My 2008 Futures Buy Recommendations (Updated Again)

As promised, although belated, I am posting my recommended 2008 futures based on my past tasting history of these chateaux, as well as my conversations with and reading of industry experts/publications. For full disclosure, I have purchased all of these myself, and I stand to make no gain whatsoever for recommending them.

To begin, I would say that Pomerol and to some extent St. Emilion are the two areas to concentrate on while buying 2008 futures. The reasons are simple. Small vineyards and production, together with draconian selections in 2008 (at least the better wines), and the fact that Diageo has decided not to buy 2008 mean that the shortest supply will be in Pomerol and to a lesser extent St. Emilion. Here are my picks:

- Clinet
- La Conseillante
- Vieux Chateau Certan
- Gazin
- La Fleur Petrus
- Clos Fourtet
- Beausejour Duffau
- Figeac
- Larcis Ducasse
- Fleur de Gay

The ones I am still keeping my eyes peeled for are:

- Latour a Pomerol
- Belair Monange (formerly Belair Dubois Challon)
- Magdelaine

On the left bank, there is less urgency to dive into futures, simply because the production numbers are so much bigger. That said, I think there are some nice buys to be had:

- Calon Segur
- Duhart Milon
- Grand Puy Lacoste
- Leoville Poyferre
- Lynch Bages
- Pichon Lalande
- Rauzan Segla
- Gruaud Larose
- Montrose

As I've said before, exercise caution when buying futures by buying only from reputable merchants with long track records of reliable and timely delivery. I personally also believe that merchants with brick and mortar operations that have a loyal local following are a more conservative choice than internet merchants at this juncture in history.

Either way, enjoy this futures campaign and don't let the cognoscenti on some of the internet bulletin boards scare you off from buying futures.

A Sante.

SP