Georgina Hindle, Vincenzo Arnese and Andy Howard MW tasted 62 wines, with two Exceptional and 11 Outstanding.
Médoc grand cru classé 2017 panel tasting scores
62 wines tasted
Exceptional 2
Outstanding 11
Highly recommended 45
Recommended 4
Commended 0
Fair 0
Poor 0
Faulty 0
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their 2017 vintage red wines from Bordeaux cru classé estates, first growth to fifth growth, with both grand vin and second label wines welcome.
The 2017 vintage in Bordeaux was a challenge for winemakers, posing multiple problems throughout the year including frost, drought and untimely rainfall, but it had the added misfortune of falling in the middle of a long run of great vintages. At that time, 2017 was overshadowed by the two preceding years and the three subsequent ones.
Scroll down for tasting notes & scores for the top-scoring Médoc grand cru classé 2017 wines
Almost five years on, all the tasters found much to enjoy from the 2017s of the classified estates of the Left Bank, and were pleasantly surprised at the quality and drinkability on show.
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The top scoring Médoc grand cru classé 2017:
{}
{"wineId":"20575","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59500","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59501","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20501","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20577","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20547","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"56145","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59502","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20503","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20579","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20478","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20553","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20576","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20548","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59503","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20583","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20493","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20558","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20560","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20581","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20592","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20604","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20580","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20550","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20593","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20588","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20492","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20597","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20559","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20584","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59504","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20717","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59505","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59507","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59506","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"22699","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59511","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20480","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"35568","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20586","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20591","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20600","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"20557","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59509","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59510","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"59508","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Georgina Hindle is Decanter’s regional editor for Bordeaux and Burgundy, and editor of Decanter Premium online. She lives in Bordeaux.
Vincenzo Arnese is head sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London. Originally from Naples, he specialised in sommellerie at hospitality school in Stresa, Italy, going on to work in prestigious hotels in Switzerland, Italy and Australia, as well as in the UK at The Waterside Inn in Bray and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.
Andy Howard MW is a Decanter contributing editor and DWWA Regional Chair. A former retail wine buyer for more than 30 years, he now runs his own consultancy Vinetrades, focusing on wine education, judging, investment and sourcing, and has a house in southwest France.
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