Well, the 2024 samples are arriving. I couldn’t make it over to Bordeaux for the annual primeurs shindig this year in April owing to pressure of other work and family commitments. That said I’m keen to get a handle on the vintage and I’m now getting samples sent in from various organisations and properties. This week I’ve had six cases arrive from the Grand Cercle and I have been busily working through these. Other samples are due in next week. It would have been better to taste these in situ obviously, especially as barrel samples don’t tend to travel that well and have a short shelf-life once they arrive. That said the best still shine in the circumstances. The 2024 Bordeaux growing season was a tricky one, as it was across much of France. Humid weather, a summer short on sunshine and rain during the harvest proved problematic across the region. It was a busy year for the châteaux who had their work cut out in the vineyard and the cellar to produce good wines. But vintage variation adds to the fascination of Bordeaux wine and there will be a number of successes in this vintage I’m sure.

The consistency at Château Léoville Poyferré has been wonderful over the past decade. The property regularly vies with Château Léoville-Las-Cases and Château Ducru Beaucaillou as the best wine of the appellation. It is amongst the finest made in Bordeaux. Great wine has been produced here in 2016. I don’t think I’m pushing the boat out too far in suggesting that Léoville Poyferré 2016 is verging on the quality of the 2005, 2009 and 2010 qualitatively speaking. The balance is phenomenal; the texture remarkable. Château Moulin Riche, made from a separate 20 hectare terroir in St Julien, may well be the best yet produced. It is certainly the most impressive sample I’ve tasted. Overall it underlines the excitement I felt when I tasted the top St Juliens in this vintage earlier in the year.

The 2007 vintage is very highly regarded in Brunello di Montalcino. Seven Riservas shown by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino tasted earlier in the year demonstrated power, depth and complexity. Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s 2007 Riserva and Antinori’s Pian Delle Vigne, Vigna Ferrovia 2007 were especially impressive. Carparzo also produced a chewy, satisifying Brunello di Montalcino Riserva and single vineyard Brunello, La Casa.

Overall 2007 is a good sweet wine vintage in Bordeaux. Seven sweet wines were shown by the MW Institute [the first time they have included them in their annual tasting]. The wines are pretty full and sweet if lacking the race of 2009 and 2010. Time will tell just where they sit. Chateau d’Yquem is as amazing as ever, while Chateau Climens and Chateau Suduiraut are excellent and not far behind at all.