Bordeaux | 2011 vintage
After two exceptional years (2009 and 2010) it is back to business as usual with the 2011 vintage in Bordeaux. A very hot, early spring set expectations for a promising vintage, but a cool, fairly damp summer made wine growers¿ task more difficult. This vintage, with its rather atypical progression in terms of weather conditions, required vigilant work in the vineyards and an expert touch in the cellars. The gap between good domaines and lesser counterparts was even wider than usual. Many domaines experienced very uneven grape quality and ripening. Some wines are therefore rather green, with pronounced, hard and austere tannins. By contrast, the best reds are rather elegant with a pleasant light fruitiness and good density, but often lack a little depth and finish. They are quite good drunk young, but most are short on energy and dynamism. This is a vintage best drunk within ten years of bottling, with the exception of a handful of fine wines. Dry white wines are fresh and crisp with good aromas and an easy-drinking substance. Dessert wines are of a high standard in vineyards which undertook stringent selection.
