Robert Parker released his revised tasting notes on the 2000 vintage on Wednesday, revealing some notable shifts in both directions. As we mentioned on Wednesday, Lafite, Ausone and Cheval Blanc were dealt the heaviest blows, with Parker stripping them of their perfect scores and reassigning them 98+, 98+ and 99 points respectively. In his notes, the critic wrote that he was struck by the "tight and backward" nature of the ten-year old Lafite, and that the wine was still at least five years short of reaching maturity. Of the highest scoring wines, Figeac lost the most points, slipping from 93 to 85.
On average, the new scores are down a third of a point on the originals. Cos Labory's score saw the greatest slide (from 87 points to 74 points) whilst Fleur de Bouard Le Plus (99) strode well ahead of its original rating, rising by 4 points. In all, 39 wines were downgraded and 41 were upgraded (though upward movement was more reserved).
Of the wines that retained their perfect scores (Mission Haut Brion, Margaux, Pavie, Lafleur and Petrus), only Margaux’s prices have pushed on. The First Growth enjoyed renewed interest this week and traded at a new high of £8,835 (£500 higher than the week before).
Those that were upgraded at the top end of the score scale benefitted most from the rerating, most notably Leoville Poyferre (+2 to 97). The 2000 sprang to life after a month of lethargy, hitting a new high of £900 yesterday. Pontet Canet (+2 to 94) also saw prices peak at £600 – the level last seen in February – as did Haut Brion (+1 to 99; trading at £5,694) and Angelus (+2 to 97; trading at £2,200).
Of the losers, prices have not yet seen any pointed change, though bidding is down on Lafite Rothschild, which traded at £18,000 prior to the rerating. Will the loss of its perfect score have a marked impact on its price? The 1982 was similarly downgraded from 100 to 97 points earlier this year but continues to rise in value, having touched £33,800 per case in April. Whatever the outcome, the 2000’s next trade may be a telling reflection of which is more powerful: Parker or Lafite?
The table below shows 40 wines that received up/downgraded Parker scores.
All scores from erobertparker.com.
