Appellations
Vintage Report - 2011
The best red wines from Bordeaux's 2011 vintage have fantastic freshness, a core of ripe fruits, good tannic structure and a purity to them. However, the vintage has little of the consistency found in the two preceding vintages with great variations in quality within appellations. Consequently, this will be a vintage that requires careful selection when purchasing. We spent a week at the beginning of April tasting hundreds of barrel samples and our thoughts can be found on this site along with notes and scores from many of the leading critics.
Far more consistent were the Dry White wines and Sauternes. For Sauternes, quality may ultimately reach that of the excellent 2001 vintage and for the dry whites that of the 2007 vintage.
Despite the huge technical improvements made over the last decade in Bordeaux, the one thing that winemakers cannot control is the weather. In general the winter was cool and dry but as we moved into Spring the lack of rainfall become very noticeable. From March to September, the cumulative rainfall in Bordeaux - on average across all sectors - was 270mm, way below the 30-year average of 430mm.
Temperatures were above the seasonal norm in the springtime and in late June there was a heatwave with the mercury reaching 40°. Despite the best efforts of many chateaux (including "canopy management" to increase shade), some grapes were scorched and these were removed from bunches. Also notable during the summer was the dryness which persisted. Fortunately, August bought some rain and this helped to preserve aromas and acidity levels.
September's warm and dry weather was very beneficial for the final development and harvest. Bunches and the grapes on them were small and variable with strict selection and sorting needed. This has resulted in substantially reduced yields but, where carried out successfully, consistent and ripe fruits. Yields in some areas were also reduced by hailstorms which hit Southern St Estephe and parts of Pauillac on September 1st and in Margaux earlier on in the year.
As a generalisation, the quality of the vintage can most closely be compared to 2001 and 2008. After the heights of the last two exceptional vintages, where the wines sold on their undoubted quality, 2011 is going to be very much about price. As the wines are released we are sure to hear lots of quotes of reductions in price from the 2010 vintage. However, for these wines to be attractive to consumers they need to be offered in line with 2001 and 2008 prices. There will be exceptions, some Chateaux have excelled and made terrific wines this year, but in general there will be little incentive to buy these wines unless priced in line with similar quality physical vintages.
Please make sure to submit your wishlists and/or pre-orders this year.