St-Estèphe 2017: Top wines re-tasted after bottling

Read Jane Anson’s full Left Bank 2017 in bottle report

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Yields in the St-Estèphe 2017 vintage were almost identical to those of 2016; the entire appellation escaped the frosts in the early part of the growing season, mainly due to the proximity of the Garonne river.

The year was also one of the earliest on record up in this corner of the Médoc, mainly due to an early bud-burst around 26 March – the same one that made buds elsewhere so vulnerable to cold weather. Excellent conditions in June also allowed for even flowering and kick-started ripening.

Veraison was 10 days earlier than in 2016, making producers a little better prepared to withstand the September rains than those areas where frost had delayed growth.

Some of my most consistent re-scores were in fact up here – bearing in mind I was re-tasting the classified wines – and it’s definitely an area I would recommend looking in the 2017 vintage.

There is still austerity and a cool character in the fruit, and the alcohols are in general far lower than you will find in the St-Estèphe 2018 wines, but these are well-built, carefully constructed wines with lots to enjoy.

Look out for: Château Montrose

See Jane Anson’s top St-Estèphe 2017 wines re-tasted in bottle

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