Blink and you’d have missed it but that was Bordeaux 2019, folks. That vapour trail you see disintegrating in the clear blue sky? As ephemeral as an allocation of Mouton 2019.

Before we get into the volumes released, let’s be clear – we were impressed. We liked the pace of it, which, aside from a couple of very frantic days, ticked along nicely, keeping customers interested and focused. We liked the prices, mostly. There was much talk of “30% below last year” as a sort of benchmark but really it came down to whether the 2019 release prices stacked up against comparable vintages in the market. And many of them did.

So chapeau to those who got their pricing right. (It’s easy, see!) We mentioned several successes in our previous bulletin (here), to which can now be added the likes of Canon, Rauzan-Segla and Les Carmes Haut-Brion. As an aside, we do think that we and other en primeur players have a right (even a responsibility) to set out our stall around the annual Bordeaux campaign. Surely those who put their money where their mouths are may also use those mouths!

The majority of the campaign took place without scores from many of the major critics. Fortunately, we were able to taste around 150 wines, several more than once. Thanks to a covert visit to Bordeaux in early June, samples efficiently couriered to the UK by various producers and a delivery of some 100 samples from the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, we could mostly sell wines with an opinion attached, which we feel is crucial.

Once the critics’ notes were in, their enthusiasm (15 potential 100-pointers) reaffirmed the general buzz. There was necessarily much more online activity this year (see our YouTube channel, for example), with social media playing a key role in bringing the vintage alive for customers. From a merchant’s perspective, the speedy analysis of Wine Lister in particular proved very useful.

The fly in the ointment, as mentioned, was the quantities released. These were so tiny in places that customers rightly became frustrated. One thing that Bordeaux cannot afford at the moment is to frustrate the end consumer. Perceived scarcity is one thing but simply-impossible-to-get-your-hands-on is rather boring, especially when production levels, especially in the Medoc, are generally plentiful.

Below are some selections, most well under £400 per dozen, that we consider to be great value, in many cases we work directly with the producer. These are both available (at the time of writing) and recommended! It must be remembered that whatever the views on the market and pricing Bordeaux, especially at this level, have never made better wines.

---

BORDEAUX 2019 – DON’T MISS LIST

POMEROL

CHÂTEAU LA GRAVE Â POMEROL 2019
Opaque ruby. Delectable nose of summer pudding and cream, fresh, sweetly plump. The palate is even more profound, beautifully extracted, with well cloaked tannins that make the sensual power deep without being coarse, and with a full chocolatey finish. This is quite simply delectable.
Corney & Barrow Score 18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2030
£395 | Case of 12 bottles, in bond UK
£405 | Case of 6 magnums, in bond UK
£180 | Case of 1 double magnum, in bond UK

---

CHÂTEAU BOURGNEUF 2019
I cannot think of a greater contrast to Château La Grave than brooding Bourgneuf, situated on the slope of the Pomerol plateau and very close to Trotanoy itself, with whom it shares some of that gravel– clay soil. Opaque ruby colour. The nose is inky-dark, bitter cherries and a dash of sweet spice. The palate is sweet on the entry then firmly built, its concentrated forest fruits currently framed by powerful oak tannins. A forceful, ambitious Bourgneuf.
Corney & Barrow Score 16 – 16.5
Recommended drinking from 2026 – 2034
£410 | Case of 12 bottles, in bond UK
£420 | Case of 6 magnums, in bond UK

---

CHÂTEAU ROUGET 2019
Full dense colour. Rich dark cherry scented nose, lovely plush fruits to the fore. The palate is both energetic and fleshy. The structure is excellent, full but without “edges”, nicely resolved tannins. This is not a shy number, but why should it be. Very good wine.
Corney & Barrow Score 17 – 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2033
£360 | Case of 12 bottles, in bond UK
£180 | Case of 6 bottles, in bond UK
£370 | Case of 6 magnums, in bond UK

---

ST. ÉMILION & SATELLITES

CHÂTEAU BARRAIL DU BLANC 2019
Another bullseye from the beloved “Barry White”, a tiny 7 hectare (17 acres) vineyard situated in Saint-Sulpice de Faleyrens, but in the gravel and clay rather than pure sand part which gives this wine a subtle density. Opaque ruby in colour, a delectable nose of bright red fruits, super plump and ripe. The palate is sweet and juicy, supple and chunky with a higher Merlot (89%) content perhaps giving this a fatter, more approachable style. Very good indeed. By popular demand, we are reinstating our “Barrel of Barry” offer of 25 cases (a barrel equivalent) at the below price. The perfect way to avoid running out of this go-to drinker!
Corney & Barrow Score 17+
Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2026
£189 | Case of 12 bottles, in bond UK
£199 | Case of 6 magnums, in bond UK
£199 | Case of 24 halves, in bond UK
£105 | Case of 1 double magnum, in bond UK