Bordeaux 2024 Primeurs: The Rest of the Right
“I think we’re lost,” said Aubrey.
To be fair, that the ghost of early 20th-century wine writer Aubrey Ealdwyn de Latour should think we were lost was partly my fault. Or maybe entirely my fault. You see, I purposefully omitted to disclose where we were headed.
It wasn’t my idea, of course. I was too busy typing up yesterday’s tasting notes, and programming destinations into Twingo’s GPS, to have something as useful as an idea.
Who is Twingo, did you say? Oh, he is a talking car, real and not a figment of my imagination (obviously), originally a Renault Twingo, but in more recent times he has chosen to wear a disguise, and so he now looks remarkably like a Fiat 500. There is a rumour that Twingo is actually hiding out in Bordeaux while on the run from the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, who have been pursuing a vendetta against him ever since he got lost on the way to the annual Chianti Classico Expo in September 2022 and as a result his passengers – James Suckling and his entire review team – missed their masterclass.
But, as I said, it’s just a rumour.
Anyway, it is Twingo that has been charged with ferrying myself, Aubrey and Taylor Swift around Bordeaux to taste the 2024 primeurs.
Yes, that’s what I said, Taylor Swift. Do keep up. Obviously not the real Taylor Swift though. Following a request from 13 Management, the company charged with managing Taylor’s personal brands, I have been asked to state explicitly that this is a manifestation of Taylor Swift paid for by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, and which represents the spirit of primeurs past. So, to be clear, Taylor Swift the magical manifestation has no formal affiliation with Taylor Swift the magical megastar.
Apart from being exactly the same, obviously.
Anyway, it was Taylor’s idea to not tell Aubrey where our first appointment was.
“I said, I think we’re lost,” he repeated.
“We’re not, darling,” murmured Taylor in his wispy, phantasmagorical left ear. “We just didn’t tell you because we didn’t want another hissy fit like the one we all had to endure when we went to Château Lafleur. We’re heading beyond the normal boundaries of wine on the right bank to check out wines from more distant appellations, such as Lalande-de-Pomerol, Fronsac and Castillon. And more besides.”
Watching from the driver’s seat, my focus flicking intermittently between the road ahead and the ongoing discussion in the back seat, I watched as Aubrey’s face transformed from a shimmering and diaphanous white, to a shimmering and diaphanous red. I never thought I would see a ghost seethe with such rage; Aubrey was clearly about to blow. Indeed, just a split-second later Aubrey shot upwards, translocating though the roof of the Twingo (or Fiat 500, whichever you find most plausible, it’s up to you), leaving Taylor and myself behind.
“Well, looks like you’re on your own again,” sighed Taylor.
-o-
As is usual, in this instalment of my primeurs reports I ‘mop up’ on the right bank, with all the appellations beyond St Emilion and Pomerol. This means Fronsac (and Canon-Fronsac too, of course), Lalande-de-Pomerol, the St Emilion satellites and the various Côtes of Bordeaux, most notably Castillon.
