drink now
Good quality, fast-maturing wines
Weather Conditions
Rated by some as the best vintage of the decade, the weather this year had a profound impact on the quality of the grapes. Deep snow in winter, and a coolish spring. A good flowering in a warm June laid the grounds for the ripening of the crop during an almost perfect summer, with hot conditions in late June and July and a smattering of rain during August. Further rain, albeit not very heavy, fell in September, allowing the tannins to develop. By the time the rains began in earnest, in early October, the crop had already been successfully harvested.
Best Appellations
An almost-perfect summer enabled a bumper crop to ripen and concentrate. The white wine harvest was not too excessive: indeed, in contrast to the Pinot Noir yield, less Chardonnay was produced than in 1966. These were rich and powerful, but not a bit over-balanced. Though they kept for many years they are now past their best, unless you are very lucky. Lovely wines across the Côte.
Best Producers
Camille Giroud’s Bâtard-Montrachet, Jadot’s Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles, Lafon’s Le Montrachet, Latour’s Corton-Charlemagne and Ramonet’s Bâtard-Montrachet are all at least fine and still enjoyable, just. It depends on the provenance.
