Talking about under recognized and undervalued - your lectures - and the insight they provide - are under recognized and undervalued. Keep up the good work - rather, great work - Sir.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Kulan: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comments. I really appreciate it when viewers/subscribers take the time to give me comments and let me know I am on the right track and some values what I am doing. I am just happy someone finds my thoughts useful. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Love these videos! Really looking forward to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th growth ones. Cheers!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

SC 34: thanks for the continued support. I do enjoy these videos and they spark a lot of conversation/debate. My views are personal but I like to hear what other people think as well so I am always a little nervous about how people to react. But everyone is always polite even if they don't agree with me. Cheers!

@sc3434

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter True, conversation will indeed happen, but it's all subjective. I agree with basically everything you said. The Larose and Brane I feel are a little better than your take on them, but hey, everyone is different! Other than that, I agree 100% on the other chateaux. I love Bordeaux and really enjoy listening to others opinions... particularly on the classified growths. Cheers!

Fantastic video. Thanks so much! Absolutely love Bordeaux. I’ve only had a few of these but am looking forward to trying more.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Modular Landing: glad you enjoyed this video. Please watch my other videos in my Bordeaux Wine Basics series. Cheers!

This is such a great series and always enjoy the insight on the wineries and your favorite vintages ! I also very much agree with the discussion of super seconds at the end.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Wyatt: thanks for your continued support. My comment on super seconds sparked some lively discussions but I just think it is just a term that make wine drinkers feel elevated without really assisting anyone in understanding anything. This is particularly the case for people who use the term and have never or very infrequently drank first growths. How would you know it taste a lot like a first growth and what is the characteristic of first growth? Point rating? That goes back to my discussion of people not understanding the historical and modern context of the 1855 classification system. Will do a video on rating shortly which I am sure will spark more discussions. Cheers!

I will be opening a 2010 Rauzan Segla next month. It will be my first time drinking a rather "Expensive" wine. Can't wait!! Thanks for the videos

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Vinay: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. 2010 Rauzan is very nice wine. Still might be a bit young so make sure you air it in a decanter for minimum 2-3 hours. Hope you enjoy it. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Great video and explanation

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

flupedose: thank you so much for your kind comment. Please like, subscribe and keep watching! Cheers!

Extraordinary presentation. Both as a wine culture lesson and as a life lesson. And speaking of Super Seconds ...like in "Animal Farm"...all are equal but some are more equal than others....

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Adrian: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comment. I try to do something a bit different than other channels in that I try to put my personal spin on things and apply my wine knowledge to other parts of my life. I really want to get across that wine knowledge does not equate to wine wisdom. That is, a lot of people have a lot of wine knowledge but they don't translate that knowledge and the lessons we learn from winemakers, the terroir into other parts of their life. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@adrianplesescu

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter If you're going to hiccup from time to time...know that it's a "cheers" from me with every new bottle of Bordeaux opened!

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@adrianplesescu Cheers!

Pichon Lalande is tough to beat! My favorite 2nd and it belongs on many occasions with the 1st growths

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Cody Bruce: Pichon Lalande is producing some spectacular wines since Nicolas Glumineau moved over from Montrose...he has the wines showing their natural elegance and subtlety. Not sure I would agree that they compare to 1st growths on a consistent basis but very, very good wines. Please keep watching! Cheers!

This was a very helpful video

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Bee: thank you so much for watching my video and leaving a comment. Please like, subscribe and keep watching! Please see my other videos in the Bordeaux Basics series. Cheers!

Opened a Grand Puy Lacoste 2008 last night. Until now I havent personally had that wow moment with a Bordeaux. Last night was finally it! What a wonderful wine and its even more amazing now on day two. I get why these are still classic wines and so beloved all over the world.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

breathewithme: so happy for you. You really need 10 years for most growth wines to really mature and 08 is a great vintage. Still quite youthful but definitely starting to approach drinking window. Your tasting note sounds about right...tells me that it still has another 5-7 years to go before it hits its drinking window. That is the difficulty with high end wines....you need so much time just to get them in their drinking window and not many people have the time, patience, funds or space to store wines for so long. Cheers!

@anthonyng8800

Жыл бұрын

So well said and summarizes so much abt bordeaux

Very nice video! 3rd growth would be also very interesting!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

moritz: I did do a video on 3rd growth and you can use the search function on my channel to find it. Or just go to my Bordeaux Basics playlist. Cheers!

It’s so sad that I don’t know any of these bottles :)) I do know a few from first growth bottles though. Thanks for doing these reviews. They’re great. Cheers!

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

You are so welcome!

Love this… very educational. You broke my heart because one of my go to wine is chateau leoville poyferre …

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Sanjay: thanks for viewing my video and your comment. Sorry but maybe that is my personal opinion. Although I just saw another very high rating for their 2019 vintage so perhaps I am wrong and need to go back to try their wines again. Cheers!

@sanjaypatelmd4669

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I have ordered 30 bottles of this wine - futures

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@sanjaypatelmd4669 2019 is a great futures...should have bought it. Ratings are great and the cost was lower than most recent years. Cheers!

Great topics for Bordeaux lovers. My personal favorite is Cos. Curious about your analysis on 5 growth. Wide variety in quality. Regards from The Netherlands

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Roeland: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. Please also check out my other videos in this series on 1st and 3rd growth wines. Cos is having a resurgence in the last few years. Not that quality was down but more that wines like Ducru and Leoville were grabbing more of the spotlight and everyone forgot how good Cos was. Please like, subscribe and keep watching! Cheers!

These are some fabulous choices. 5 of them are my go to choices for good Bordeaux especially in a great year (09, 10, 15,16) as I have to ration with first growths. I think your relative assessment of them is helpful . I do differ on Brane-Cantenac which I really like, but I buy it in great years. I like Leoville Les Casses and Montrose the best. I agree with Pichon Lalande for value. I also like the 2nd label from them.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Brian: thank you for viewing my channel and your comments. I will be drinking Brane Cantenac soon and giving it another look. Margaux region wines have had a bit of a renaissance lately so there might be some great value here. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Excellent video, again! I already drank all these Second Growths that you showed here, but in other vintages, like 2006, 2011 etc. In my opinion and personal taste, the more “monumental” wine was Château Léoville las Cases. And the more charming and captivating was Château Léoville Poyferré…and far beyond…I think that it is more “feminine” than Château Margaux itself (!). PS: I drank only one bottle of Château Margaux until now: a bottle of 1994 vintage.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

grigorhaig: maybe I have to retry Leoville Poyferre. Haven't had it in awhile so perhaps quality level has gone up. Margaux is exceptional in great vintages but really good in decent vintages. But for Chateau Margaux, sometimes what would be considered off vintages are some their best vintages...1983 comes to mind.Cheers!

I really enjoyed this video. For a starter and budget minded like me what would be a reasonable vintage (year) to buy? How long should I keep them for? Just want to start a small collection.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

David: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comment. I think if you are just starting off, drink at the under $20 level. At a certain point, you may want to increase your scope and then you move up to $40. I do these videos each month so you can go back to my earlier suggestions...they may not be on sale but gives you an idea of what to buy. I think if you are just getting started, just focus on wines you drink right away. That may be enough for you. Don't let anyone force you to do any more. If you are happy just buying a few wines each month, then great. But if you want to progress, then think about storing wines. I encourage you to drink different types of wine and figure out what you do and don't like. Go to a wine festival as that will let you try many wines at once. Hope this helps. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Inspired by your video, I went and purchased a bottle of Leoville Las Cases 2015 today. What’s generally considered maybe “too young” to open and how would one know when’s just the right time to open a bottle considering their vintage year?

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Jason: Yes, 2015 is a bit young to drink as it is a tannic vintage. I can't give you a generic answer to your questions...when to drink something depends on your personal taste preference, your storage conditions, etc. You can try to figure out what is the right window for you by reading what others say about the vintage but ultimately, you can't really know unless you try yourself. If money is no object, ideally, you would drink every wine young so that you can figure out what a great wine taste like when it is young. That is what I am trying to do with some of my tastings....hoping to save some people some money but giving them some idea what a young wine will taste like. For 2015 Bordeaux, it is a pretty strong vintage and Leoville Las Cases is a bold wine. So you can always drink it young and see what you think but I don't think you can really assess the true quality of the wine until around 2025 or even better, 2030. That is the problem with Trophy Wines...many need 20+ years to get to their peak and a lot of things can happen to a wine in 20 years that might disturb its development + most people don't have that type of patience. Hope this helps. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

For expensive Bordeaux wines, does it always make sense to buy OWC of 6/12? Would it make sense for someone like me with a limited budget to just buy 3 and cellar it and open it say in 20 years time? Just wanted your thoughts on this. Love this detailed video!!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Justin: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comment. You don't have to buy 6/12...you should just buy what you can for your budget. Ideally, you would buy at least 2 bottles..one to drink a bit early and if it really too early, one to drink at its peak. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

I have been a wine lover for a long time--over 50 years. At my present age, I am wondering whether or not to keep holding some of the nicer wines for a while longer--or simply drink them now and before I croak. Buying Wine Futures and holding them seems to be problematic for me at age 83. I have several wines I'm holding for another year or 2 before opening them for a tasting: Chateau Leoville Barton 2016, and Chateau Ducru Beaucaiillou 2017, and Chateau Pontet-Canet 2014. Also have a single bottle of Chateau Figiac 2015 that I'm saving for some special occasion. I really can't cellar wines that I'm wanting to taste much longer.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Rodger: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. I am only mid 50s and I have no confidence that at your age, I will be alive, let alone have the health or taste buds to enjoy wine. So at your age, I would pop and enjoy anything and everything you have. Wait for what?.What have you not experienced or enjoyed in your 83 years? If was 83, had your wines and still had the ability to enjoy and taste wine, every day would be a celebration so I am very envious of you! You are correct...absolutely no reason to buy futures unless you are buying to pass on to future generations or you think there will be some new medical innovation that will allow you to live until 150. Most Bordeaux won't hit their peak until 20 years from the vintage. We can't know about tomorrow. Tomorrow you may not have the health to drink. I see too many people spend a lifetime collecting magnificent wines only to pass them on to people like me, who buy their wines at auction. They may enjoy the money they get from selling the wines but most often, it is their estate (and children) that enjoy that. So if you have a huge collection, either sell it and use the money to enjoy yourself or drink it. Of course, you should leave something to those after you but for wines, you have to assume the next generation enjoys wines. My point is that you should at least get something back from the lifetime you have spent enjoying wines. Wines are meant for enjoying so sell them if you are not going to drink them or donate them so some good from come from the wines. If you can't drink them all, share them with people who may never have the good fortune of drinking these magnificent wines. Particularly sommeliers or people in the wine industry who could really make use of tasting some great wines. There is no use in holding wine. You have spent a lifetime enjoying wine and I am sure you have lots a great memories and stories to share. Make someone's day and let them build memories just like you by sharing your wine with them. Just my personal opinion...cheers!

Thanks for an excellent video! As always. Btw, it would be interesting to hear you explain more the term «austere». Does it mean «very tannic»? Or sort of closed?

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

breathewithme: thanks for your continued support. OK...I will try to go through this in my December update or do a shorter video on this. Cheers!

@breethewithme

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! Really craving some 2nd growths now after this video.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@breethewithme there are some pretty affordable one around. I actually think they might be quite early drinking but that is why I am interested in drinking a 2nd growth 2017 just to see how they are progressing. Cheers!

Great to hear insights on all the 2nd Growth Wines! Do you have any favorite 2nd wines among the 2nd Growths?

@TrophyWineHunter

9 ай бұрын

Mickey: thank you for viewing my video. Please view my video on 2nd wines in my Bordeaux Basics series. I am not a big fan on 2nd wines unless there is a huge difference in price between the Grand Cru and the 2nd wine (more than 3x price difference. With 2nd wines, I think you should try to stick to first growth or first growth equivalents on the Right Bank. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Will you also do a video of 3rd growth? Also what are your thoughts on the grave or pomerol wines? Something like Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Chateau Pape Clement or Domaine De Chevalier in comparison to the growth wines?

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Chris G: thank you for your continued support and comments. Yes, I will eventually do videos on 3rd, 4th and 5th growth wines. I am not as familiar with Grave wines as Pomerol. I love Pomerol....had a chance to visit some of the wineries and fell in love with the wines. See an upcoming wine night on Right Bank wines. SML: I visited the winery...good mid level producer. Whites I think are better than reds. Pape Clement: still not sold on this wine maybe because so many push this wine on me so hard to like it. Chevalier: again, I think whites better than reds. Everyone has their own personal favourites so once we get to Right Bank, I will talk about my favorites. Patience, my friend....so many wines I would love to talk about but try to spread out content a bit. Cheers!

@chrisginoc

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter I wish I had a local wine group here in Southern California because as you said - Yes, so many wines to try and explore.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@chrisginoc I don't have a particular wine group here. I just find different friends of different drinking experience levels. For me, all that is important is that they enjoy wine and they are nice people. You actually learn a lot from people without a lot of formal wine training as they are more instinctive since they are not swayed by reputation and won't know the price of wines off hand. Cheers!

Hey! Great video with a lot of quality content! I really enjoy your analysis of second growth and super seconds. I also agree that the term "super seconds" has been used in some snobbish ways today. One quick question, do you think that some of the third or even fifth growth wines today can be way better than some of the second growth? In my personal experience, I have found myself preferring some lower-growth wines much better than some of the second growth.

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

GY: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comments. Yes, I believe in any given you there are 3rd growths like Palmer and 5th growths like Lynch Bages and Pontet Canet that fairly regularly more toward my palate that a lot of the 2nd growths. However, over a long extended period (we are talking 30 years), you are still better off with many 2nd growths. So if I was to pick a random vintage and had a choice between a random 2nd growth and a random 5th growth, I would take the 2nd growth and would be probably feeling pretty good like 90% of the time. I think people don't put things in historical perspective...producing really good wines for 10 years is really not consistent since all the growth wines have been around for 150 years. So even producing consistent wines for the last 30 years is only 1/3 of the sample of wines that winery has produced. Outside of the 1st growths and perhaps a few 2nd growths, on the Left Bank, there are very few wineries who can show a consistent level of quality for the last 30 years. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@GY_ye

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter Thank you for a very in-depth and comprehensive analysis. I definitely learned a lot from your channel! Cheers.

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@GY_ye Cheers!

Just discovered this vid, and it’s a great piece of work! I mostly agree with what you said. One humble disagreement is about Durfort Vivens. I think its recent vintages (particularly 2016, 19, and 20) are hitting the right spot and it’s under-appreciated and undervalued. To me, they are on the rise (like Rauzan Segla). If you have a chance, please give it another shot! Maybe not as the level of the second growth, but much better than its mediocre era. P Thanks for this great vid again!

@TrophyWineHunter

5 ай бұрын

SH: thank you for watching my video and your comment. I agree that Margaux is a renaissance region which. over the last few years, is making tremendous wines. I also agree I need to try Durfort again as I haven't had a recent vintage. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Always thought La Mission or Lynch Bages should be in this group as well.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Yong: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. I will keep you in suspense as I will talk about Lynch Bages when I do my 5th growth wines video and La Mission when I my video on the Pessac Leognan region but I don't think either belongs in this class: Lynch because it doesn't command the price of other 2nd growths and La Mission because it does not have the consistency. Remember that the growth system is a measure of price per bottle and it is for the life of the wine (since 1855), not just the last 10-20 years. You have to take into account the historical quality/price of the wine and many wines that are superstars today were mere mortals only 30 years ago. Please like, subscribe and keep watching! Cheers!

Excellent video! What do you think would be the best Bordeaux wine to buy under €120?

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Juan: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. Hard to say as I don't know what pricing is like in your jurisdiction and what you like. If you give me a few choices of what is available to you, I am happy to provide you with my personal opinion. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Although I don't use the term "Super-Second," I don't see anything wrong with it. If you say the classification system was based on reputation and price from 1855 and that the same wines have changed a lot in quality and price over time due to ownership (investment & personal style), taste trends, etc. then why should the classification system even be valid today. Critics often rate non-first growth wines higher or equal to first growth wines, so in many ways preferring first growth is about price and status, which to me is snobbier than drinking a cheaper wine that gives the same pleasure, which is just smart shopping. Obviously, if your purpose is to sell the wines, then yes, you should buy into the classification system because it still holds weight in auctions, etc. If you're interested in history too, I could also see more value with the First Growths because you're drinking wines that have been treasured for 100's of years although they haven't always maintained relative quality throughout that time. Bottom line, I don't really bother with the 1855 classification system and just look at the reviews of wines vintage to vintage and what matches my palate. Certain regions do better vintage to vintage and as you say, ownership investments and change of winemakers can affect the quality and style of wine. What I think is better is what other parts of Bordeaux do. Other parts of Bordeaux require that the wines be re-evaluated and re-classified every so often to maintain their classification. Or in Burgundy, it's based on terroir distinction and not just price/reputation, so it's a matter of enjoying unique differences in the terroir than necessarily ranking. So there are a lot of ways to look at it. I do like Leoville Poyferre and Brane Cantenac for their more elegant style and Brane Cantenac fits the classic "Margaux" style, so it depends on your palate and what you're looking for. Some want more distinction in the appellations. I prefer diversity in styles and due to terroir to fit my mood. Overall, most of Bordeaux and the world of wine is trending to more elegant, less-oaked and extracted wines now that Parker has retired.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Aaron: thank you for your continued support and your comment. Love the discussion. I see your point but I don't think you can say the growth system does not work entirely. Some 2nd wines may score at a comparable level of first growths but that would be in any given year. If you look at a 20 or 30 year track record, 1st growths have a much better quality level overall...and by quite a lot....or else you wouldn't see the difference in price. Whether you agree with the system or not, I think it is still relevant as it controls pricing of wines. So I am trying to give my views of what I see an the auction level as what happens there also shapes pricing for consumers. Just from personal experience, I have rarely drunk a 2nd growth that is better that a first growth of the same year....maybe comparable or slightly better. Having said that, I don't normally blind taste wines a lot so you could say I have been affected by the reputation of the wine but in my experience, this is across the board even when I drinking with people who are not that experienced with wines. I am sorry, this is gonna sound super snobby but I believe critics have to evaluate a lot of 2nd growth wines quite high as very few people can afford first growths. That would not be popular to say 1st growths are the best. But in my experience, there is a distinct difference in quality. The problem I have with term super second is that it add nothing to your understanding of wine. With the 1855 classification system, even if you don't buy into it, there is a lot of historical context and they are still among the top wine in Bordeaux. Keep watching and keep the comments coming! Cheers!

@aaronchan2942

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter I certainly don't have a lot of experience drinking 1st growth wines, but I know that even they have historically seen highs and lows in their quality according to longtime critics and connoisseurs although all of them are producing at a high level today. And there's a whole other can of worms to discuss when talking about evaluating wines because there's so much variance in the weight of the criteria and personal subjective tastes. Not to mention, some of the people doing the classifications are in the industry themselves and have biases, such as the lawsuit against the owner of Angelus who is accused of helping certain wines move up in the classification. There are politics and financial motivations of course. However, you yourself said that some of the 2nd growth no longer deserve to be 2nd growth, so a classification system that objectively and blindly re-evaluates the wines every 5-10 years makes more sense. Another issue is scarcity. These First Growths actually produce a lot of wine compared to smaller St. Emilion Chateaux, Barolo, Burgundy, or cult-wines like Screaming Eagle, so in some ways they are over-priced and they charge this much based on reputation and status and not just superior quality that most average people still wouldn't be able to distinguish. It takes a certain amount of wealth and/or expertise to even have a discussion on 1st and 2nd growth and which deserve higher or lower classifications. Lastly, many people include La Mission Haut Brion, Cheval Blanc, Ausone, d'Yquem at the same level as the 1st growths and so the classification system is incomplete. It doesn't include all of Bordeaux. Some of these wines have as much of reputation, quality, history and even higher prices.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@aaronchan2942 wow, so many points...wish you were here and we can just discuss over a glass on wine! So on historical references, I have had the pleasure of drinking wines back the 1920s. In general, you do have a better chance of having a good experience based on the classification system (although this will be relevant to very few people as it is extraordinarily hard to get old bottles with good provenance) On reclassification, you are correct but as you probably realize, that will never happen. Too many stakeholders and would create too much of an upheaval in the wine world. Every professed critic would have to retaste all the wines they have had over the career. Also, as you can see with St. Emilion, there is always dispute when you downgrade anyone. So my thinking is probably the purest rating is older ratings as back then, not as much interest in wines and the people who were rating wines actually were wine drinkers and wine buyers. There will always be politics and biased but back then, it was more overt and we have the benefit of looking backwards so we actually know what the influences were at that time. Pricing is a really difficult topic as if you look at it from a non drinkers perspective, almost ever wine over $40 is overpriced. That is why I am of the opinion, with higher end wines, it is no longer just about taste. It is about history, reputation and what that wine represents. On ratings, I will have a video out sometime about ratings. My view is ratings are just for your personal use. My rating/score of a wine is going to different from everyone's elses. Ratings are very helpful when you first get into wines but after you have experience, I just use them as reference points and buy mostly on my personal preference. I will talk about why ratings are basically useless and really just essentially a marketing tool (that is going to be a controversial video!). But my personal belief is that any wine rating that is more than 2 years old is essentially useless (other than from a historical perspective) because wine evolves and the rating/score is only accurate for that moment in time. On Right Bank, you are correct. There are many wines that I actually prefer to 1st growth wines. What I am trying to do with my Bordeaux Basics series is go step to step to analyze Bordeaux wines based on my personal experience. Left Bank/1855 Classification system is a good place to start as it has some order (whether you agree or not). I think through my videos, you will get a pretty good understanding of the 1855 Classification System, how it works, how it was used historically and how it should be used today. Right Bank St. Emilion is the next region to explore as it has a system. Then Pomerol, which is as difficult to understand as Burgundy. I am not defending the 1855 Classification System but neither am I a proponent that it has no value. It is very helpful for me in determining whether a Bordeaux growth wine is a buy at a certain time or not, which is something most people struggle with for Bordeaux wines. If you are a value (under $40) Bordeaux drinker, it has no relevance. But if you aspire to buy more expensive Bordeaux, I think it is useful to have an in depth understanding of how the system works and when certain wines are at a good price or good time in their history. So what I am saying is whether a buy a Bordeaux growth wine is a function of many factors but one of the factors is the 1855 Classification System since I know that is something people look at both from a consumer and investment perspective. Again, love the discussion as I do learn such much from my viewers. Cheers!

Agree with you about the superseconds!

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Lisa: thank you for your support! I don't think this view is shared by some in the wine community but I just think words like Super Seconds mean nothing, don't really help people understand wines and puts a barrier between those who just want to enjoy wines and the wine snobs. Don't get me wrong, I am guilty of over complicating wine talk but words like these just give people a feeling of knowledge when there is no real understanding behind it. Of course I am generalizing but if you ask a person what is a Super Second, you will get 10 different answers because it is a made up, subjective term, not a defined term (like the Growth Wines of 1855). Cheers!

Would love to see a video on Chateau Pontet Canet. For being a 5th growth, it gets the reputation of at least 2nd. It has some legendary vintages like the 2009 & 2010. Any experience with this wine?

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Zack: love Pontet Canet. Was lucky enough to visit the winery and sit down for lunch with Justine Tessoron. Then was at a dinner with Alfred Tessoron here in Vancouver. 2009 & 2010 vintages are truly amazing and an example of how our taste preferences have changed between 1855 and now. I don't think it is a matter of them producing wines at a 2nd Growth level....more that they producing wines in a modern style that we all enjoy whereas other wineries are still producing wines for the 1855 or 1960's tastebuds. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@codybruce1555

2 жыл бұрын

The 09 and 10 pontet canet are beautiful! Lynch Bages is another great 5th growth. When Pauillac gets it right I feel it’s the best region on the left bank.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@codybruce1555 thank you for viewing video and your comment. Yes, I agree Pontet is a great wine. Lynch can be hit and miss but the last few years, they have been great and will get better with their new winemaking facilities. Please like and keep watching! Cheers!

@codybruce1555

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter 88 and 89 Lynch Bages were drinking great the last time I had them (July 2020) I’m enjoying the content. Keep it coming!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@codybruce1555 thanks for the encouraging words! Wow..88 and 89 are showing great right now. Bit of a comeback vintage as previously it was a little dormant but these are now the new in fashion Bordeaux vintages since 82 is now in decline. See my video on 3rd growth wines and my upcoming video review of the 1966 La Violette. Cheers!

Hello Trophy. Quick question. Would you rather drink/buy top second growth wines or the 2nd wines of first growth wines?

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Jay: thank you for viewing my video and your great question. It all depends on price but if it was the same price, I would, no question, take a 2nd wine of a first growth. In my opinion any 2nd wine of a first growth will be better than any "super second" more than 50% of the time if you are talking about 2010 onwards. Harder to say if you are going backwards in time as the 1st growths didn't put as much emphasis on 2nd wines (and they didn't command high prices/generate as much income) as they do now. As you see in my video, I think "super second" is a misnomer...2nd growth wines should be really good and anyone who thinks a super second can compare to 1st growths on a consistent basis hasn't drank enough 1st growth wines. Having said that most 2nd wines of first growths are more expensive than super seconds so then it becomes what you prefer or what you can afford. Given the quality now of the 2nd wines of first growths and the recognition that they are not really 2nd wines in quality (they are probably better than most Grand Cru Bordeaux) + the cache around drinking them, I would still prefer the 2nd wine to a first growth as long as the price difference isn't too much. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@jayaldeguer6002

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for your invaluable inputs. This gives me a much clearer direction moving forward. Your videos have been instrumental in making me understand Bordeaux wines much better. 🙏🏼 Lastly, which of the 2nd wines of the 1st growths do you feel is stylistically consistent/closest to their first growth counterpart?

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@jayaldeguer6002 thank you so much for your kind comments. In my opinion, you should really consider the 2nd wine as a wine in itself, not a mini first growth or a lesser version. Each wine has its own personality. I think Carruades de Lafite and Les Forts de Latour are exceptional wines by themselves but for me, the most interesting of the 2nd wines of first growths is Le Petit Mouton, which is still developing its own style.and still evolving. Cheers!

@jayaldeguer6002

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for pointing that out. True; they should be appreciated for their own merit and style. This way you just appreciate the wine for what it is instead of benchmarking it with its counterpart. I agree that should be the mindset. Im visiting hongkong now with so many wines to enjoy! Cheers!

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@jayaldeguer6002 yes...HK has a huge selection of wine so enjoy. Cheers!

Yo Bro, the Gruard Larose 1989 is a winner. Not every GL vintage is, but things clicked in ‘89 - probably more so than the great ‘90 vintage for this particular wine. Also, Leoville Barton has never disappointed me and is generally a bargain among second growths. Pinchon Baron ‘90 is outstanding; just keep it to yourself. Kevin Zraly in Manhattan hipped me to it years ago.

@TrophyWineHunter

7 ай бұрын

Johnny: thanks for viewing my video. I agree with your assessment that not all GL vintages are exceptional but I think they are on the rise again. Leoville Barton - I think their quality peaked around 2015/2016 and with Mr. Barton's death, it will take them about 10 years to find a new identity. PB: I agree but need to try some more of the stuff. I need to do deep dive into Pichon Baron and Pichon Lalande. Cheers!

Where do you place La Mission Haut Brion?

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Michael G: thank you for viewing my video and your question. Honestly, I have not had that much experience with La Mission (probably had around 6-8 bottles) but my impression of the wine is it is very good. Probably at least the level of Ducru/Leoville and in the last few vintages, arguable, slightly better. What do you think? Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@michaelg1357

2 жыл бұрын

To me it is the quality of a first growth (Clarence Dillon owns both HB and LMHB) but the price is somewhat better on initial release. It is my favorite overall left bank Bordeaux and continues to age quite well too.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelg1357 you are probably correct but I just haven't had enough LMHB to talk knowledgeably about it. However, my first experience with it was the 1989 which was spectacular and really caught my attention. Cheers!

I'd rather have you drink drink a Pichon Lalande and a Durfort Vivens. Had the '14 Pichon Lalande and it was great. Rarely can I drink a wine like that.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Chris: thanks for viewing my channel...unfortunately at the time I made the video, that was all that was available. I just got to my long term storage facility and brought back more stuff so watch that video next week! If you think 14 Pichon is great, recent Pichon Lalande is incredible. I would also love to try Durfort Vivens again but hard to find. Cheers!

@rjo8500

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter Yes the Durfort-Vivens is great. My local superstore had four bottles of the 2018 vintage and I bought one at $96. Decanted it for 6+ hrs. It was amazing. I went back and grabbed the other three bottles to cellar. Cool channel.

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@rjo8500 thanks for viewing my channel and your comment. Good to know. I might go and buy a bottle to review. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@rjo8500

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter Yes please do. It’s definitely a sleeper, especially the 2018. Just give it extra decanter time to open up and it will reward you. I noticed your past videos and that you had an 1988 Las Cases. I also had the experience to enjoy that vintage of Las Cases too last year. I also had an ‘89 and a 2000 Cos d’Estournel recently and safe to say the complexity of the Durfort-Vivens was on par with those wines, actually edging out the Cos. Earthy, minerality, dark fruit, oak, cigar, cedar notes is all there. I have always been a fan of Saint-Julien wines, but recently have been impressed by offerings from Margaux with their smooth tannins.

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@rjo8500 recent Margaux vintages have been really good. I think the Margaux region lagged a bit in the 1990 and early 2000 but the last few vintages, there has been a bit of a renaissance in the region...not sure why all of the sudden but that is the most exciting of the 4 Left Bank grown regions now and the one that has the most upside. Cheers!

This sounds a bit simple, but ultimately wine is simply fermented grape juice. Without wanting to play down the process of wine. In other words, just an agricultural product. Admittedly a fascinating product! However, with this status, wine has little to earn. Certainly through the wine industrie and trade. So we create a world of luxury and scarcity around wine, of good, better, the very best. To justify the prices of the most expensive wines. Lists, classifications are increasing status and lucrative, as was already known in 1855. The value of such lists will always be a point of discussion. For one wine taster, it is an objective, it creates clarity. The other person sees it more as a tool and follows his own path. The chateaux from the informative video are all 2nd growth wines and come from the left bank, but for the rest, they are all different wine personalities. With a variety of price tags and qualities. For lovers with a variety of taste preferences. So how useful is it to make another list of good, better, best?Better, learn to appreciate different wine-making qualities, in addition, they need each other to be seen. Often you just have to forget a classification and rely your own taste development. And continue to work on this with many different types of wines (Reference framework.). Then lists become less important as a matter of course. Off the beaten track you can discover the most exiting wines. To do this, you have work on your own wine personality! Btw, i have been following Gruaud-Larose '88 & '90 for 27 years, the wines continue to amaze in a positive sense! The wine world is beautiful in all its variety.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Marcus: thank you for your continued support and comments. I think at your level, you are right. But for people trying to wade through the tremendous amount of information we have at our disposal these days, it is very, very confusing. So with my Bordeaux Basics series, I try to give people some structure and a starting point. Ultimately, you are correct...wine is just a beverage...just a tool to increase socializing. Old Gruaud I think was much better. Point is that most other wineries have grown, changed and I don't think Gruaud has kept up in the last 10-15 years. My personal opinion. Cheers!

@marcusvandenbroek8957

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter Of course, you can discuss the topicality/objectivity of the 1855 classification. But when discovering the world of wine and especially the Bordeaux, understanding the classification of 1855 is essential. It's just to find out that it's just a manual. In that respect, you put in some structure and that is always good! As far as Gruaud-Larose is concerned, at that time the chateau was still owned by Cordier. The vinification was then led by the very competent Georges Pali. This is how you can see that there is al lot to do with the management and the responsible winemaker and their ambitions. As you say in the video. Cheers!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcusvandenbroek8957 yes, I am more of a wine drinker rather than a technical person focusing on wine making techniques but as I do there videos, I am discovering normally all winemakers know what to do...sometimes they just don't have the budget or resolve to do better. And some may just want profits rather than make better wine (especially true with large conglomerates) because most wine drinkers care about value. Also, I am learning that yield is very important. In general, lower yields means better quality but lower yields also mean less wine and less profit. Cheers!

@marcusvandenbroek8957

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter For me too, enjoyment is paramount when it comes to wine. Your story is true, but you learn that the story of wine is quite complex. In cultural/historical and technical terms. And often elusive and partly explained, when it comes to different qualities. Regardless of our personel preferences and experience. In an attempt to explain and manage some things. Wine yield is certainly an important point. Just as the age of the vines is important when it comes to depth and complexity. And there are still a number of things that contribute to the quality of wine. The chance of a good/interesting wine is considerable greater. However, there are no guarantees, this is sometimes difficult and confusing. Despite reputation and a goed story! Whether the wine does well in the wine glas, the wine drinkers ultimately determine. And that's good!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcusvandenbroek8957 well said. That is the beauty of wine....a winemaker can do everything right and still not produce a great wine or sometimes, wineries produce a great wine without really knowing why. There is an element of good luck/chance to each bottle of wine you open and that too me is quite exciting. Cheers!

You showed a lot of disrespect to my fav wine : Leoville Poyferre ! I have no idea if you have missed recent vintages, but the wine is super ripe and hedonistic. I like it so much I bought a few days ago 8 bottles of the excellent 2018 vintage.

@TrophyWineHunter

10 ай бұрын

wren: sorry but I just call it as I see it. Again, everyone's palate is a bit different. I think the last few vintages they have made better wines but way too young to tell and you really need a track record of the last 10 years to judge a wine. The good news is I think they may be on the upswing again so it is time for me to retry some of their wines. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@wren460

10 ай бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter while I understand that each of us has a different palate , I disagree that they are just recently on an upswing. Look at LP 2009 100 WA 100 JD ! Then go to Cellartracker and see all the ratings people like myself give to the wine. LP has been doing great wines for more than a decade for sure. Their 2018 was 97 points and WS#7 for 2021. I think that Leoville Poyferre for $140 is a STEAL and if tasted blind you would be surprised. Give it a try, I think you will be surprised about the quality, it is indeed a very sexy wine. Cheers

I had a really bad Brane Cantenac (Margaux) experience ... even worst than fifth and forth growth... so

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Jackie: what vintage was it? I agree that it probably isn't at a 2nd growth level. Please see my review the bottle of Brane Cantenac I drank. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@jachuni

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter 2016, I'm not an expert but for similar price range I like 2018 Lagrange or 2016 Clerc Milon more

@jachuni

Жыл бұрын

haha I also tried a 2014 ducru beaucaillou recently, I like it so much (more expensive tho)

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@jachuni when did you have it? Typically, you have to drink new Bordeaux within about 6-9 months of release or else it will close down. So if you just had it, it might of went into its closed phase. Cheers!

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@jachuni Yes. I agree Ducru Beaucaillou is a better wine for my palate. However, 2014 probably is more drinkable now than 2016, which will really need another 10 years to fully assess. Cheers!

I disagree with you about whether or not I would chose a first growth over a second growth wine . If I was planning on resale than yes simply because the first growth commands a higher price. But higher price does not necessarily mean a better wine. It varies from vintage to vintage . I prefer to look at wine in terms of a value based system , that is for a given vintage what is the relative quality for a given price. I would much prefer a very good well balanced terroir driven second growth to drink at more than 3 times cheaper than a slightly more refined first growth . ( I could have 3 bottles of great second growth for a single first growth). Remember these are renewable food products , not limited paintings or sculptures !

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

charles: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. I think what I was eluding to in the video is that if someone was going to give me a wine and gave me a choice between a 1st growth and even a super second, I would always take the first growth. Your comment that the first growth is normally 3x the price is accurate. But if you are comparing value, then it is a different topic. Value and Trophy Wine drinking don't really align. You could say the same thing about non growth wines compared to 2nd growths where you might get 6 bottles of a value wine compared to 1 bottle of a 2nd growth. I also disagree with your comment that wines are not like limited products. Each vintage of a wine, particular when you get to Trophy Wines is unique and has its own characteristics. There are only so many bottles of each wine produced and once they have been consumed, it is hard to find that bottle again. So I think the mistake that some people make is thinking because they have tried Lafite once, they know Lafite. I have had probably over 100 bottles of Lafite (not just tasting but most of the time actually drinking over dinner with food) and close to 30 vintages and I think I am just beginning to understand the wine. The only point I was try to make is to me, there is no such thing as a super second...that is just a term critics and wine geeks like to use to look knowledgeable because 1/ 2nd growth wines should be "super" anyways; 2/ they are not in the same league as 1st growth wines over a long term of history. Maybe in a given year, they can rival first growths but not consistently over a 20 year period (which is still a short period of time if you are talking about wine production). Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

it is shocking to me that people think classification that happened in 1855 is still relevant today, literally everything changed, not only climate. I think even phylloxera hasnt hit yet so nothing was on rootstocks even…

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

vladimer: Thanks for watching my video and your comment. The 1855 classification is still relevant today but not for the reasons most people think. It is very relevant for the classified wines since for many, that is the basis of their success. It is also relevant at the wine auction level as by and large, the classification system still controls pricing of wines. The exception is mostly Margaux wines but as I have said in previous videos, the quality of these wines are coming back up. To a certain extent, it can be put into the category of wine snob gibberish only it does have historical significance and it does have some relevance in terms of price and reputation. Cheers!

@Ruirspirul

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter well said

Can find 1st growths way under $1500

@TrophyWineHunter

10 ай бұрын

sorry but don't quite understand the comment.

Leoville Les Cases is out of this world good, but you must pay up. Brand-Cantenac is good value for money

@TrophyWineHunter

7 ай бұрын

brian: I agree with LLC. Brane Cantenac, at least with my experience is OK and does not live up to 2nd growth status..improving so we will see over the next few years. Cheers!

BS on Cos Estournel being undervalued. LOL in the last 10 years Cos have always priced 250+ mostly around 330

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Terry: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. I don't know....in BC, Cos is the same price as Ducru and about $100 less that Leoville Las Cases. Also way less than Palmer. I am just saying I think people have undervalued how good this wine is and doesn't get mentioned as much as other 2th growth wines. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

@terryhsiao1745

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter wait. You are in bc!! You know Jack Madrid and JoJo? Let's hang man. We should hit up !!

@terryhsiao1745

2 жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter ok If you are comparing cos to Leoville Las and ducru and palmer. Yes you got a good point.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@terryhsiao1745 No I don't know Jack or Jojo but I follow Jack on instagram and know he is #1 on Vivino so very knowledgeable guy. Not ready to hang out with subscribers yet...probably next year, will start to set up group of hardcore followers...will think about it and announce membership criteria sometime this year. Cheers!

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

@@terryhsiao1745 I just think Cos has been under the radar. I know I have not really drank it much until recently, when I rediscovered how good the wine is. Cheers!

Rauzan Segla is definitely better than Brane Cantenac.

@TrophyWineHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Spiritchaser: I agree! Cheers!

@Spiritchaser93

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter Still, both are better Margaux than the likes the Giscours and D'issan. Brane Cantenac 2016 and Rauzan Segla 2018 are really good value-for-money wines with sensational quality... (both vintages are considered the BEST in their respective histories).

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@Spiritchaser93 Yes, I agree. I recently had a Brane Cantenac 2016 at a dinner and it was very fragrant. Much better than the 2017 I reviewed so perhaps drinking a 2017 is not representative of the wine. Cheers!

@Spiritchaser93

Жыл бұрын

@@TrophyWineHunter Its made in a very classic style, gentle and elegant without too much overextraction or intrusive oak usage. You should definitely try the Rauzan Segla 2018. Its much deeper and fragrant, almost enters into a New World rich fruit style but thankfully does not cross that threshold. Margaux wines are what I expect from Pomerol but done right.

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

@@Spiritchaser93 I was fortunate to visit Rauzan Segla Pre Covid and they are, besides Palmer and Margaux, the best winery in Margaux region. They have everything going the right direction now so I don't doubt their wines will get back to 2nd growth status over the next few years. Cheers!

Lalande > Baron!

@TrophyWineHunter

Жыл бұрын

Cheers!