{"title":"Bordeaux 2019: Vintage Profile","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBordeaux 2019 will forever be etched in my memory for good and for bad. It was released rather later than usual in the summer of 2020 on account of a Covid lockdown in the UK. Samples were tasted not in the glamourous surrounds of Bordeaux’s finest Château, but with my colleagues socially distancing on the driveway of my old house in Abingdon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBordeaux 2019 is a seriously good vintage, but more importantly it is a grown-up one. Given the heat and drought of the summer, one might have feared a crop of oversized, sun-baked clarets. Instead, the best wines are refined, concentrated and surprisingly fresh, with ripe fruit, polished tannins and far more restraint than the weather forecast had any right to promise. This is not a lean, old-fashioned year, nor is it a caricature of modern Bordeaux. At its best, it strikes a very handsome balance between richness and control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe growing season explains much of that character. Winter was mild, but spring and early summer were cooler and wetter than many remember, with uneven flowering in places and some localised frost. Then came the heat: a hot, dry summer, real drought pressure, and temperatures that pushed hard enough to test both vines and vignerons. The saving grace was well-timed rain in August and again in mid September, which refreshed the vineyards and allowed ripening to finish properly rather than brutally. In short, 2019 was a warm year, but not a reckless one, and the best terroirs handled it admirably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eStylistically, 2019 sits in an attractive spot among recent Bordeaux vintages. The Left Bank tends to show structure, clarity and Cabernet definition, while the Right Bank often has a touch more generosity and texture, though without losing shape. There is plenty of concentration, certainly, but less excess than in some other solar years. The dry whites were also notably successful, combining aromatic precision with freshness, and the sweet wines have real purity. All in all, it is a vintage with breadth as well as pedigree, which is no bad thing if one actually intends to drink the stuff rather than merely admire it from a spreadsheet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThere is also an important commercial point in 2019’s favour. These wines were released during the first Covid lockdown, when Bordeaux rather sensibly realised it could not behave as though the world were carrying on as normal. The campaign was markedly restrained, with Liv-ex calculating average ex-négociant prices down 22.1% on 2018 and 20.2% on 2016, and most wines released at or below what it considered fair value. That modest opening still matters now. Even today, many 2019s stack up well against comparable recent vintages, particularly when set beside the less consistent 2018s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eFor me, that is the crux of Bordeaux 2019. It is a vintage with real quality, proper ageing potential and, by Bordeaux standards, a commendably sensible pricing story. It may not quite possess the monumental authority of the very greatest modern years at the absolute summit, but it is one of the strongest and most complete vintages of the past decade. Better still, it was released at prices that did not require one to lose one’s senses, and many wines still look well bought now. In Bordeaux, that counts as almost revolutionary behaviour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2279\" data-end=\"2606\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2279\" data-end=\"2305\"\u003eAffordable highlights:\u003c\/strong\u003e Château Marsau, Château Labégorce, Château Gloria, Château de Pez, Dame de Montrose \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2452\" data-end=\"2483\"\u003eMoney no object favourites:\u003c\/strong\u003e Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Château Brane-Cantenac, Château Pichon-Lalande, Château Léoville-Poyferrè\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"chateau-belair-monange-st-emilion-1er-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Bélair-Monange 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":46415793881392,"sku":null,"price":775.22,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":46415124824368,"sku":null,"price":630.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Belair_Monange_2a95eec3-395c-4a3b-ab1a-9136a4ff4eef.png?v=1692705485"},{"product_id":"chateau-lafite-rothschild-pauillac-1er-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Lafite-Rothschild 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55360595329406,"sku":null,"price":2810.74,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55360623051134,"sku":null,"price":2400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Lafite_11403b75-7392-4fb5-bc47-8fd2382247f7.png?v=1760530420"},{"product_id":"chateau-mouton-rothschild-pauillac-1er-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Mouton-Rothschild 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55012456268158,"sku":null,"price":2359.94,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55012555358590,"sku":null,"price":1950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Mouton_2019.png?v=1681221273"},{"product_id":"chateau-margaux-margaux-1er-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Margaux 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55012463706494,"sku":null,"price":2961.53,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55012558700926,"sku":null,"price":2450.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Chateau_Margaux_87a34b35-59fe-4b6e-b784-0933c80f88ea.png?v=1760530435"},{"product_id":"chateau-pontet-canet-pauillac-5eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Pontet-Canet 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55012466196862,"sku":null,"price":454.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55012559618430,"sku":null,"price":360.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Pontet_Canet_2fbbdce0-49e9-4c0c-934b-9796b1304967.png?v=1738923812"},{"product_id":"chateau-grand-puy-lacoste-pauillac-5eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2019","description":"","brand":"LCB BG","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55012468687230,"sku":null,"price":321.53,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"1 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":56480057786750,"sku":null,"price":52.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55012561191294,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/GPL_2019_800x600_36123ced-e292-4d93-942d-d95117f1f148.png?v=1750093308"},{"product_id":"chateau-leoville-poyferre-st-julien-2eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Leoville-Poyferré 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55012469571966,"sku":null,"price":526.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55012561944958,"sku":null,"price":420.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Leoville-Poyferre_u_efa01b4f-2e29-4dfe-b00d-3f71d74fcdd6.png?v=1738923834"},{"product_id":"chateau-malescot-st-exupery-margaux-3eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-12x75cl","title":"Château Malescot St Exupéry 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"12 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55012481171838,"sku":null,"price":586.3,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55012579574142,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Malescot_St_Exupe_ury_7fb83efd-2609-415f-999a-60aa3caf075a.png?v=1738923968"},{"product_id":"le-c-des-carmes-haut-brion-pessac-leognan-2019-6x75cl","title":"Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion 2019","description":"","brand":"LCB BG","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55014145720702,"sku":null,"price":187.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"1 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55798406578558,"sku":null,"price":31.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55014262145406,"sku":null,"price":138.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/C_des_Carmes_2019_c014d895-f24b-4a9b-b51f-bc8f0bf8cdbc.png?v=1750336710"},{"product_id":"chateau-pichon-lalande-pauillac-2eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Pichon-Lalande 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55014148178302,"sku":null,"price":803.15,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55014264144254,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Pichon_Lalande_f04bab55-046f-4754-8e74-b384f7fae2ca.png?v=1738935493"},{"product_id":"chateau-labegorce-margaux-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Labégorce 2019","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\"The 2019 Château Labégorce is positively brimming with ripe, juicy Margaux character on the nose, lifted by sweet spice and a gentle touch of oak. The palate is typically rich, with dark, dense bramble fruit and black cherry at its core. Warm Asian spices, hints of mocha, and a ripe tannic backbone make it both alluring and a touch challenging at present. Give it a couple of years, however, and it promises to become the finest Labégorce to date—surpassing even the acclaimed 2015 and 2016. Decant it for a couple of hours if you’d like to tuck into it now, but I think it’ll be at it’s peak between 2028-2032.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGus McLean, September 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55014148964734,"sku":null,"price":160.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55014268633470,"sku":null,"price":115.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55626681057662,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Labegorce2019800x600.png?v=1758294159"},{"product_id":"chateau-gloria-st-julien-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Gloria 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55014150308222,"sku":null,"price":232.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55014269714814,"sku":null,"price":175.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 x 37.5 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":56594956517758,"sku":null,"price":304.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 x 37.5 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":56594956550526,"sku":null,"price":235.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/GloriaNV800x600.png?v=1739529005"},{"product_id":"haut-medoc-de-branaire-ducru-haut-medoc-2019-6x75cl","title":"Haut-Médoc de Branaire Ducru 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55016667611518,"sku":null,"price":124.32,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55016750907774,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55016834433406,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/ChateauBranaireDucru_LeHautMedocdeBranaireDucru2018TheGoodWineShop_baf263ca-e5e3-4f4c-9756-58047d221f98.png?v=1738947723"},{"product_id":"chateau-capbern-st-estephe-2019-12x75cl","title":"Château Capbern 2019","description":"","brand":"LCB BG","offers":[{"title":"12 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55016672821630,"sku":null,"price":275.85,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"12 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55016760476030,"sku":null,"price":190.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Capbern2019800x600.png?v=1752225660"},{"product_id":"chateau-de-pez-st-estephe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château de Pez 2019","description":"","brand":"MMD","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55061778235774,"sku":null,"price":238.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55399985021310,"sku":null,"price":36.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55061825847678,"sku":"","price":180.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Chateau_de_Pez_NV_800x600_0520e41a-e31f-4bc9-b92f-76a705734ced.png?v=1768915469"},{"product_id":"chateau-marsau-francs-cotes-de-bordeaux-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Marsau 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55687319191934,"sku":null,"price":149.13,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":55687338492286,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":55978201842046,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Marsau_No_Vintage_5513b5c9-345c-4022-aee0-2fa6bc93c880.png?v=1753107646"},{"product_id":"chateau-lynch-bages-pauillac-5eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Lynch-Bages 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":56453685215614,"sku":null,"price":617.98,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":56453686067582,"sku":null,"price":495.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Lynch_Bages_286c00a3-6953-49b6-9ddd-23d6810bd5c3.png?v=1761298991"},{"product_id":"chateau-brane-cantenac-margaux-2eme-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Brane-Cantenac 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":56651313938814,"sku":null,"price":334.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":56651315970430,"sku":null,"price":260.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Brane_Cantenac_2019_800x600_13681d70-e691-45e0-b7a8-9b19009d7e40.png?v=1764692000"},{"product_id":"chateau-gloria-st-julien-2019-12x37-5cl","title":"Château Gloria 2019","description":"","brand":"Flint","offers":[{"title":"1 x 37.5 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":56834689007998,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/GloriaNV800x600_0c98c868-0aad-46a6-ae6a-da5ec6ea2f9e.png?v=1768915476"},{"product_id":"chateau-latour-pauillac-1er-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Latour 2019 (ec-Château 2026)","description":"","brand":"Legrande","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ En Primeur","offer_id":57129491267966,"sku":null,"price":2790.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Latour_2019_800x600_ef309c15-cdde-41a2-8219-cb75eec8ade0.png?v=1773676025"},{"product_id":"chateau-laroque-st-emilion-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x150cl","title":"Château Laroque 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 150 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":57301497217406,"sku":null,"price":335.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 150 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":57301498233214,"sku":null,"price":240.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Laroque_New_87588a17-0077-4683-b5e5-81888c85b3ed.png?v=1776947607"},{"product_id":"chateau-la-clariere-cotes-de-castillon-2019-6x150cl","title":"Château La Clarière 2019","description":"","brand":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","offers":[{"title":"6 x 150 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":57464180507006,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 x 150 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":57464175034750,"sku":null,"price":347.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Clariere_2019_800x600_65f99fce-7ee2-4029-9c0e-e27625275754.png?v=1779813990"},{"product_id":"chateau-smith-haut-lafitte-blanc-pessac-leognan-grand-cru-classe-2019-6x75cl","title":"Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2019","description":"","brand":"LIV001","offers":[{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ Duty Paid","offer_id":57634984395134,"sku":null,"price":617.98,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"6 x 75 cl \/ In Bond","offer_id":57634984427902,"sku":null,"price":495.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/files\/Smith_Haut_Lafitte_Blanc_9f3f24e4-26dc-411f-ade8-ff1039397037.png?v=1782995811"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9020\/4976\/collections\/Tronquoy_banner_1900_x_605_2_afce332e-5dbb-4c44-82d0-ee2357d8fbda.png?v=1773677554","url":"https:\/\/abingdonfinewine.com\/collections\/bordeaux-2019-vintage-profile.oembed","provider":"Abingdon Fine Wine Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}