Falstaff Magazin International Nr. 1/2022

wine / BORDEAUX

wine / BORDEAUX Architects at Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion have managed to combine ancient and modern to stunning effect. Inset: Barrel samples lined up for tasting at the blending table. < that year we made the freshest wine, perhaps the freshest ever made at the estate.” Compared to the wines of the 2018 vintage, the Merlots from the Right Bank possess more acidity and come across in classic style. In Pessac-Léognan, south of the city of Bordeaux, where both dry white and red wines were made at the highest level, one can draw at will from a full and fine range. The 2019 vintage presented a rich harvest and really great wines are thus on offer across all categories and appellations. From Bordeaux AOC via Cru Bourgeois up into the realms of the famed names of the Grands Crus Classés – as a buyer you simply cannot go wrong, with one exception: missing out on this exceptional opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of Bordeaux. THE 2019 VINTAGE PRESENTED A RICH HARVEST. REALLY GREAT WINES ARE ON OFFER ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES AND APPELLATIONS. THROUGH THE YEAR It was Mother Nature who created the prerequisites for the success of this rather unusual vintage born before the pandemic. She meant well. Although there were still some very cold days in early January 2019, the spring was relatively mild overall. During the winter period, regular moderate precipitation ensured that the water resources in the soil were replenished. An important prerequisite, since 2019 turned out to be the warmest year on average since records began. Budbreak occurred at the end of March, beginning of April; about a week earlier than usual. After a short, cool and rainy phase in May, flowering proceeded evenly and quickly in the best conditions, setting the course for a high-yielding year. At the end of June, the weather changed and remained warm and stable, ensuring optimal conditions for a good and healthy ripening of the grapes, two short heat spikes in June and July did not affect Photos: Erick Saillet/Chateau Cheval Blanc, Cécile Burban, mauritius images / Photononstop / Stéphane Ouzounoff, Getty Images/Tim Graham 54 falstaff mar – jun 2022

REGULAR SMALL RAIN SHOWERS OPTIMALLY SUPPLIED THE VINES AND AIDED THE SYNTHESIS OF POLYPHENOLS IN THE BERRIES. Above: A bottle of Pétrus. Below: An old Merlot vine with simply perfect fruit at Château Pétrus in Pomerol. the grapes in any way. Regular small rain showers optimally supplied the vines and aided the synthesis of polyphenols in the grapes. The first red varieties started turning in July and by mid-August, véraison was already complete, again in optimal conditions. Harvest began in the Médoc appellation with the Merlots around 19 September, the northern regions such as Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe followed from 23 September onwards under blue skies. Towards the end of the month, there was still some rainfall which lowered the alcohol levels of the already fully ripe Cabernet Sauvignons somewhat but was especially beneficial to the vineyards with drier gravel soils. Finally, by the end of the second week of October, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot were harvested in fine weather and showed remarkable finesse. < VINTAGE HIGHLIGHTS The stunning 2019 vintage presented some of the highest-scoring wines ever. VINTAGE 2019 BEST OF RIGHT BANK 100 Château Cheval Blanc, St. Émilion 100 Château Figeac, St. Émilion 100 Pétrus, Pomerol 100 Château Lafleur, Pomerol 99 Château Beauséjour-Duffau-Lagarrosse, St. Émilion 99 Château Pavie, St. Émilion 99 Vieux-Château-Certan, Pomerol 98 Château La Conseillante, Pomerol 98 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol 98 Château Trotanoy, Pomerol VINTAGE 2019 BEST OF LEFT BANK* 100 Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac 100 Château Léoville-Las-Cases, Saint-Julien 100 Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac 100 Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 99 Château Margaux, Margaux 99 Château Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe 98 Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe 98 Château Palmer, Margaux 98 Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan 98 Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan *Château Latour, Pauillac, also scored 100 Falstaff points but was not sold en primeur and will only be released in ten years’ time. Heni blam qui beriorepra nobitaq uibusandi commodi sequis iliquia conet es molorum fugiand aectia sumquos aut ea vellam ea cor as ipsam untori mar – jun 2022 falstaff 55