Next week, the leading players of the global fine wine markets will descend on Bordeaux for the first major tasting of the 2009 vintage, which has been much-hyped among experts.
For the uninitiated, the 2009 Bordeaux has been mooted as the "best Bordeaux wine in 60 years", thanks to perfect weather conditions in France's best vinyards.
What's more, experts have even suggested that it may be the best vintage on record - thanks a mixture of fine days and cool, dry nights.
The cool nights stopped the grapes from over-ripening, while the vines kept maturing after 2009's summer ended, local experts told the UK's Telegraph newspaper last year.
Next week, the experts' verdicts will reveal if the 2009 Bordeaux lives up to the hype. World famous critics Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson and the Wine Spectator will be present to give their verdicts.
In other Bordeaux news, collectors have just two days left to bid online in Edwards Roberts International's anticipated Chicago fine wines auction.
Prized vintages in the sale will include case lots of 1986 and 1995 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, as well as carefully cared for bottles of the 1966, 1970 and 1985 vintages.
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