Wine experts are unanimous that 2005 Bordeaux is the greatest vintage in living memory, according to wine importers Wands Limited.
The experts' verdict was issued during the week of wine tastings at the Union des Grands Crus Tastings, held in France, as young wines (en primeur) from the leading chateaux were sampled by foreign buyers and journalists.
Each spring, the great wine-growing properties of Bordeaux produce young barrel samples from the previous year's harvest. This is called en primeur, a trade term for wine that is sold as a "future" - before it is bottled.
The en primeur is then tasted and assessed by members of the international wine trade in Bordeaux. Depending on their criticism, prices are set. The wine will stay in barrels and will be bottled and shipped to customers two years later. It is expected that the prices of the 2005 vintage will be astronomical, Wands said.
However, it is not just the famous names that have made good wine in 2005. Many of the more modestly priced petits chateaux have also produced some very successful examples and at much more affordable prices.
Wands is launching its en primeur offers on a selection of Bordeaux 2005 vintages from the best chateaux to connoisseurs and wine lovers. This en primeur wine will be shipped to Malta in spring 2008.
"There are very good reasons to buy en primeur. The most obvious is cost. En primeur enables customers to buy the wines at an initial release price, which is usually the cheapest the wines will ever be," said Wands' wine manager, David Micallef St John.
Wands said previous experience showed that special vintages are excellent long-term investments when bought early.
Both the important red grapes of Bordeaux, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon did exceptionally well and everything pointed towards beautiful wines with the classic hallmarks of Bordeaux. "White wines from the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes are also looking very good indeed."
Anyone wishing to find out more about en primeur Bordeaux wines or is looking for an opportunity to buy may contact Wands on 2123 2121.