Bordeaux enjoys a privileged climate and location, mid-point between the North Pole and the Equator. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current from the Gulf of Mexico, summers are hot and winters are mild. The Bordeaux's most prominent vine varieties, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, can thus take their time to mature here and give the finest they have to offer.
Vines produce their best results where they take time to mature: the grapes must ripen slowly. This is when the richness in the major components of a great wine develops resulting in exceptional colours, tannins, aromatic elements and acidity.
Growing these vines here can be dodgy since there is not much leeway for less than ideal weather conditions. Not enough sun, too much water, cool temperatures during blossoming or a spring frost on young buds can spell disaster. However, a dedicated winemaker knows how to outmanoeuvre bad weather.
Vintage can thus be a positive or negative phenomenon. Since the weather in Bordeaux isn't as dependable as winemakers would like it to be, they have had to learn to deal with its variations by closely observing and learning all they can about their vines. Due to this intimate knowledge developed over time, they can reduce the risk of vine damage due to unfavourable weather conditions and maximize the potential of the grapes.
In Bordeaux, these yearly variations can be crucial, as in the zone for sweet wines, which depends on specific phenomenon directly related to its micro-climate. This is what makes for the charm and interest of Bordeaux wines, year after year.
