The first of three articles reassessing the 2011 vintage. Left-bank reds and sweet wines to follow; see also the guide to all our coverage of 2011 bordeaux. Above, Vieux Château Certan, whose 2011 was especially impressive.
As trailed on our Members’ forum, I took part in a two-day blind tasting of 136 of the most important 2011 bordeaux recently. This is an annual assessment of bordeaux at 10 years, the stage at which it was traditionally thought to be broachable – although now, of course, grapes are much riper and the wines much easier to drink younger than...