The New York Times’ Eric Asimov calls 1982 “possibly the most significant wine vintage ever”, and few can really argue with him. Although it may be a tad over exaggerated, most will admit that it is the best vintage in their life at least, with very few wines even scratching its quality in the last 50 years. Well, until now.

2009 was hailed ‘the vintage of the century’ by many wine experts, and it would have certainly been in contention with ’82 if it was produced before the new millennia started. Renowned wine critic Robert Parker was put on the map for his praise of the 1982, and it was he who first advocated the 2009 growth.

Parker wrote that the 2009 wines “may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux”. He rated 18 wines between 98 and 100, which is unprecedented and rivalled only by the ’82. The year was indeed a success, and is a definite rival to its 80s counterpart.

2010 was similarly successful. Parker once again led the plaudits for the year, praising the “astonishing longevity” on the back of high alcohol, fresh acids, lower pHs and huge tannins. He groups the wine with ’05 and ’09 as being three of the greatest Bordeaux vintages he has tasted in his career, with another top round of scoring.

So was it fate that these two vintages have been released in such close proximity to the best ‘wine of all time’? What most spectators will say is that although the wines have been great of late, it actually highlights a significant change in wines over the past 30 years.

Mr Asimov recently aroused the same area of contention when tasting 18 of top Bordeaux wines from the ’82 vintage, finding that his judgement became geared towards how Bordeaux vintages had changed in the past 30 years, rather than whether one year was better than the other.

1982 was really the catalyst for newfound interest in wine, and corresponding advances in how wine was produced. Revolutions in technology, transportation, communications and food in general have all been products of the enormous hype generated by the famous 1982 vintage.

In many ways, the ’82 vintage was so great because it was made on such constrained resources. It was most likely the last wine of the old old world, which is why it fetches such a high price and such hype. Wine of that age would have been predominantly refined to local businesses, and notions of wealthy investments from the Far East would have been a mere scratch in the evolution of the industry. Many regions would have been inaccessible for overseas buyers, which is astonishing given the amount of accessibility we have now.

So marking the anniversary of the revered ’82 is sentimental, and it is a happy coincidence that ’09 and ’10 have produced such special vintages to mark the occasion. But what they really show is a distinct change in Bordeaux, the catalyst of which was the unforgettable ’82.

There hasn’t yet been one bad vintage in the 21st century, and there has been only two years so far that have dipped below 90 points. Added to this, there have been four years that have scored close to 100 points. As the market goes wild for 2009 and 2010, we take a quick look at what has made the start of the 21st century one of the best in history.

Year 2000 marked the start of a new millennium, and could also have marked the start of a new era for vintage wines. A lot has changed in the wine markets in the 21st century, with new harvesting techniques and a swathe of new investor interest from China. This could very well have been initiated by the near perfect vintage of 2000. Scoring a stunning 100 points, its opulent character and freshness was lapped up by investors. Every Bordeaux wine appellation excelled in producing one of the most beautiful years on records, and investors rushed to stock their own cellars with what proved to be a magnificent wine.

2001 and 2002 both came in around the 90 point. 01 produced a charming vintage, with the top rated wines coming from Pomerol and St. Emilion. 2002′s best wines came from Medoc, and you can expect to find some good priced vintages from quite an average year.

2003 and 2004 followed suit, producing interesting wines in 2003 and well balanced wines in 2004. 2005 defied all expectations, however, becoming the second vintage of the century to score top marks. All price ranges and all appellations excelled, making 2005 quite a memorable year.

2006 through to 2008 endured a similar phase as 2001 through 2004, with a collection of interest wines produced that will make very nice drinking. Pomerol and the Medoc were good in 06 and Pauillac performed well in 08.

2009 was the start of something quite special. Hailed by many as ‘the vintage of the century’, Robert Parker exclaimed that the 2009 wine: “may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux.” Parker rated 18 wines between 98 and 100 for the year, which is an unprecedented tally.

It is well known in the wine industry that when Mr Parker scores well, that wine is set for a significant price hike, and so was the case in 2009. Wines such as Chateau Ausone rocketing in value, which emphasises precisely how valuable a stellar vintage year in Bordeaux can be.

Funnily enough, just as the ‘wine of the century’ was being hailed in 2009, another one was just sprouting in 2010. The tannic, powerful, structured and rich wines that were produced in 2010 were marvelled at by spectators, but many were quick to warn that the best wines from the year will need 15 to 20 or more years to develop. This could signal a fantastic investment opportunity for wine enthusiasts who want to see their money grow.

Jeff Leve from the Wine Cellar has recently taken a first look at the 2011 Bordeaux vintage, going into the year’s produce with the same air of pessimism that most of us have in the industry.

2011 Bordeaux looks like it will be a year of diversity. The weather conditions certainly suggest that this should be the case, with warm spring and cool summer causing some problems for many properties in the region. Achieving phenolic ripeness is particularly arduous working under these conditions, but the adversity could lead to diversity, which is not a bad outcome in the wine world.

2011 samples of Le Cercle de Rive Droite were brought to Los Angeles by owner Alain Raynaud for early tasting, which allows experts to get an initial insight on the state of the grapes for the season. These wines come from the Right Bank of Bordeaux, such as St Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac, Cotes de Castillon and other satellite appellations.

This early glimpse doesn’t offer anything close to a final observation, but does act as an early indication into the style and characteristics of this year’s new release.
Bordeaux’s Right Bank appellations produce some of the most recognised and renowned wines of the region, and therefore offers a good indication of what is to come from the top of the ladder.

In London, the tastings of 2011 Right Bank led oenologist Denis Dubourdieu’s to say that the vintage is as varied as the bizarre weather patterns that produced it. This certainly seems to be reflected across the board, with a season of adversity that produced diversity.

The 100 score of 19 wines has affected the fortunes of the wine market overnight. The rare scoring results make 2009 one of the best vintages ever, which has made demand for the beautiful season rocket. “There were dramatic rises in the prices of some wines given the 100 score. Literally within 24 hours, some 2009 wines rose 65 per cent.”

Investors in the wine market are often driven by prestige, and none come more prestigious than this. 2009 will talked about for years as the perfect year, and buyers will give almost anything to get their hands on their own collection. It is very much like buying into a piece of history, much like it was in 1982.

The 1982 vintage was described as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘exceptional’ throughout Bordeaux, and is also considered to be the strongest contender for the ‘vintage of the century’ title. Prices for the vintage are hundreds of per cent higher than other years, and although it is hard to imagine the same will be replicated this time around, there will be significant peaks to be had on the 2009 vintage.

The increase in interest from the Far East has made Bordeaux region the focus of attention among investors.

The dramatic price hikes in the 2009 vintage show that Bordeaux can still hold its weight at the top of the market, with 65 per cent peaks in the price. Experts estimate that Parker’s scores added a huge $100 million to the value of the 2009 vintage, which may trickle down to other years.

This means that the 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005 vintages all look like good value as the market heats up once again. Additionally, wines of the future may be introduced into a healthier market where investor confidence is alive and well. For those looking to make tracks in the wine investment arena, ensure that you fully understand the requirements of buying and storing wine, and keep well up to date with the movers and the shakers in this exciting industry.

The global survey of 120 leading merchants, auction houses and brokerages in the London fine wine sector found that 59 per cent of respondents said they expected the market to increase in value this year.

The Fine Wine Market Outlook 2012, a joint venture between Wealthmonitor and Wine Yields, detailed in a 40-page report the opinions of major industry participants in the global fine wine sector in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Managing director of Chateau Lafite recently advised that Bordeaux had to be ‘less arrogant’ in its pricing this year, saying that it is widely recognised that the 2011 vintage won’t live up to the quality that was produced in 2009 and 2010.

The demand for a drop in en primeur 2011 price does not reflect a drop in demand, however, and there was a strong contingent believing Bordeaux will lead the market gain this year.

According to Wine Yields publisher and editor Jackson Taylor, indices for investment-grade wines ended last year slightly lower. This showed that some sectors of the market had been oversold, and provided some of the best buying opportunities seen for years amongst wine collectors and wine investors.

Investors of the Wine Investment Fund Tranche have received returns equivalent to over ten per cent per annum over the last five years, which is a better return than via the FTSE over the same period. After all fees and all trading, insurance, storage and other expenses, the average return of all paid out TWIF Tranches over the nine years since inception in 2003 is 14.7 per cent per annum.

These encouraging figures show that wine investment is not only popular, but highly profitable for investors around the world. Much of its popularity has come as a result of the troubled economy in other areas of investment, such as the currency markets, where investors are being forced to keep hold of their money rather than let it grow.

There is also a distinct improvement in the quality of wine that has been produced in Bordeaux over the past decade. The 21st century has seen a string of stellar vintages that many wine experts have noted as the best ever, reaching record high scores among critics.

In this way, it is often useful to review the special attributes that make each of the wine appellations special in the region, all of which add to the unique cultural spirit that has been associated with the French region for centuries. Here is a select few of the most well known and the best wine appellations in Bordeaux.

Médoc is one of the most well known names in Bordeaux, and encompasses Pauillac, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, Saint Julien and Saint Estèphe. Haut Médoc is also part of the appellation, sitting at a higher altitude, and hence haut (French for upper). It lies on the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary and its vineyards cover 10,500 acres.

The sheer size of the vineyard and the environmental factors around the area mean that Haut Médoc produces large variety of different wine styles. They are often bright red wines with a delicate bouquet of dried cherries, vanilla, wood, liquorice and black fruits. A rich ruby colour reflects the sunny surroundings and rich terrain.

Margaux has proved to be extremely popular with Chinese investors, and in this way, it is one of the most profitable areas for investment. Of the Margeaux appellation, there is the village of Margaux and Arsac, Labarde, Soussans and Cantenac. Together they comprise the most southerly of Médoc’s appellations.

Margaux boasts 20 of the original 61 classified growths from the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines, which explains why it is so popular among investors. The soil in Margaux is ideal for growing, sitting upon a plateau of white gravel. The thin soil means that the vines get maximum levels of nourishment, which creates very healthy grapes. The wine from this region is thought to be the most aromatic in the Médoc region, with renowned Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes.

Pomerol is the smallest wine producing area in Bordeaux, and it is truly astonishing how popular it is world-wide in relation to its small origins. Pomerel was not ranked in the 1855 classification, but Château Pétrus is unofficially grouped with the Premier Grande Crus of Bordeaux.

Pomerol is popular because it has so many outstanding attributes. It has a unique geological composition which varies in compactness, with layers of clay and sand. The wine styles produced are also unique, with smooth, rich and velvety wines with intense plumy fruitiness.

This selection of wine making regions in Bordeaux point to a specific theme in Bordeaux: it isn’t the region that is special, but the many regions that make it what it is. This, essentially, answers why the region has been so successful with investors from the Far East.

Bordeaux offers investors something that no other wine making region can. It offers a consistently good variety of wine in terrains that are unique, but never found to lack less quality than their neighbours. Many investors are not only looking at wine investment but also moving to investing in Chateaux, which emphasises the fact that investors are not looking to buy into a wine, but to buy into the region. Loyalty that is unrivalled anywhere else.

The reason wine investments are popular is because demand for fine wine exceeds supply, which is constantly diminishing as the wine is drunk. Therefore, it is perfectly feasible that the best investors can returns of up to 30 per cent a year on some bottles. Between 2000 and 2010, some of the famous Bordeaux vintages even quadrupled in value. Additionally, any negative equity is simply turned into a tasty treat for yourself, making wine-wine a win-win investment.

However, much like investing in stocks and shares, investing in wine needs a bit of know-how before you dive into the market. A primary reason for this, is storage.

MoneyHighStreet warns: “If investing in wine, be aware of the cost and complexities of storing the wine. If it is stored incorrectly it could be rendered worthless.”

The best storage advice for wine investors is to store the wines they have purchased in a bonded tax warehouses, such as the renowned London City Bond (LCB). This ensures that the wine is kept in optimum storage conditions with a controlled climate which allows the wines to mature properly and maximises profitability. Additionally, there is no duty or VAT to pay if you are investing from the UK.

Once you have considered storage, you can then get onto fun part of wine investment: choosing the wine. This usually boils down to two types of investment: Bordeaux and Burgundy, however, despite the great success of Burgundy’s 2010 vintage, investors should focus on the traditional Bordeaux region as a more stable and predictable way to diversify and grow an investment portfolio.

“The Bordeaux wine market has a tendency to recover quickly; had you invested at the beginning of 2009, following the 2008 market fall and subsequent financial global turmoil, your cellar would have been showing a 15-20 per cent profit by the end of the same year.”

The Bordeaux market is well known for its ability to consistently return to growth, which makes it a visibly clear option for investors time and time again. The 21st century has been the birth of several good vintages, two of which have occurred in the past three years. The 2009 and 2010 vintages have been revered as the best of the century, with several experts stating that they have seldom tasted better vintages in their life.

The 2009 Bordeaux vintage enjoyed perfect weather conditions which prompted local wine experts to revere it as one of the best vintages ever. This was in relation to the near-perfect vintage of 2005, which caused a great stir in the region when it was first produced.

The 2010 vintage looked set to surpass even the plaudits of 2009, continuing a long-stretching tradition in Bordeaux of having two excellent back-to-back vintages. This is often reflected by good weather in the first year, leading to a softer, more delicate wine, and tougher conditions the year after, which results in more robust flavours.

The key to wine investment is to take your time and get well educated on all aspects from the purchase to the storage.

It is beyond doubt that both 2009 and 2010 are good years, but what remains to be proved is whether they are outstanding years. What adds fuel to this flutter of excitement is that both years diverge significantly from each other. They may both have big concentrations and high alcohol levels, coupled with power and weight, but that is about as far as they go in terms of similarity.

The 2009 red Bordeaux vintage is a winning situation all around. Advanced sommelier and certified wine educator Mary Ross wrote in Good Wine that the “classic cabernet sauvignon and merlot-based wines are rich in texture and beautifully balanced with seamless interplay of ripened black fruit, fine tannin, pleasing acidity and clear expression of Bordeaux’s unique soil, climate and culture.”

Wine writer James Suckling recently hailed 2009 Bordeaux as possibly the ‘best ever modern vintage’, saying the year is seldom matched since 1989, or even 1982. There are nineteen 2009 wines that have been rated at 100 points, with Ausone, Cos d’Estournel, Lafleur, Montrose and Vieux Château Certan all making the top grade. Additionally, 21 wines are rated 98-99 points.

2009 enjoyed a good season of weather, attributed to the ‘El Nino Effect’. The weather system created a slight wobble in air flows over the Atlantic, which produced a fine summer that year in Bordeaux. The good weather was unusual for this type of effect, which has been the cause of cold and wet seasons throughout the century, and was contributed to crop failures and bread shortages of 1789.

The healthy conditions in 2009 were of stark contrast to the conditions experienced in 2010. The 2010 tasting notes could literally be translated into weather conditions, as the vineyards experienced a dry and humid summer, as well as a cool autumn and a gradual start into the vegetation in the spring. Take these factors into account, and the very robust and strongly tannic style of the ’10s begins to be explained.

In November of the same year, many owners were openly confident that their 2010 was going to be better than the legendary 2009. However, as time passed many producers seemed embarrassed to say it too loudly, according to Bill Blatch’s preliminary Bordeaux 2010 vintage report. Now, you may find that the field is split about half and half, which is still quite an achievement is considering the standards that were set the previous year.

Robert Parker, the world’s most influential wine critic, argues that 2010, like 2009 and 2005 may be the “three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career.” Nine chateaux scored a possible 100 in 2010, such as Ausone, Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse, Haut Brion, Lafite, Latour, Mouton Rothschild to name a few.

In a similar way to 2009, the numerous amounts of top scoring vintages makes both vintages hotly contested for the ‘vintage of the century’, and fascinating examples of how two successive wines can be so good, yet so different.

This soft and then hard relationship is a regular occurrence in Bordeaux, with the first drought-driven then softened by late season rain, and the second cooler and more tannic. Typical years are 1995-96, 1985-86 and 1869-70s, which all were stellar vintages which were initiated by a more balanced, softer year, and followed by a densely tannic and slow developing year.

Manchester United are well known for their exploits on the field. Even in Bordeaux, the region has been well familiarised with the consistent success enjoyed by the football team after two Champions League clashes ended in two Champions League defeats for local side FC Girondins Bordeaux.

Ferguson recently told Gazzetta dello Sport that he appreciates Italian wine such as Tignanello Antinori, Ornellaia, Sassicaia and Brunello di Montalcino. He also commented that new world wines have made significant developments, with Shiraz Penfolds Grange in Australia, Concha Y Toro Don Melchor in Chile and malbec in Argentina credited as being good wines for drinking.

That being said, ‘Fergie’ said first growth Bordeaux and Burgundy will always be at the top for the collectors. He was first lured into the world of wine investment in Montpellier, where he was staying before a European clash in 1991. The team was full of what you could consider Alex Ferguson’s first growths, such as Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes, who have all matured very well.

His first piece of investment advice at the time was to ‘invest in 82s and 85s and you are sure to make money’, and so he did, with an initial investment of £5,000. Since then, the manager has become renowned for wine investment and his love for wine, with travelling managers rarely making the trip to Old Trafford without a good vintage.

Among the best of the travelling managers, Fergie says Jose Mourinho (now of Real Madrid), Sam Allardyce (now of West Ham United) and Tony Pulis (Of Stoke City) always provide the goods when it comes to post-match drinks.

But The Red Devils manager has bigger intentions on his mind, and it may be that future managers are drinking bottles of Alex Ferguson rather than with Alex Ferguson. He and his wife have plans to own a vineyard in retirement, with the couple looking to tour the country’s vineyards with the intention of scouting for the very best wine around.

His love of wine looks like it may be rubbing off on his team, with Wayne Rooney also showing interest in wine investments. The football star has recently appeared in a wine advert, and has spoke to Fergie about investing in vintage wines. There are also several sports stars in America that have strung up their boots for a life among the vines.

Former New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills star quarterback Drew Bledsoe is particular keen on fine wine, as well as retired NFL coach Dick Vermeil, Former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino.

There is also a wine named after Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, and many others that relate to him. A 2001 Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Divine 10′ is one, as well as a 2002 cab sav named the ‘Hand of God’ and a merlot from 2003 called ‘Boca, the passion’.

It is safe to say that the wine produced in the first decade of the 21st century has made it a one-of-a-kind period for Bordeaux. Additionally, with 2010 stacking up nicely, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of this trend faltering.

Stellar vintages in 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 have all showed signs of unwavering quality. Expert wine makers and new harvesting techniques mean there are really no disastrous vintages anymore. But, more importantly, the nature of tannins over the past decade has made the vintages fascinatingly interesting, complex and diverse.

Tannin in Bordeaux is perfectly balanced between texture and flavour. The ripe and mature tannin that is now possible most seasons allows for a perfect texture, making the wines less bitter and astringent on the tongue. This also gives them a lasting quality, with Bordeaux wines only getting better as they age.

The flavour is also improved by the quality of the harvest, with grapes being picked at a perfectly ripe level. When unripe, tannins taste of strong tea and herb. As they ripen they start to pick up a hint of cocoa, then dark chocolate that is familiar in many of the good vintages of late.

The 2009 Bordeaux were charming, rich, generous, and probably drinkable with pleasure within five years of being shipped. The vintage was revered by critically acclaimed wine critic Robert Parker as being the best vintage in decades, commenting that the 2009 “may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux”. Haut-Brion, Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Margaux all received near perfect scores from the critic, and in Pomerol, Vieux Château Certan was also near-perfect.

The 2010 vintage has proved to be a keeper, and certainly won’t reach its peak as hastily as the 2009. The vintage created “austere, powerful wines, built for long-term keeping”, according to Charles Metcalfe of the Association of Wine Educators who recently wrote in the Telegraph. These wines may not come to their peak for 20 years or more, which is why there has been a swathe in interest from Chinese buyers who have more patients and different aspirations than other buyers around the world.

2005 was heralded as one of the best ever. James Suckling from The Wine Spectator said:”Bordeaux’s 2005 vintage is going to be a record-breaker on every level. The reds are some of the best I have tasted in my career, and they have a unique character. They are rich and powerful, with loads of juicy, opulent, ripe fruit and powerful tannins, yet they also have a wonderful freshness due to their bright, crisp acidities.”

The succession of vintages may appear to be like ‘the boy who cried wolf’. Each year has outstanding attributes that have been hailed as groundbreaking, record breaking and ‘the best ever’ by wine critics.

However, the sales go to show that these are not empty statements. Investors from around the world have made prices peak to the highest levels ever seen, as demand swarms from investors looking to get their hands on the best.