Wednesday, September 28, 2011

2011 when extremes end in harmony

It is the 1st time I taste the batches picked 3 weeks ago: young vines in tenant farming, Malbec from Bel Air and our batches of Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot from Bellevue de Tayac in Margaux. It was a very good surprise for me: they were good!

It had the sweetness and ripeness of a great vintage, very pure color and fragrance, raspberry, red grape, only the structure is that of an average vintage like in 2007. Up to now it is a mix of 2007 and 2009, so nothing to do with the 2004!

It is rare for me to make this kind of comment so early, especially as the wine has not yet done its malolactic and as we have not yet picked the Merlot from the northern hillside of Valandraud, nor, of course, the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon from Clos Badon. But if I'm optimistic today is because I know from experience that this kind of wine will appeal to customers and that even if it is not the vintage of the century, it could be the vintage of the customer and for us the vintage of extremes.

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