“I’ve never experienced such little interest in my 40 years here,” said Ralph Sands, senior wine specialist and Bordeaux expert for California retailer K&L Wine Merchants.

Bordeaux is hosting its annual barrel tastings for wine professionals prior to the wines being sold as futures, 18 months before delivery. Wine Spectator’s lead taster for Bordeaux, James Molesworth, has spent two weeks in the region, meeting producers to discuss the vintage’s character and quality, and conducting blind tastings of more than 280 barrel samples. The wines show great promise.

But in recent years, the futures have largely failed to sell through to consumers, leaving négociants and retailers to hold them until the wines are released. And there’s no indication that this year will be any different. Wine Spectator has a full report.—Suzanne Mustacich