drink now
The second of two reasonably successful years, with fine wines in abundance
Weather Conditions
The drought that affected much of Western Europe throughout spring and summer made its impact felt in Bordeaux. The hot, dry weather continued until storms began in mid-September, interrupting the harvest, which had
started early.
Best Appellations
The great heat of the summer ensured very thick skins so massive tannins, initially masked by very pleasing fruit. But rain during the vintage caused dilution so that the tannins seemed to separate out in many wines and their evolution has not been as favourable as at first hoped. Most wines showed better 10 years ago. The best-balanced wines appeared in Pauillac, St.Julien and Graves, but everywhere the wines today are very mixed in quality.
Best Producers
Pauillac: Lafite is the best, but Latour and Pichon Lalande have come through well. St Julien: Leoville Lascases has held up well. Graves: La Mission is better balanced than most Haut-Medoc. Sociando-Mallet recently showed extremely well.
