How is the 2007 vintage? Wine guide

Read our guide to 2007 vintage wines! Opinion and complete details by our cellar master. We detail the success of this wine year for every major French region.

 > 2007 wines in stock

 

• THE 2007 BORDEAUX VINTAGE

The 2007 vintage is what we call a "classic vintage". The weather will be rather mild in winter, which will allow the vines to develop well. The vegetative cycle will be up to standard, with a slight delay in flowering and veraison. So far, so good. There were no recorded disasters, and Mother Nature hadn't been acting up. But as all good things must come to an end, the weather forecast is not going to help our winemakers in their quest for a fine vintage. Already behind the end of the vegetative cycle due to the weather, the latter is not going to help the vineyards produce ripe, complex grapes. The 2007 vintage is by no means homogeneous, so depending on the appellation, and even on the terroir, the quality and depth of the wine will be completely different.

The Left Bank is a perfect example. No appellation can claim to have produced 100% of top-quality wines, but there are some fine successes to be noted. Cabernet Sauvignon can be powerful and complex, with good balance. Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac are doing rather well, as is Saint-Julien, which will succeed in producing quality wines from its great châteaux. On the other hand, the wines of Margaux will find it a little more difficult to make their mark. The same applies to the Left Bank. Pomerol and Saint-Emilion will be very heterogeneous, and only the best terroirs will succeed in producing quality juice. Merlot, more delicate and finer, offers its silkiness and roundness to the wines.

On the other hand, the 2007 vintage will go down in the annals of Bordeaux sweet wines. Whether Sauternes or Barsac, the Grands Crus Classés enjoyed perfect weather conditions, with an Indian summer conducive to the development of botrytis. The wines are very rich and powerful, while retaining a balance and acidity that give them excellent ageing potential.

If you're looking for Bordeaux wines from 2007, we've got just what you're looking for.

For fruitiness and roundness, we have Château Canon 20071er Grand Cru Classé de Saint Emilion. Starting to open up nicely. Evolving notes complement the red Merlot fruit. Interesting ....

Unfortunately, we no longer have any white wines for this vintage. But if you come across bottles of Sauternesdon't hesitate!

 

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• THE 2007 BURGUNDY VINTAGE

Rather like Bordeaux wines, Burgundy is also facing some climatic difficulties, making vinification more delicate and less conducive to a great vintage. The beginning of the year did not look bad. The weather was not yo-yoing and there was no damage to the vines. Then, as in the rest of France, the summer was not so good. Just when the vines needed the sun, it started raining... August, wet and cold, was not going to help the winegrowers in their quest for healthy, mature grapes. Then September arrived. From the very first days, the sun made its appearance. The warm, dry weather allowed the vines to complete their development. On the whole, the grapes harvested were good, but it's true that many winegrowers harvested too early for fear of picking up too much water, and a difference in ripeness was felt. The Côte de Nuits remains the most successful red wine region of the 2007 vintage, with fruity, dense wines and good acidity, but be careful not to be too greedy when it comes to ageing time. A little further north, the Chablis wines should be treated with caution. The best of them offer a floral white with a nice freshness, but you still have to find the best ones.

If you'd like to try out the 2007 vintage in Burgundy, here are our suggestions:

Nuits St Georges 1er cru Rue de Chaux 2007 - Domaine Remoriquet. Their Pinot Noir is magnificent. Beautifully complex, notes of undergrowth begin to emerge, with hints of red fruit in the background. A red wine to enjoy with grilled meat and a forest sauce.

For white, Meursault 1er cru 2007 Genevrières - Louis Latour. If you love notes of mushrooms and truffles, this is the wine for you. With its great minerality and interesting depth, it's a perfect match for poultry with cream sauce.

 

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• THE 2007 RHONE VALLEY VINTAGE

The Rhône Valley is undoubtedly one of the most successful in terms of ripeness and homogeneity of its wines. The weather, however, was not the most clement, and provided some stressful periods for the winegrowers. The beginning of the year went well, as everywhere else, but the region was hit by hail in June. On the whole, nothing too serious, and the vines will even be in good shape for ripening by the end of June. August will be in the Burgundy vein, with cool weather and a lack of sunshine. Probably the most complicated month to manage for winegrowers, who were beginning to see a bad vintage coming. But as in Burgundy, the month of September erased everything and allowed the vines to catch up. The grapes were perfect, rich and ripe, and provided the winegrowers with yields. And this is perhaps the Rhône Valley's weakness in the 2007 vintage. We'll have to be careful to choose winemakers who have opted for a strict sorting process, and who will produce less quantity, but better quality. In the end, whether in the North or South, no single appellation stands out. The Côtes Rôties are magnificent, with great finesse. The Hermitages offer very deep wines. Further south, whether it's Châteauneuf du Pape or even Gigondas, everyone is in their place in the hierarchy.

 

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• THE 2007 VINTAGE IN THE REST OF FRANCE

The situation for Loire wines is about to change, but this time for the better. The promising start was slowed by heavy rains throughout the summer, but a hot, dry September allowed the grapes to finish ripening. Both white and red wines are supple and fruity, with good potential for sweet wines.

Alsace is going to be a lot like the Loire when it comes to weather, and therefore wine. A promising start, but the vines were soon overtaken by the weather patrol. Pinot Gris has suffered greatly, and Riesling remains the region's safe bet.

 

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