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Robert Parker Anoints the 2010 Bordeaux; Americans Buy American When It Comes to Wine

“I’ve got a bunch of the ‘09 vintage down in my cellar. Wanna see it?”

• Influential wine critic Robert Parker released his first scores for the 2010 vintage of Bordeaux wines, and wine buyers the world over are atwitter. Parker also noted that 2010, 2009, and 2005 may be the “three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career.” Prices are officially skyrocketing before the stuff is even on the market. [WSJ]

• Even though the effects of Fukushima radiation won’t really be seen on Japan’s sake industry until this year’s harvest, sake exports are still being routinely delayed. [Decanter]

• Americans buy American when it comes to wine: In a survey of wine choices made by American diners in restaurants, only 9 of the top 50 wine brands come from other countries, and only three are from France. There are nineteen representatives from Napa Valley, and ten from Sonoma. [Wine & Spirits via Daily Press]

• In China, though, they only buy French. Which is why 40 Napa Valley vintners left on a trade mission last week to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. [Napa Valley Register]

• Christian Moueix, whose family owns the famed Château Pétrus, is trying to bring attention to the less wildly expensive wines in their portfolio from Château Trotanoy. Just don’t try to drink them out of those huge Reidel glasses. [NYT]

• You know there’s some global weirding going on when they’re able to successfully grow wine in the U.K., and production keeps growing. [Harpers Wine & Spirit UK]

• In an effort to alert potential allergy sufferers, Canada is instituting a new law requiring wineries that use egg whites or fish bladders in their fining process (a common practice for clarifying wines) to say so on their labels. [Globe & Mail UK]

• The Oregon State Senate Monday approved a bill that will allow wineries there to operate full-service restaurants and host weddings. [Oregon Live]

Robert Parker Anoints the 2010 Bordeaux; Americans Buy American When It Comes to