Bordeaux 2007 at Two Years
The 2007 vintage is perhaps one I should hold dear, as it was the first Bordeaux vintage in which I partook in the primeur tastings. Obviously I had been tasting and drinking the wines of Bordeaux for many years prior to that, both mature wines with more than a decade – or sometimes more than two – under their belts, as well as young wines assessed at two years of age in the annual Union des Grands Crus (UGC) tasting. And of course I had tasted newly released wines before, when shown in London, such as at the Bibendum 2006 and 2005 primeur tastings. But this was the first time I travelled to Bordeaux to join in the three or four (or more!) day circus of tastings, dinners and parties that precede the eventual and sometimes much-anticipated release of the latest vintage.
There is, however, a problem with this dreamy, rose-tinted view of the primeur tastings for 2007. The truth is, it simply wasn’t that good a year, the weather was challenging to say the least, and the wines – the red wines, at least – reflect this. This is a vintage that needs a cool and objective assessment if we are to uncover any wines that might be worth purchasing. This was the purpose of my attending the recent UGC tasting of the vintage, and I will be publishing my assessment of the wines in five instalments, starting with this overview today.
