

The Quiet Giant – Chablis

It has been on a run for a while, but Chablis killed it. Again. How is this category still undervalued? I am not sure, but I like it. You can still find mediocre Chablis, but it is a lot harder now than it was just a few years ago. The obvious components of well-priced coupled with the Burgundy obsession enable the wines to sell more than ever before, but I think the consumer is opening up to more savory wines and Chablis hits that bullseye. Fact is, Chablis still over-delivers as a category and even with some wonky availability coming via a rough vintage and a probable rise in price, I see Chablis having a strong 2017.

Broader category of note: Salty, mineral forward wines. Whether it was Ligurian, Corsican, Albariño, Muscadet..the market gravitated toward this style more than in previous years.

The Grower and the.. – Sparkling wine

There is a real mania for sparkling reflected by expanded selections on lists and shelves. Everything in this category is still in growth mode. Prosecco grew, Domestic came on with some mid to upper-end allocated stuff, Pet-Nat made a move, alt-sparkling like Crémant and Austrian came forward. Even Grower champagne with unpronounceable names got serious play. It was pretty insane to witness and there is still a fair amount of runway here..

Sommelier Kryptonite – Old Wine

There is an addiction to old wine that makes the wine buyer weak in the knees (me, too). As of this moment, anything of relative quality with depth of vintage is a serious play in this market. I would argue that the ‘provenance’ of the wine is a rare and fairly distant thought from the first reaction that comes from the old wine offer. The addiction to old wine is not so different from any previous year, but the availability of old wine grew…see the next mover:

Fifty shades of.. – Outside the 3 tier

Was this the biggest year for wines outside the 3-tier system? Especially the consignment game? I would bet a bottle of 90 DRC RSV that it was. Collectors, (and others), are realizing that there is serious business to be had here. They can also have a seat at the table of a few of their preferred restaurants (or have ownership..), and see/drink their wines off the list. The business here is bigger than most think. And, since the SLA doesn’t want to touch this, it expands. Obviously this is upper-tier focused now, but watch it grow..

WINNING – The Sommelier

Contrary to the well-written piece on Eater early this year about this being a “difficult year for Sommeliers”, 2016 was the absolute BEST year to be a Sommelier. Very simply: There has never been a more advantageous time to be in the beverage business as a Somm. There are just more opportunities/possibilities, and some are taking great advantage..Most notably via making wine brands. Also, there is more travel offered, more money, more notoriety. Is it easier to work in a restaurant? That is a whole other question.

The ‘Well War’ – Spirits

Obviously, Craft Spirits as a broad category worked, but it is the ‘well war’ that is the most interesting and market moving. This is the first year I have seen the beginnings of a significant dent in the old standby well placements across the city. Since the Big Guys are focused on premium-ization, they have taken their eye slightly off the ball. In addition, the alternatives to the big, regular, brand-driven well placements abound relative to just a year ago. They are available from smaller distribution companies that are working with more agility than those that have dominated for a long, long time. This is not being taken lightly. The management at the Big Guys are huddled in a room thinking of some serious programming to unleash…Full on f’d up deals only they could put forward that will attempt to disrupt the small piece of business they are starting to lose (small to them..). I think it is most likely too late…the tide has turned.

Natty, or not? – Natural Wine

If one more person calls this a trend I think I have to punch them in the mouth. It is not a trend, it is a tribe. The actual wine has something to do with it, but the tribe is the primary cause. And, because the ‘argument’ about Natural wine is strongly embraced by the press elite for a multitude of reasons (not the least of which is the strong reaction they get), this ‘category’ is a real runner. The craze for the wines on the West Coast also helps..Natural wine still feels nascent there. They also have less abundant availability. This dynamic creates a boomerang effect in interest from one coast to another, reinvigorating the overall dialogue and placing attention on certain growers. The big question: What happens to this ‘category’ when every real distributor in NYC has Natural wines in their book? We shall see..we are almost there now.

The Wild Island – Sicily

Sicilian wines solidified this year into a vibrant mover in the Italian category. You have a spectrum of options in price and many styles including: Natural, old school, new school, slick, sweet, rustic..and from across the whole island. Overall, the quality varies wildly, but at their best the wines are scary good. The Etna has been touted often, and I am in complete agreement: I think it is the wine discovery of our time. It will be basically impossible to repeat the perfect storm of history, quality, age of vines, interest, and importation/distribution energy that made the magic of the Etna become so prominent, so quickly. Imagine the wines produced since the year 2000 on the Etna. It is incredible.

“ 2016 was a big year for Bordeaux, especially on-premise.

Bordeaux – Travel sells..

The wines were always there, they were just lying somewhat dormant. There is significant library availability via distribution and other sources (see above), and because Bordeaux over the past few years has dwindled, we feel the resurgence strongly. The recent placement uptick is noticeable. The primary reason for the comeback is travel. Importers, Distributors, the Bordelaise, etc., have been investing in taking buyers on trips for a few seasons and this has had a build-up effect. On one hand, this is intelligent marketing to recalibrate the buyer focus, but at its core Bordeaux has the perfect storm of history, quantity and money on its side. They have serious hand and this was the first year I saw it taking hold. Looking ahead, there will be added attention on Bordeaux Blanc and that will work really, really well..

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