Bordeaux Struggles in 2004

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View the entire table of contents
for the June 30, 2005 issue

See Also
Bordeaux's Bible
Château Haut-Brion
Château Latour
Château Margaux
Château Mouton-Rothschild
Château Lafite Rothschild
Cutting it Finer in Willamette Valley
Hudson Valley Dining
Making a Stink Over Terroir
Oregon Pinots Push the Envelope
Oregon Tunes In to Chardonnay
Head of the Class
Progress at Portugal's Table
Wine Talk: Mario Andretti

An inconsistent vintage shows a few stars, but the futures market is soft

James Suckling
Issue: June 30, 2005

In March, I spent a week in Bordeaux tasting barrel samples of the region's latest vintage, 2004. Most winemakers kept a brave face, but only a few truly have reason to smile. They know that vintage quality is inconsistent and that the wines will be very difficult to sell—especially following the spectacular 2003 vintage.