Jane Anson’s En Primeur report and scores have now been published on Decanter.com.
Anson calls the vintage a “bronze to silver year…with some clear pockets of gold”, suggesting that it is a year “where technical details count” and collectors should not buy blind.
Mission Haut Brion Blanc, which Anson calls “an absolute testament to what white Bordeaux can achieve”, is one of her two top-scoring wines from the vintage with 98-100 points. Its stablemate Haut Brion Blanc achieved 98 points. Both were “incredibly accomplished, sit-up-and-take-notice whites this year”, according to Anson’s notes.
Pavillon Blanc (Chateau Margaux) also achieved 98-100 points thanks in part to its “great aromatics and powerful flavours”.
Lafite Rothschild was Anson’s red wine of the vintage with 98 points. She called it “effortless but questioning, and most importantly it feels like a Lafite – for me this is a contender for red wine of the vintage.”
Anson also highlights the number of unusual blends resulting from this year’s crop. For example, Figeac has the lowest proportion of Cabernet Franc in its history. As a result, she suggests that many wines, “are often not stamped with the estate’s signature flavours”. She adds: “They will make for fascinating tasting in future verticals.”
You can find Anson’s overview of Bordeaux 2017, plus tasting notes containing an abundance of technical information about the vintage, on Decanter.com. A selection of scores can also be viewed on our critic scores page.
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