1973 vintage guide for Medoc and Graves

drink now

A large harvest of generally light wines

2/5

Weather Conditions

The weather was dry and warm throughout most of spring, providing good conditions for flowering. Heavy rain fell during much of July, but the month that followed was hot and dry. September began fine, but wet conditions returned from the middle of the month onwards.

Best Appellations

A very large crop – only 1979 produced more in the decade – of attractive, early maturing wines, full of succulent fruit but with few exceptions requiring early drinking. Only a few top wines are still holding up. The best examples are likely to come from Pauillac and Graves.

Best Producers

Pauillac: Latour is exceptional, still full of life and charm. Graves: Haut-Brion was always one of the outstanding wines of the vintage and should still be worth drinking if well stored.