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I didn’t make it to Bordeaux this year for the En Primeur tastings, but my friend and fellow Master of Wine, Rod Smith, did and has kindly allowed me to publish his report on my site as a free download.

This is what he has to say:

“I am delighted to report that the 2017 vintage in Bordeaux has broken the ‘curse of the -7s’

After a trio of good to great vintages in 2014, 15 and 16 (of which the 2016s are undeniably superb), the devastating frosts and uneven ripening conditions of last year gave scant hope for a continuation of greatness. And in some ways 2017 is more ‘up and down’. But some of the top wines are the equal of those from the previous years, and may well prove – if not a bargain exactly – then a shrewd investment from the drinkers’ perspective.

I spent a week tasting as many wines as I could – 191 reds, around 21 dry whites and 15 Sauternes.”