I have very little knowledge about Sauternes, so I am wondering what all of you will be looking for now that these are hitting the market AND if possible what prices should one be expecting to pay for the ones you list.

Suduiraut, Climans, and Doisy Vedrines.

I bought a case of the Doisy on futures and a half case of the other two.

Sauternes should be reasonable in price for the ratings they will garner. Not the most popular wine. Thank goodness.

Absolutely no reason to buy these as futures. Taste then buy. There are many fine Sauternes from other vintages (still very easy to find the best of the 88-90 wines) currently available that you can drink now. Sauternes historically do not show huge price appreciation. As a result, buying blind is not warranted.

I purchased Guiraud, Suduiraut, Climens, Reiussec, and Doisey Daene La Extravagant. The bottles were all around $40 each except for the Doisey. Btw, I've not seen any 2001 or even 2000 Sauternes. Some 1999's are out but not for everyone (Yquem just released 1997).

Historically Jones is absolutely correct. It remains to be seen if the Sauternes will remain "out of favor" and not appreciate in price. I'd bet that the futures prices will be about 2/3 of what the release price will be (so a $40 future will be $60 at release). I've not seen futures for Sauterne before the 2001 vintage (except for Yquem in 2000). I purchased my futures at www.klwines.com.

IMHO, the Sauternes market will be like the port market, and the champagne market for that matter. They are specialty wines that will not take off unless someone famous makes them trendy (like what Ronald Reagan did with Jelly Bellys).

The problem I have with all three of these wines is that even the ones that are considered great (e.g. a 99 or 100 point wine) do not get me excited. They are nice niche wines that have their strengths and are good when used properly.

When I think back to all of the great desert wines served at the June 15th (compliments of the WS staff), the only one that really excited me was the Trimbach. I should note that I did not get to try the beerenauslese (people drank it all before it made it around).

One might be able to get a better price if you get the futures early enough, but do you trust Suckling and WA on Sauternes? Of course, if you have your favorites, it may be worth it.

Oh come on GATC the Hot Ice Canadian Jalepeno Ice wine did not get you excited

I bet if Germany annexed Bordeaux you'd get excited in a hurry!

I have purchased the following on futures:

Clos Haut Peyraquey - $29.99 (750ml)
Coutet - $17.99 (375ml)
Doisy Vedrines - $12.99 (375ml)
Guiraud - $19.99 (375ml)
Laufaurie Peyraquey - $17.49 (375ml)
Rieussec - $42.99 (750ml)
Suduiraut - $39.95 (750ml)

Hot Ice Canadian Jalepeno Ice wine? I missed that too? It was really hard to get around and after we went through 50+ bottles of wine, so one could miss out on such a gem. I guess Board-O must have hogged that one.

GA, that's pretty funny. I didn't think my subtle preference for German rieslings showed through. Oh, I just bought 2 cases of 2001 J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr spatlese. Prima's in Walnut Creek, CA just got it in and I was in winesearcher. Funny, I am searching all over the world and a retailer 6 miles away just got it in. Actually, 500 cases is not that much. At one bottle a week, it won't even last 10 years.

Actually, I have enjoyed many bottles of the 70 Doisy Vedrines, Rieussec, Suduiraut and others. But that was the last time I bought Sauternes. Maybe I should buy splits.

That Jalapeno stuff was very strange. Very strange. But interesting nontheless. I'm surprised you missed it GATC, it did pass thru our table.

You don't have to go all the way to Canada to find jalepeno flavors in wine - just try a bottle of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' '00 Sauv. Blanc and you'll know what I mean.

Jones is probably right here.
Price appreciation except at the d'yquem level is mild. Competition for these wines (the others) is not intense.

I bought futures Rieussec, Coutet, Lafaurie-Peyraguey at between $10-20 for 375, roughly twice that for some 750's.

However, I did because: Sauternes/Barsac wines do not readily make it to this area; I like these wines, especially at these prices; I know people here that will buy some from me at a small profit for me further lowering my cost basis; and the vintage was highly touted by many reviewers so the qpr on these will be quite good.

Consider your options based on your needs and environs

Even d'yquem does Not appreciate that much. Does it?

Thats right LCC. Except for ancient vintages, Yquem does not appreciate at anything approximating what can happen to the best red wines. As a result, you are better off buying an older vintage then a future.

For example, one can plunk down blind $2,400 for a case of 2000 Yquem on futures. Picking up a recent auction catalog shows me that the low estimate for a case of 1988 Yquem (Rated by Parker as a 99 and to my palate Parker got that one right) is 2600 with a high of 3200. Assuming the wine sells at its midpoint plus the buyers commission means the case of 88 costs 3335. Therefore for a 39% premium you can buy a wine that you can actually taste, has been rated by Parker for over a decade as a 99 point wine, and get a wine that is 12 years more mature (which in the case of Yquem is a good thing because Yquem can age for longer than virtually anyone alive on the globe today). I never buy blind unless I must. In the case of virtually all Sauternes you don't have to do so unless you like to make blind bets. I don't.

It does seem though that Yquem as done the CA thing and the release prices have really started to go up. I don't know where Jones is getting 2000 Yquem for $200/bottle. I've seen it for $300/bottle as futures! This might mean however that Yquem prices in the future will be higher than one would think. However that only makes purchasing the 1988 an even better deal at this time (I've never had the 88, but the 83 is absolutely fantastic, Parker also gave it 99 points).

I had the 1988. WOW.

I usually see these around $250.00-$270.00.

But, I think Jones is correct. They do Not go up in value that much (or Not as much as Reds do).

250 a bottle is 3000 a case so the auction price I am using of 3300 and change is right in the ball park.

Obviously, at 3600 a case for 2000 Yquem then getting the 88 for a couple of hundred dollars less is even more compelling an argument for skipping buying blind Sauternes futures.

The other thing to remember is that just because parker/WS whomever gives a high rating for a wine does not necessarily mean that when you taste it you will like it. For example, I had the 2000 Lynch Bages tonight. I have often considered the 2000 Lynch Bages as a potential futures purchase. The wine has gotten mid nineties scores and can be purchased for a little less than $1000 a case. As a result, one would think theoretically it would be a good purchase. After having tasted it myself, I know that if I am buying the wine to drink then 2000 Lynch Bages is not for me (as always buying as an investment is a different question entirely).

Very interesting points. I bought 2000 Lynch Bages future based on Parker's rating and his write-up, plus I've enjoyed Lynch Bages in the past. But, I have no idea what it tastes like or whether I will like it. As I sit here drinking the 4th portion of a $12.95 wine that I am thoroughly enjoying, I'm starting to question my buying strategy.

As I take another sip, I'm thinking that it does make a lot of sense to buy wine highly rated by respected people because you can always sell it if you don't like it. I'm sure that I will be able to sell the Lynch Bages for at least 10-20% more than I paid for it.

TJ, did that really make it to our table? I must have been table hopping looking for that BA, or was a TBA? I have to admit that that was one of the most memorable evenings. Great wines with great food and great people. I had to get up at 4am and fly 3,000 miles, but it was worth it.

I think it made a brief pass by our table, yes, GATC. I got a quick pour of that and the chocolatey one, too. Not my cup o tea, but it was great to see what the hell it was like.

And yes, that evening was super. The only problem was that it was impossible to chat with everyone there. I'd much rather do a weekend or longer thing with lots of folks, but that hasn't worked out yet for us (a la the PNW Soiree, which I missed).