The Wines of Bordeaux: Vintages and Tasting Notes 1952-2003

Written by the leading international expert on French wine, The Wines of Bordeaux is the authoritative guide to one of the most important and complex wine regions in the world. Sumptuously produced, with a wealth of color illustrations and stunning line drawings, this book covers all the vineyards of Bordeaux - from the largest and most famous chateaux to the smallest farmsteads. Bordeaux is known for the quality, quantity, and variety of its wine. It produces twenty-five percent of the appellation controlee harvest in France - a great deal more than the Beaujolais, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire, or Rhone regions. It also produces all of the three main types of wine: red, dry white, and sweet white. Updating and augmenting Clive Coates's classic Grands Vins, this book shows that many of Bordeaux's wines are not only superlative but also affordable. Thirty-five years of traveling around the French vineyards has given Coates an encyclopedic knowledge of France and its wines. His love and respect for French wines is apparent as he imparts detailed information on the best vintages, tasting notes of the top wines, and up-to-the-minute advice for selecting best value wines. With clear wine descriptions that are accessible to both the uninitiated and the connoisseur, The Wines of Bordeaux increases the pleasure of traveling to this remarkable region and of selecting and enjoying its splendid wines.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Part One -- The Properties Medoc Haut-Medoc Saint-Estephe Pauillac Saint-Julien Margaux Moulis and Listrac Graves: Pessac-Leognan Graves du Sud Sauternes Lesser Sweet Wine Areas Between the Rivers Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Emilion The Saint-Emilion Satellites Pomerol Lalande de Pomerol Fronsac and Canon Fronsac Cotes de Castillon and Cotes de Francs Bourg and Blaye The Rest of Bordeaux Part Two -- The Vintages 2003 First Report 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 plus Sauternes 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1990, 1989 and 1988 Sauternes 1989 1988 1986 1985 1983 1982 1981 1979 1978 and 1975 1970 1966 1961 1959 1959 Sauternes 1952

About the Author :
Clive Coates, MW, was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Merite by the French government, the Ruffino/Cyril Ray Memorial Prize for his work on Italian wine, and the title of Wine Writer of the Year for 1998/1999 in the Champagne Lanson awards. He has published The Vine, his independent fine wine magazine, since 1985. His books include Claret (1982), Wines of France (1990), Grands Vins: The Finest Chateaux of Bordeaux and Their Wines (California, 1995), An Encyclopedia of the Wines and Domaines of France (California, 2000), and Cote D'Or: A Celebration of the Great Wines of Burgundy (California, 1997), which won the Champagne Veuve Clicquot Prize, the Andre Simon Award, and the James Beard Award.

Review :
"While many books and periodicals give similar information on Bordeaux wines, their history, their sources and style, I know of none in English that does the job so well as here." - Charles Sullivan, author of Zinfandel; "What other writer gives you the confidence that he truly knows each property, its terroir, its proprietor and its produce, and can give you a fresh and honest assessment?" - Hugh Johnson, coauthor of The World Atlas of Wine"