With April around the corner, the annual Bordeaux Primeurs campaign, will soon be upon us.
Following the spectacular vintages of 2009 & 2010, the 2011 vintage promises a return to a more classically styled year. Variable weather throughout the growing season proved to be challenging for vignerons and winemakers alike. After a precocious start to the growing season, the summer was punctuated with bouts of heat, rain and hail that kept growers on their toes. A miraculous return to warm sunny and dry conditions in late September saved the vintage, and ensured that many great wines have ultimately been made.
For the connoisseur of Bordeaux, ‘meticulous selection’ may be the catch-phrase of 2011. A year where rigorous sorting in the vineyard and winery were essential, there will nonetheless be a wide variation between appellations and individual Chateaux. To help identify the wines of the vintage, you can rely on Langton’s trusted in-house expertise to guide you.
A labour intensive year with lower yields, 2011 will likely herald a welcome return to more affordable pricing. 2011 is also likely to be acknowledged as a year where experience and technical savoir-faire will determine the Chateaux that produce the greatest wines.
Andrew Caillard MW will be in Bordeaux throughout the En Primeur campaign, undertaking his own meticulous selection as he tastes through the wines of the vintage. He will be filing regular updates and providing invaluable insight into the best wines, whilst also uncovering the top value wines of the vintage. To ensure that you do not miss a moment of the excitement, be sure to watch this space as the En Primeur campaign unfolds.
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