For Bordeaux people talk vintages. Vintages are a subject of discussion also in other regions, but not as much as in Bordeaux. The reason is perhaps that this is where you can find investment-grade wines. Wines that you don’t buy to drink but buy to sell, hopefully at a profit. It is a very small fraction of Bordeaux wines that you can buy as investment, and really only certain vintages of those. Hence the vintage fixation.
Even if one cannot afford (or does not want to pay the high price of) these investment wines it can be interesting to know a bit about vintages. But one should never simply reject a vintage. There are no “bad” vintages! Some years give a riper and softer style, others can be tighter or more structured. Bordeaux producers with a certain ambition make good wines every year, but in different styles. You don’t believe us?
Then come on the wine tour to Bordeaux in May and judge for yourself!
