Lisa Perrotti-Brown has just released her scores for issue number 236 from the Wine Advocate; it includes her scores for the Bordeaux 2017 vintage. She has done a fine job; the report documents the vintage well and captures its high and low points. Most Estates have been waiting for this and perhaps the Vinous report, expected next week before releasing. However, two wines from the report which benefit form very high scores have releases, Chateau Palmer and Coutet. Chateau Palmer has been awarded 96-98 points, one of its highest ever. Chateau Coutet, one of our favourite Sauternes, continues its run of form with its highest ever score of 95-97 making it a must buy in this vintage. In addition to this, Perrotti-Brown also released her score for Leoville Las Cases 2015, which we posited would be marked up from 95-97, to a superb 98+. Screaming Eagle 2015 has been awarded a straight 100 points and Chateau d’Yquem 2015, a perfect 100 score, putting it in line with the 2009 and 2001. We have small availability of this at £1,500 per case of six.
| Coutet | WA | Release | Price | POP |
| 2017 | 95-97 | £340 | £340 | 21 |
| 2016 | 91-93 | £318 | £320 | 27 |
| 2015 | 94-96 | £280 | £290 | 19 |
| 2014 | 93-95+ | £230 | £250 | 18 |
| 2013 | 93-95 | £240 | £290 | 21 |
| 2012 | 87+ | £350 | £300 | 43 |
| 2011 | 93 | £450 | £350 | 27 |
| 2010 | 95 | £500 | £340 | 23 |
| 2009 | 95 | £550 | £340 | 23 |
| 2008 | 92 | £360 | £320 | 27 |
| 2007 | 94 | £335 | £300 | 21 |
| 2006 | 93 | £240 | £320 | 25 |
| 2005 | 92 | £295 | £240 | 20 |
Chateau Coutet 2017 has been bestowed with its highest ever scores from the Wine Advocate with 95-97 points, making its triumph. Of it Perrotti-Brown says, ‘The 2017 Coutet has lovely notions of spice cake, fresh ginger and honeysuckle over a core of lemon curd, beeswax and preserved peaches. Rich, spicy and quite decadent in the mouth, it has wonderful freshness and depth, finishing very long.’ The 2017 thereon surpasses the 2015. Chateau Coutet 2017 is a gem of the 2017 vintage, the pick of the Sauternes for quality and price.
The score 96-98 from the Wine Advocate, which is echoed by James Suckling, confirm Palmer 2017 is very fine indeed, one of their finest modern-day vintages. If you are a fan of Chateau Palmer, as we all are, this makes a strong argument.
| Palmer | WA | JS | Release | Price | POP |
| 2017 | 96-98 | 97-98 | £2,350 | £2,350 | 138 |
| 2016 | 95-97 | 99-100 | £2,840 | £2,840 | 178 |
| 2015 | 98 | 100 | £2,160 | £2,400 | 133 |
| 2014 | 94 | 95 | £1,500 | £1,900 | 136 |
| 2013 | 87-88 | 93 | £1,650 | £1,830 | 244 |
| 2012 | 96 | 97 | £1,725 | £1,775 | 111 |
| 2011 | 96 | 88 | £1,700 | £1,750 | 109 |
| 2010 | 96+ | 98 | £2,400 | £2,750 | 172 |
| 2009 | 97 | 98 | £2,395 | £2,250 | 132 |
| 2008 | 94 | 93 | £990 | £1,850 | 132 |
| 2007 | 92 | n/a | £1,100 | £1,800 | 150 |
| 2006 | 94 | n/a | £1,150 | £1,850 | 132 |
| 2005 | 97 | 94 | £1,370 | £2,550 | 150 |
We do not wish to spoil the report, but it is worth mentioning in closing a few standout scores. Firstly, Perroti-Brown agrees that the whites in this vintage stand out, awarding Haut Brion Blanc 97-100 points, La Mission Haut Brion Blanc 96-98, Smith Haut-Laffite Blanc 96-98+ and Pape Clement Blanc 94-96+. In terms of the reds, high scores abound, Cos d’Estournel has been awarded 97-100 points, which – if the price holds – will be a must buy. Lafleur has also been awarded 97-100. The first growths have fared very well indeed, Latour, Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild have been awarded 97-99, Margaux has been awarded 96-98 and Haut Brion 95-97, as has La Mission Haut Brion. It is worth noting that Montrose, L’Eglise Clinet and Ausone all scored 97-99. On average the scores promise a better vintage than 2014 from barrel and bottle. Moe analysis will follow.
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