2007 Bordeaux Pre-Arrival Offer

I spent a week in Bordeaux in April this year, visiting more than 40 Châteaux, speaking directly with owners, winemakers, negociants and numerous others involved with producing the wines each year, and most importantly, sampling about 100 different wines. I have now seen the past four vintages in Bordeaux as they age in barrel, and I am pleased to report that there is a great deal to like in the 2007 wines from Bordeaux.

Make no mistake – I am not trying to suggest that the wines are better, more ageworthy or even prettier than those from 2005, 2000 or 1996. But if we’re continuing with generalisations, I would suggest than 2007 compares favourably to vintages such as 2004, 2002, 1999 or even 2006 – depending on what you’re looking for in the wines.

The key factor about the 2007 vintage is its style. The wines are best characterised as charming. The best are fresh, vibrant and fruit-driven, with good complexity and density and lovely ripe, forw rd fruit flavours. Whereas the 2006s are structured, ungiving styles requiring many years in bottle to soften their firm, sometimes frightening tannic core, the 2007s will provide delicious, uncomplicated drinking over the short-to-mediumterm, say the next five to 15 years. They are comparable to the 2004s, yet with riper, fresher fruit flavours and perhaps a little less density. Perhaps they are closest to the 2001s, but they are lighter and more fruit-forward, more attractive in their youth but without the same depth of complexity.

These are a lovely, approachable set of wines from a most unusual vintage. Even a decade ago, these wines would have been disastrous, yet thanks to the huge influx of finance that has flowed in to the vineyards an wineries in Bordeaux over the past ten to 20 years, the better properties were able to employ strict selections throughout the growing season, as well as at harvest, providing them the opportunity to make good wine. And those that also were able to conduct gentle fermentations, avoiding over-extraction and not attempt to coax power and structure out of the wine that wasn’t there to begin with went a long way down the path of successful winemaking. I can’t think of a single Châteaux that will rate their 2007 amongst their handful of greatest vintages in their history, yet there are a great many that despite the hurdles and obstacles placed in their way, have made delicious, successful wines. No matter what your cellar situation or level of personal expertise is there are wines in this offer for everyone. I hope you enjoy them. STEWART PLANT (2008)

“the quality of the top chateaux in 2007 offers plenty of charm and upfront fruit...the lower level is mediocre to poor as these chateaux can't afford to make a severe selection...the better reds are much improved versions of the 1997s...and of course the dry whites and sweet wines are superb.” ROBERT PARKER (June 2008)

click here for a list of the wines