Vintage quality: Good

Current condition: Will keep

For Bordeaux, the 2023 vintage is looking promising, despite an unpredictable growing season, especially in the lead-up to En Primeur.

Up and down weather was the order of the day, with the growing season beginning in relatively balmy conditions that were quickly broken by both rain and cold snaps. When it came to budding, a chill lingered in the air.

Frost struck several times as the vines began to bud and producers were naturally nervous. Fortunately, however, budburst occurred largely unscathed, paving the way for a successful flowering and a potentially abundant vintage.

As the summer months arrived, however, conditions became tricky as the weather heated up in tandem with frequent bouts of rain. The hot, rainy weather naturally created humid, sticky conditions, the perfect breeding ground for diseases like mildew, of which a large proportion of Bordeaux – especially those vineyards within Entre-deux-Mers – were affected to some extent.

Heatwaves also struck – particularly around the harvest-time – and some vineyards experienced drought stress as the hot conditions continued long into the autumn. Although the heat was problematic for some of the younger vines, it proved a blessing for some of the vines carrying larger bunches that were struggling to reach phenolic ripeness. As this heat came late in the day, nights were slightly cooler, enabling both the acidity and fresh aromatics to be mostly preserved.

Despite the last-minute heatwave, temperatures were – on the whole – cooler than the summer before – although it was still a warm year that often saw tropical-like conditions. While the chances of the fruit being over-cooked were slim, results are still likely to differ from estate to estate.

When it came to the harvest, the whites were naturally the first to be picked in late August, followed by the reds in September and – finally – the great sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac were picked last.

Unlike the growing season, which oscillated between rain and sun, the picking – particularly for reds – took place in idyllic conditions and the aromatics for both whites and reds have been well-preserved.

With En Primeur looming, time – and the critics – will tell what consumers can expect but, on the surface, the vintage looks set to be promising.