The Great Escape

Bordeaux surmounts an erratic growing season in 2018 to deliver an excellent crop of wines

A snow-covered vineyard at Château Latour
A rare snowfall blankets the wintertime vineyards of Château Latour, whose 2018 grand vin is the year’s top-rated wine. (Deepix Studio)

2018 was a rocky vintage across Bordeaux, France’s largest and most prominent winegrowing region. Inconsistent growing conditions led many winemakers to depend on their distinct terroir to account for any gaps in quality. Overall, recent releases show promise, especially from the Left Bank, and makes for a vintage worth stocking up on, both for serious collectors and more casual drinkers.

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