drink soon
A wonderfully consistent and seductive vintage
Weather Conditions
The vines suffered heavy frost damage in winter, and spring was stormy and wet. May and early June saw violent hailstorms, but this was followed by a period of good weather during the crucial flowering period. July saw hot
temperatures alternate with periods of rainfall, while August was somewhat cooler and drier. September was one of the hottest and driest on record, promoting good ripening, and late September onwards through October saw good conditions for the harvest.
Whites (sweet): The very weather conditions that promoted a fine vintage of red wines had a deleterious effect on the Sauternes crop, the lack of rain, in particular, preventing the development of botrytis.
Best Appellations
A consistent and seductive vintage with a number of excellent wines at all levels. The finest come from the top properties where the most rigorous fruit selection was carried out.
Best Producers
(St Estephe) Cos d’Estournel performed strongly, outshining many first growths. (Pauillac) Lafite, Mouton, Lynch-Bages and Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande produced rich, perfumed and elegant wines of great poise. (St Julien) Ducru-Beaucaillou, Gruaud-Larose, Leoville-Barton and Leoville-Las-Cases have evolved nicely. (Margaux) Lascombes shows an impressive return to form after a period in the doldrums. Margaux, Palmer and Rausan-Segla stand out among classed growths, but d’Angludet is also excellent. (Graves) Haut-Brion, La Mission.
