Dominik Mueller

Good vintage in Bordeaux, although not excellent. Mild winter, followed by a wet spring. Flowering was uneven and ripening was slow throughout the summer months. It was not until September that temperatures got warm enough to help the grapes ripen. As a result, strict selection was necessary to avoid green and unripe wines. Harvesting began in late September and lasted into October. The good producers fared well, especially if they took a slow approach to harvesting. As Cabernet Sauvignon performed better than Merlot in this vintage, the wines from the left bank seem to be better on average than those from the right bank.

Left bank appellation in Bordeaux forming the northern part of Graves ("Haut-Graves"). Prior to getting its own AOC in 1987, Pessac-Léognan belonged to the broader Graves AOC. The highest-rated Graves châteaux all lie in the Pessac-Léognan AOC. Gravel soils. About 1,750 hectares under vines with three quarters red wine. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for reds, plus Cabernet Franc and Malbec ("Côt"); Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for whites. Generally fuller-bodied reds compared to the right bank. The age-worthy dry whites are typically fermented in oak barrel.