Jeroboams - En Primeur Bordeaux 2011

Intro

 The 2008, 2009, and 2010 vintages, the culmination of a highly unusual decade including only good and great years, constitute an admirable trilogy. Wine enthusiasts the world over will compare their relative qualities for many years to come.

Thanks to several factors – summerlike weather in spring, a growing season ahead of schedule from beginning to end, less than usual sunshine in July, a month of August with above-average precipitation, and the return of summer weather in early autumn – conditions in 2011 were indeed strange, with unpredictable consequences.

Leaving aside the way I usually begin my vintage report, by recapitulating the parameters that account for great years in Bordeaux, I prefer to explain the unusual weather in 2011 stage by stage and its effects on wine quality according to soil and grape variety.

I hope to show why, because of this unaccustomed weather: the dry white wines are astonishingly good, there are numerous magnificent red wines on both banks from all grape varieties despite unquestionable unevenness, and the wines of Sauternes and Barsac are great.