The 2019 Bordeaux Vintage

WELCOME TO EDITION 765 of GRAPEVINE

Although not a member of the UGC, Chateau Petrus is also tasted by journalists and merchants – by appointment – during the en primeurs week.

The Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux has organised the tasting of the Bordeaux 2019 vintage for 30 March to 2 April 2020.

Last Wednesday 4 March 2020, the UGC issued the following statement:

For the time being, the UGCB confirms that this event will still take place, from 30 March to 2 April 2020. We remain extremely vigilant and are closely monitoring how the situation unfolds. Given the date and the format of En Primeurs week, we can realistically hope that all required conditions will be in place to welcome our visitors in the safest possible way.

Each year, during and following the tastings, journalists from around the world give their opinion of the quality of the vintage. Which – together with other considerations, including reactions from wine merchants who also attend the tasting and the overall health of the world economy –  influences the prices chateaux set for their wine.

The UGC statement is now somewhat overshadowed by an announcement yesterday, Sunday 8 March 2020, by the French Government banning public gatherings of more than 1,000 people (it was previously 5,000 people in an indoor setting).

While the UGC tastings do not have more than 1,000 people in one sitting, there are dinners during the en primeurs week which hold several hundred.

One thing that did not change yesterday in France is that the alert level for coronavirus remains at Level 2 and did not move up to Level 3, the highest. But, already in two departments, Oise and Haut-Rhin, Level 3 has come into effect all but in name because nurseries, kindergartens, and schools are closed for 15 days, starting today, Monday 9 March 2020.

Things are changing day by day. We will keep you informed in the event the UGC has an update.

Wishing you A Good Week Ahead.

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