Wine: Chateau Pontet Canet Grape: Cabernet, sauvignon, merlot Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France Vintage: 1996 Bordeaux has had a succession of poor-to-mediocre vintages from 1991 to 1994. However, the 1995 vintage is excellent and so is the 1996. The top chateaux have yet to release these wines as they are still maturing in small oak barrels or have just been bottled.
Nevertheless, they can still be purchased en primeur, which essentially means the wines are paid for now with delivery at a date in the future.
Buying en primeur can mean substantial savings if the current demand for red Bordeaux continues its upward spiral.
Remy Fine Wines have a number of wines from the 1996 vintage. Payment is in two parts: 50 per cent by October 31, 1997, and 50 per cent by January 1999 when the wines should be available for delivery.
For investment, choose only first growths: Cheval Blanc ($1,550), Haut Brion ($1,788), Lafite Rothschild ($1,680), Latour ($2,386), Margaux ($2,650) and Mouton Rothschild ($1,888) are available and should appreciate in value over time.
After tasting the 1996 wines in Bordeaux in June there appear to be some well-priced wines. Chateau Pontet Canet ($318), Chateau Lafon Rochet ($288) and Chateau Smith Haut Lafite ($388) should all provide splendid drinking in the early 21st century.