1982 vintage guide for Medoc and Graves

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A long hot summer produced the greatest Bordeaux vintage since 1961

5/5

Weather Conditions

Spring was mild and dry, with little frost. An early flowering took place under perfect conditions. The start of summer saw a good deal of fine, sunny weather. Light rain fell towards the end of July and continued on, in bursts, throughout a coolish August. Early September, in contrast, was exceptionally hot and dry, promoting a ripening that was so fast that the start of the harvest was one of the earliest in many years. The last week or so of September saw temperatures fall somewhat for the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest in the Medoc.

Whites (sweet): The hot summer resulted in a crop with a very high sugar content, and the change in late September promoted the growth of Noble Rot. Unfortunately, however, high levels of rainfall in October washed away the

botrytis and the disappointing harvest took place in terrible weather.

Best Appellations

An outstanding vintage, with a large number of wonderfully rich and opulent wines of remarkable intensity. All appellations, except Margaux and Graves, produced wines of great complexity, with the ability to age.

St Julien, Pauillac and St Estephe performed particularly well.

Best Producers

(St Estephe) Calon-Segur, Cos d’Estournel and Montrose are notably good. (Pauillac) Latour, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Haut-Batailley, Lafite, Latour, Lynch-Bages, Mouton, Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande all produced exceptional wines.