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Burgundy

In Burgundy 1993, an early flowering in the month of June, was followed by a wet early July before a hot dry August. The reds of 1993 are outstanding. They are powerful and concentrated with a firm backbone of ripe tannins. The whites although austere to begin with and slow to evolve have developed into magnificent well structured, powerful wines. A vintage that produced wines built for ageing.

Once again, expectations were high in Burgundy for the 1993 harvest. The flowering was as early as that of 1990 (from 6-11 June) and August was very hot and dry . Despite the bad weather during the second half of June and first ten days of July, with rain and notably hail in the Meurault 1er Cru vineyards of Genevrères, Charmes and Perrières. Burgundy was looking forward to an early harvest of high quality.

The 'ban des vendanges' was set for the 15th September in the Côte de Beaune and 17th in the Côte de Nuits. 

As has so often been the case, it was extremely important to undertake a crop thinning in 1993; for those domaines which did not, yields were high and sugar levels mediocre. 

The intensity of colour in the red wine and a correct balance between acidity and tannins allow us to hope for wines of an above average quality. The vineyard which were harvested before the rains are particularly rich and elegant. Fortunately, the small berry size of the grapes meant a greater resistance to grey rot which could so easily have been a problem, with the wet weather.

For the whites, the deterioration of the weather in the Côte d'Or prevented the Chardonnay grape from reaching perfect maturity but the wines will nonetheless be pleasant.

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Champagne

This promising year deteriorated in September with frequent rains resulting in swollen bunches and increasing rot issues. A regular-sized crop was picked commencing September 8th. On paper, the ripeness and acidity levels achieved are less favourable than those of 1992. Yet the best wines of the year, including Dom Pérignon, Philipponnat Clos des Goisses, Louis Roederer Cristal and Dom Ruinart, have brought about good surprises but have largely peaked except for the P2 versions of Dom Pérignon. They are generally balanced wines with often somewhat weak fruitiness due to dilution. Without doubt better than its reputation, though.

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California

Abundant rainfall throughout the winter and spring provided favorable moisture to the vines over the growing season. An uneventful, warm spring concluded with unexpected rain during the bloom period in May, resulting in lower berry set and ultimate crop reduction of 20% to 30% at harvest. Cool growing season temperatures were broken with intermittent heat spells in August and September, resulting in several selective harvests, rather than one extended crush. Grape quality was excellent, with intense flavors off the vine, although some varieties experienced sunburn and required selective picking at harvest.

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Vintage Report

Bordeaux / 1993 was a poor year, much like 1992. Started ominously and ended frustratingly wet. The Cabernet Sauvignon once again faced the challenge of achieving bearable maturity while the Merlot did surprisingly well. Again, technology and selectivity were the key issues for quality. The best producers could still manage good wines at reasonable prices, such as Haut-Brion, Valandraud and Pétrus. Lafleur and Trotanoy were also solid buys. Of these two, Trotanoy is better available and much cheaper.

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Vintage Report

Napa valley: An uneventful, warm spring concluded with unexpected rain during the bloom period in May, resulting in lower berry set and ultimate crop reduction of 20% to 30% at harvest. Cool growing season temperatures were broken with intermittent heat spells in August and September, resulting in several selective harvests, rather than one extended crush. Grape quality was excellent, with intense flavors off the vine, although some varieties experienced sunburn and required selective picking at harvest.

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Vintage Report

Burgundy: Full-bodied reds and fine whites.

The season began well with good flowering, but rain at the end of May slowed development and caused problems with mildew. June was very hot, and an early July hailstorm damaged part of the Nuits-St-Georges vineyards. Fine, warm and dry weather returned and lasted until early September, thickening the skins of the grapes advantageously for vinification. The weather then turned unpredictable and frequent showers tempered the high expectations for an exceptional vintage. When to start harvesting became a matter of personal opinion. 

The acidity in the whites is fairly high, giving them a tighter character. A successful classic red-wine vintage offering wines of structure and rich, ripe black fruit.

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Australia / Barossa: The wettest growing season for more than 50 years with rains persisting from spring right through to January. The weather caused severe downy mildew problems and this was compounded by big, shaded canopies. Fortunately March and April were warm and dry which allowed sound, ripe, good quality grapes to be harvested although some regions were very late, with Kalimna recording its latest vintage on record. Overall the vintage produced high quality wines.

 

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The 100 best wines of the 1993 vintage

Name Tb Producer Location
1 Clos-de-la-Roche Vieilles-Vignes 100 Domaine Ponsot Burgundy, France
2 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 100 Shafer Vineyards Napa Valley, United States
3 Chambertin Clos de Bèze 99 Domaine Armand Rousseau Burgundy, France
4 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 99 Domaine Dujac Burgundy, France
5 Dom Pérignon Rosé P3 99 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
6 Musigny 98 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
7 Maya 98 Dalla Valle Napa Valley, United States
8 Echezeaux 98 Henri Jayer Burgundy, France
9 Dom Pérignon P2 98 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
10 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 98 Henri Jayer Burgundy, France
11 Vosne Romanée 98 Henri Jayer Burgundy, France
12 Harlan Estate 97 Harlan Estate Napa Valley, United States
13 Chambertin 97 Domaine Armand Rousseau Burgundy, France
14 Richebourg 97 Domaine Jean Gros Burgundy, France
15 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque Rosé 97 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
16 Clos-de-la-Roche 97 Domaine Dujac Burgundy, France
17 Richebourg 97 Méo-Camuzet Burgundy, France
18 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard 97 Marcassin California, United States
19 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Bryant Family Vineyard Napa Valley, United States
20 Musigny 97 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Burgundy, France
21 Romanée St.Vivant 97 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
22 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrieres 97 Domaine Guy Roulot Burgundy, France
23 Richebourg 97 Domaine Jean Gros Burgundy, France
24 Dom Pérignon P2 Rosé 97 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
25 Richebourg 97 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
26 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 97 Lewis Cellars Napa Valley, United States
27 Chateau Corton Grancey 97 Maison Louis Latour Burgundy, France
28 Richebourg 97 Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat Burgundy, France
29 Chevalier-Montrachet 97 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy, France
30 Corton-Charlemagne 97 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
31 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 97 Lewis Cellars Napa Valley, United States
32 Chambolle-Musigny Les Gruenchers 97 Domaine Dujac Burgundy, France
33 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale 97 Domaine Joseph Faiveley Burgundy, France
34 La Tâche 96 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
35 Musigny 96 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Burgundy, France
36 Clos De Vougeot 96 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
37 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque 96 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
38 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 96 Domaine Georges Roumier Burgundy, France
39 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling TBA 96 Weingut Robert Weil Rheingau, Germany
40 Richebourg 96 Domaine Anne & François Gros Burgundy, France
41 Musigny 96 Domaine Georges Roumier Burgundy, France
42 Charmes-Chambertin 96 Joseph Roty Burgundy, France
43 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 96 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
44 Barolo Gran Bussia Riserva 96 Poderi Aldo Conterno Piedmont, Italy
45 Montrachet 96 Domaine Ramonet Burgundy, France
46 Comtes de Champagne 96 Taittinger Champagne, France
47 Corton 96 Maison Louis Latour Burgundy, France
48 Meursault-Perrières 96 Coche Dury Burgundy, France
49 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Beringer Vineyards Napa Valley, United States
50 Charmes-Chambertin 96 Domaine Dujac Burgundy, France
51 Meursault Perrieres 96 Domaine Michelot Buisson Burgundy, France
52 Pol Roger vintage 95 Pol Roger Champagne, France
53 Montrachet 95 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
54 Romanée Conti 95 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
55 Comtes de Champagne Rosé 95 Taittinger Champagne, France
56 Screaming Eagle 95 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley, United States
57 Insignia 95 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley, United States
58 Richebourg 95 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
59 Echézeaux 95 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
60 Romanee Saint Vivant 95 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
61 Essencia 95 Royal Tokaji Wine Company Tokay, Hungary
62 Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 95 Domaine Armand Rousseau Burgundy, France
63 Echézeaux 95 Emmanuel Rouget Burgundy, France
64 Musigny 95 Joseph Drouhin Burgundy, France
65 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 95 Domaine Hubert Lignier Burgundy, France
66 Chablis Grand Cru Clos 95 Domaine Raveneau Burgundy, France
67 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Eiswein 95 Weingut Robert Weil Rheingau, Germany
68 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 95 Domaine Raveneau Burgundy, France
69 Vosne Romanee Les Brulees 95 Méo-Camuzet Burgundy, France
70 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Heitz Cellar Napa Valley, United States
71 Bague Carrée 95 Guy Charlemagne Champagne, France
72 Pernand-Vergelesses 95 Maison Louis Latour Burgundy, France
73 Pernand-Vergelesses Ile des Vergelesses 95 Maison Louis Latour Burgundy, France
74 Pétrus 94 Château Pétrus Pomerol, France
75 Musigny 94 Louis Jadot Burgundy, France
76 Meursault-Charmes 94 Domaine Guy Roulot Burgundy, France
77 Opus One 94 Opus One Napa Valley, United States
78 Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Cros Parantoux 94 Emmanuel Rouget Burgundy, France
79 Musigny Vieilles Vignes 94 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Burgundy, France
80 Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 94 Mount Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains, United States
81 Basket Press Shiraz 94 Rockford South Australia, Australia
82 Corton-Charlemagne 94 Coche Dury Burgundy, France
83 Heppenheimer Centgericht Ruländer Beerenauslese 94 Kloster Eberbach Rheingau, Germany
84 Corton- Charlemagne Grand Cru 94 Domaine Bonneau du Martray Burgundy, France
85 Château Haut-Brion Blanc 94 Château Haut-Brion Bordeaux, France
86 Latriciers-Chambertin 94 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
87 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Penfolds South Australia, Australia
88 Les Cailerets, Clos de 60 Ouvrees 94 Domaine de la Pousse d'Or Burgundy, France
89 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 94 Domaine de Chevalier Pessac Leognan, France
90 Far Niente Dolce 94 Far Niente Napa Valley, United States
91 Clos des Lambrays 94 Domaine des Lambrays Burgundy, France
92 Charmes-Chambertin 94 Domaine Denis Bachelet Burgundy, France
93 Tokaji Eszencia 94 Disznókö Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary
94 Tokaji Eszencia 94 Tokaj-Hétszölö Estate Tokaj, Hungary
95 Chevalier-Montrachet 94 Domaine Michel Niellon Burgundy, France
96 Echezeaux "Vieille Vigne" 94 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Burgundy, France
97 Nuits-st-Georges 1er Cru aux Boudots 94 Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron Burgundy, France
98 Amour de Deutz Brut 94 Deutz Champagne, France
99 Cono Sur Gewurztraminer Varietal 94 Cono Sur Colchagua, Chile
100 Romanee St. Vivant 94 Domaine Robert Arnoux Bourgogne, France
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