Avid wine lovers often talk about bottles of wine as if they were people. A wine might be described as “shy” or “not showing its full colours” one day, while the next it could be “full of life” or “firing on all cylinders”. One such conversation (which, we admit, might have gotten a little out of hand) had us once referring to Burgundy as the Second Spouse – hear us out if you dare read on.
The Younger Model
Burgundy’s rise in popularity over the past decade is nothing short of miraculous. Some may put it down to a shift in consumer drinking style towards lighter, younger wines; others to the film, Sideways, which villainised Merlot in all its forms, to the benefit of Pinot Noir. But the lust affair with Burgundy has, in recent years, worn heavily on our wallets. Flirting with Pinot is an expensive game, not to mention, it is hard to predict what mood the wine is going to be in when we open the bottle, since quantities are often too small to taste the same wine many times. Exciting though the initial honeymoon period with Burgundy surely is, we may eventually find ourselves longing for more depth, familiarity, and reliability.
The Bordeaux Divorce
In contrast, global wine aficionados’ marriage with Bordeaux has been on the rocks for some time. Thanks to the En Primeur system, Bordeaux has always required serious commitment, of both funds and time, in order to truly reap reward from the relationship. Though our patience has worn thin with this hefty toll over time, wondering mouths need only revisit a 30 year old bottle of top Bordeaux to be reminded of its true, and lasting beauty. Indeed, perhaps even those who feel they’ve moved on with their second wine spouse in Burgundy might hanker for the comfort of Claret every now and again.
Vinous Polygamy
The good news is that, at least for wine, no loyalty is necessary. This is particularly the case in today’s market conditions, where wines from all regions are keenly priced, battling against economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty. So, we encourage you to play the field – dabble in Barolo, fool around with Champagne, experiment with wines from the New World. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll still find yourselves coming home to your first love – Bordeaux.