Wine Futures are wines that are reserved for customers at a retail price that have not been price inflated by movement to the retailers' shelves. In other words, the wine has not yet come to market. The customer is asked to purchase the wine at a pre-determined retail price although the wines have not been released from the producer or winemaker to the supplier. These prices offer the customer a significant savings from the retail costs that will be charged after the wine has been released. Wine futures are sometimes available only in limited quantities and/or sell out rapidly, dramatically increasing their value.
Bordeaux futures are considered the best of the world class selections due to their ageing qualities and the prices they capture at auction. During the "technology stock" downfall of the stock market in the early 2000s, Bordeaux wines that had been cellared during the 1980s not only quadrupled in value but held their gains while stock portfolios seriously declined. This has led many collectors to reaffirm the belief that wine not only gets better with age but is a better investment than stocks.
2006 Vintage Bordeaux Futures as of March, 2008
Robert M. Parker, Jr. on the 2006 Vintage: "I did not expect the highlights of 2006 to be as promising as they turned out. There was little talk about the vintage following the harvest, and after the wine press and the proprietors exhausted themselves with their praise of the 2005s, there was little need to start additional speculative fires. However, the 2006 vintage has produced many fine wines, and overall, it is superior to 2004." The Wine Advocate, May 2007.
Terms and Conditions of Sale: Full-case (12 x 750ml bottles) and half-case (6 x 750ml bottles) unless otherwise stated; Payment within 30 days of placing order or cancellation; Limited quantities subject to confirmation; Prices subject to change without notice; Delivery Spring/Fall 2009.
Brane Cantenac (Margaux) $43.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Balanced and pretty, with plum and currant. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium-long finish. All in finesse. Tasted twice, with consistent notes." (WS89-91)
Calon Segur (St.-Estephe) $53.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"The harvest at this estate was relatively late for the vintage (September 26-October 15), and approximately two-thirds of the production made it into the final blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. The 2006 is highly successful, as Madame Gasqueton said, no doubt because of the de-leafing and crop-thinning done throughout the summer. A deep dark ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a sweet nose of black cherries, damp earth, and a hint of herbs. Medium-bodied with surprisingly soft tannin, no austerity, decent acidity, and a fruit-forward, fleshy personality, it should be accessible at an earlier age than the blockbuster 2005." (P90-93), RMP.
Clerc Milon (Pauillac) $41.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"A brilliant success for Clerc-Milon, this deep ruby/purple-hued blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc exhibits notes of espresso roast, chocolate, cedar, and copious amounts of black currant fruit. It is a medium to full-bodied, pure, rich, layered, intense effort built along the lines of the 1996, but with more forward fruit at present. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025." (P91-93), RMP.
Clos Fourtet (St.-Emilion) $51.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Clos Fourtet has produced a succession of brilliant wines since 2003. While the 2006 may not equal the prodigious 2005, it possesses a dark ruby/purple hue as well as sweet notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, new oak, and a steely/mineral-like nuance in the background. Attractive, plump, opulent fruit on the palate is followed by a slight narrowing, but the finish is strong, with moderate tannin. Consume this beauty between 2008-2016." (P90-93), RMP.
Cos d'Estournel (St.-Estephe) $124.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Jean-Guillaume Prats told me that yields were a modest 38 hectoliters per hectare, and only 55% of the production made it into the 2006 Cos. The harvest took place between September 21 and October 6, and the final blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), followed by 20% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 recalls such vintages as 1988 and 1996. It offers a classic bouquet of incense, licorice, pain grille, black currants, truffles, and flowers. Medium-bodied and concentrated with moderately high tannin, it will require 8-10 years of cellaring, and should keep for 30 or more. It is another terrific effort from an estate that has done everything right over the last decade." (P92-94), RMP
D'Armailhac (Pauillac) $35.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"The dark ruby/purple-hued, mid-weight, elegant 2006 possesses sweet tannin as well as abundant concentration. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a dollop of Petit Verdot, it is an elegant, refreshing wine offering good purity as well as the potential to keep for 10-15 years." (P88-90+), RMP.
Dassault (St.-Emilion) $29.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"A sleeper of the vintage, this sexy, fruity St.-Emilion is loaded with black cherry and cassis fruit. Sweet tannin, a fleshy mid-palate, and a velvety texture as well as finish suggest it will provide gorgeous drinking for 10-12 years." (P88-90), RMP.
D'Issan (Margaux) $42.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"This elegant 2006 reveals abundant amounts of spring flower, sweet cherry, black currant, earth, and licorice characteristics along with fine ripeness, an ethereal, delicate style, beautiful concentration and purity, and a savory texture. It should easily keep for 15 or more years." (P90-93), RMP.
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge (Pessac-Leognan) $42.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Major progress is being made at Domaine de Chevalier as the wines are revealing less overt oak as well as better integration of all the wines' structural components. The 2006 possesses a savory, subtle nose of lead pencil shavings, sweet black cherries, currants, and earth. Pure, medium-bodied, and elegant with supple tannin, and substantial flavor interest and length, it should drink beautifully in 3-4 years, and last for 15-20." (P90-92), RMP.
Duhart-Milon-Rothschild (Pauillac) $38.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Not surprisingly, this estate's owner, the Rothschild family (who also owns Lafite-Rothschild), has been making significant investments in Duhart's winemaking facilities and vineyards. These investments helped create a blockbuster 2003 and 2005 as well as an outstanding 2006. Eliminating 50% of the crop produced a 1986-ish blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot exhibiting notes of creme de cassis, pain grille, black cherries, and undertones of loamy earth, herbs, and spice. Copious richness and up-front fruit (the latter a characteristic of the vintage) along with good freshness and liveliness suggest this Pauillac will be at its finest between 2012-2025." (P91-93), RMP.
Giscours (Margaux) $48.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
A deep ruby/plum/purple hue is followed by aromas of tar, licorice, black currants, and roasted herbs, sweet, sexy fruit, soft, velvety tannins, medium to full body, and impressive purity. Drink this plush Margaux over the next 15-18 years." (P89-91), RMP.
Gloria (St.-Julien) $29.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Gloria has been producing terrific wines over recent vintages. The 2006 is a slightly more structured effort than the fleshy 2005, but it offers a deep ruby/purple color as well as loads of black cherry and currant fruit interwoven with notes of cedar, herbs, and spice. A major sleeper of the vintage, it is dense, rich, and surprisingly opulent with admirable fruit purity and an enticing texture. It should drink well young, yet evolve for 15+ years." (P89-91), RMP.
La Confession (St.-Emilion) $37.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"A superb effort from young Jean-Philippe Janoueix, this inky/purple-colored wine displays moderately intense, but pure aromatics of black fruits, lead pencil shavings, smoke, and camphor. Terrific fruit on the attack, medium to full body, a layered mouthfeel, and substantial, but sweet, well-integrated tannin suggest this stunning St.-Emilion will be at its finest between 2012-2025." (P91-93), RMP.
La Fleur de Bouard (Lalande de Pomerol) $28.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"The undisputed reference point for high quality in Lalande de Pomerol, this 50-acre estate produces a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2006 tips the scales at 13.5% natural alcohol. A beautiful effort, it offers sweet black cherry fruit interwoven with notes of licorice, pain grille, and espresso roast. Dense, opulent, medium to full-bodied, pure, and long, it should drink well for a decade or more. The luxury cuvee, Le Plus de la Fleur de Bouard, which is kept three years or more in barrel, will not be released until 2010 or so, but it represents the quintessence of this estate. Unfortunately, I have never seen a bottle of this wine available at retail as the production is so minuscule." (P90-93), RMP.
Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac) $599.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Lafite's Merlot harvest occurred between September 15-22, and the Cabernet Sauvignon from September 27 until the end of the first week of October. Only 42% of the production made it into the grand vin (a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot). The 2006 is a tannic, restrained effort that brings to mind the 1988. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, spice, and subtle wood. Medium-bodied and richly fruity with decent acidity and a long finish, it will require 8-10 years of cellaring, and should keep for 4-5 decades." (P91-94), RMP.
Leoville Poyferre (St.-Julien) $63.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Beautiful, vibrant, black raspberry and cassis fruit, fresh acidity, medium to full body, superb ripeness, melted tannins, and a long, savory, expansive mouthfeel are found in this top-notch St.-Julien. Friendlier than the more backward, tannic 2005 Leoville-Poyferre, the 2006 should be at its finest between 2011-2028." (P91-93), RMP.
Chateau Margaux (Margaux) $598.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"The strictest selection ever instituted at this estate resulted in only 36% of the crop being utilized for the blend of 2006 Chateau Margaux. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, it is similar to the 1996, but with sweeter, more seductive fruit in the nose. A big, tannic, dense effort displaying terrific purity, power, elegance, and a distinctive mineral/flower component, it is a medium to full-bodied wine of great nobility that should be at its finest between 2017-2050+." (P93-95), RMP.
Pape Clement (Pessac-Leognan) $128.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"More accolades are due proprietor Bernard Magrez, Bordeaux's leading visionary, for what he is accomplishing at his flagship estate as well as at myriad other properties. Pape-Clement's harvest took place between September 21 and October 10. Yields were only 40 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend was 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc. While the 2006 will not make anyone overlook the immortal 2005, it is a brilliant, blue/purple-tinged effort exhibiting aromas of lead pencil shavings interwoven with blueberries, raspberries, black currants, and background wood. Medium to full-bodied, pure, textured, and structured, this beauty is one of the appellation's finest wines. It should put on even more weight with some bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030." (P92-94), RMP.
Pichon-Longueville Baron (Pauillac) $88.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"A strong effort from this well-run estate, Pichon Baron's 2006 exhibits an inky/purple color as well as a sweet, pure nose of black currants, cedar, and smoky new oak. Full-bodied with ripe tannin, impressive concentration, and a layered mouthfeel, this is another noteworthy offering from an estate that has been remarkably successful over the last 15+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025+." (P92-94), RMP.
Pichon-Longueville Comtess de Lalande (Pauillac) $118.99, 750ml Standard Bottle (Net)
"Pichon Lalande's new owner, the Roederer champagne firm, appears to have produced one of the finest Pichon Lalandes made in recent years. Administrator Thomas Do-Chi-Nam, assisted in 2006 by consultant Hubert de Bouard, declared only 41% of the production as the grand vin, resulting in a wine that should rival both the 2003 and 2000. The final blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot was cropped at 41 hectoliters per hectare. This gorgeous wine represents an updated version of the 1996. It boasts a dense purple color as well as a beautiful nose of espresso roast, chocolate, creme de cassis, cedar, and spice. Full-bodied and powerful with high tannin, an attractive mouthfeel, and a multilayered texture, it will be a backward-styled Pichon Lalande, but it is significantly better than the 2005, recalling some of the finest vintages produced over the last 20-35 years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+." (P94-96), RMP.
