Getting Inside Bordeaux w/ Jane Anson, janeanson.com

Accidentally filling the big shoes of Michael Broadbent and Steven Spurrier, Jane Anson, wine critic, author of Inside Bordeaux, founder of janeanson.com, and former Bordeaux correspondent for Decanter for nearly 20 years, is one of the world’s foremost experts on the wines, history, and region of Bordeaux.  Having lived in Bordeaux since 2003, Jane shares her deep insights into how Bordeaux became as famous as it is, how the systems of La Place de Bordeaux and En Primeur work, and the complex terroir of the region.  She gives us insight into the content of janeanson.com and how it will be a unique look into Bordeaux, focus on the drinkability of the wines, and many of the unique features to be released. Detailed Show Notes: Jane’s backgroundLiving in Bordeaux since 2003, she thought she’d only be there for 1-2 yearsJournalist backgroundDecanter’s Bordeaux correspondent for nearly 20 years, wrote a weekly column since 2014, the sole Bordeaux wine critic since the 2016 vintageShe took a tasting aptitude class at the enology school in BordeauxShe chose Bordeaux because it’s still a big city (lived in London before), 2 hours from the Spanish border, 2 hours from ParisJaneanson.comCan be accessed by inside-bordeaux.com or janeanson.comSaw a gap in the market for a website specializing in Bordeaux vs. ~4-5 for BurgundyValue propositionNo outside investment, no advertisingFocus on drinkabilityCovers all wines that sell through La Place de Bordeaux (including the ~90 wines that are not Bordeaux wines)Regular verticals, en primeur, in bottle reportsTwo weeks of trips during the yearOne week - for high-end collectorsOne week - “free” aimed at young sommeliers, people that want to work in the wine trade to showcase the dynamic side of BordeauxLaunch specialsa translation of memoirs of a WWII soldier in BordeauxVertical of tiny producer LaFleur Saint-Jean - lies in between Lafleur, Lafleur Petrus, and Petrus in Pomerol only sells direct, sells out immediately, had never done a vertical before1% for the Planet - 1% of revenue goes towards environmental charitiesBordeaux’s rise and fallKey advantagesA port city, far enough inland to be a safe port12th century - duchy of the English crown, wines were sold in the London marketThe system of chateaux, merchants, negociants was built for exportTerroir is very complex (which may be why it’s not talked about much), e.g., of the 61 wines in the 1855 Medoc classification, all of them are on two specific gravel terraces (#3 & 4) of the six terraces of the MedocMostly clay underneath with gravel on topLots of micro terroirsSt Emilion - has pure limestone, clay, and gravelIssues that have hurt BordeauxEvery vintage is not great, though Bordelais often say thatFrustrate people based on the prices they ask (e.g., 2009/2010 vintages - many people who bought lost money)La Place de BordeauxBusiness to business, sell to merchants that sell to consumersVirtual marketplace - enables access to 10,000 clients globallyIncludes chateaux, brokers, and negociantsSells wine into every level of the food chain - has specialists for on-trade, off-trade, hotels, corner shops, supermarkets, etc.…It doesn’t build your brand but makes sure it gets everywhereGood at giving the illusion of scarcityCan use La Place for specific markets - La Place has expertise in the Asian markets (e.g., China, Vietnam, Japan)Very rare to have exclusivity for negociantsDownsides of La PlaceCreates a very competitive environment - low-end wines compete with each otherProtects Bordeaux well; merchants need to buy in bad years to get allocations in good yearsNo direct contact with consumers for wineriesLess effective for small guys that aren’t established brandsNon-Bordeaux wines selling on La PlaceGone from nothing to 60 wines five years ago to 90 wines in 2021Provides access to global markets - shows wines next to the great wines of BordeauxOpus One - the 2nd non-Bordeaux wine on La Place (after Almaviva), sold wines since 2004, opened an office in BordeauxForced negociants to share client lists (created more transparency)1st Champagne just joined - Clos des Goisses (Philipponnat) - only 600 bottles of 1996 late releaseNo Burgundy producers (not enough volume, no need for it, and the rivalry between Burgundy and Bordeaux)Barriers to joining La Place - need enough volume to get everywhere, need to do your own brand-building work, and meeting customersAn increase in overseas wines has hurt smaller Bordeaux estates -> negociants have limited budgets and drop themMarketing Bordeaux - unlikely to be another 1855 like classification, St Emilion’s classification every ten years is constantly litigated, some marketing organizations: Pomerol Seduction - 8-10 Pomerol estates that band togetherBordeaux Oxygen - young producers, targeting younger audiences, no longer activeEn PrimeurDue to export focus, Bordeaux always had samples shipped off overseasFrom the early 1980s, Parker injected excitement into En Primeur systemPeople used to make money, and now they are often better off waiting until wines are in bottle with certain exceptions (e.g., tiny production Pomerols)No longer has the same sense of urgencyTranche system - release a small amount of wine at one price, then release more later at higher pricesE.g., 2010 1st growths came out at €600/bottle (these people made money), final tranche at €1,200/bottle (these people lost money) -> destroyed interest in en primeur in the Chinese marketnon-Bordeaux wines price more consistently than Bordeaux winesLatour dropping out of en primeurSaid they wanted to store wines and release them when best for consumersStill sold to negociants / La PlaceDon’t1980’s know if this has worked better or notChateau Palmer - sells 50% en primeur, 50% ten years later Get access to library episodes Hosted on Acast. 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