Izak Litwar, owner and publisher of www.greatbordeauxwines.com
I have visited Bordeaux many times - the first trip was in 1984, followed by visits in 1985 (during harvest), 1987, 1988, 1990, and 1993. Since 1995 I've visited Bordeaux every year in May/June. Since 2002 and starting with vintage 2001, I've participated in primeur tastings arranged by Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux for invited journalists in March/April.
From 2000 to 2018, I went to Bordeaux twice a year, except for harvest in 2002 and 2005 (visiting in March/April during primeur and September/October during harvest). In 2015 and 2019, I went to Bordeaux three times: the first time during primeur, the second time in June (Vinexpo), and during harvest in September/October. Sadly, in 2020, I didn't go to Bordeaux because of the widespread COVID-19 virus worldwide.
Therefore, during most of 2021, I tasted and rated both 2019 and 2020 barrel samples, plus the 2018 vintage in the bottle, at my home in Copenhagen, Denmark.
I didn't go to Bordeaux for primeur in March/April 2021 (Covid-19 restrictions in Denmark), but I went to there and tasted 2019 and 2020 vintages for almost two weeks in November 2021. Then, I returned Bordeaux in April 2022 to taste the 2021 vintage en primeur, in April 2023 to taste 2022 vintage and in April 2024 to taste 2023 vintage
This website is about Bordeaux, describing harvests and vintages, including chateau profiles and tasting notes. A tiny chapter about Burgundy and Beaujolais is there, too. My impressions and tasting notes from every visit to Bordeaux and vertical/horizontal tastings are continuously published.
It's independent and non-profit, and it costs nothing to check it out. There are no advertisements or sponsors. I'm not paid for my writing, and I entirely cover all expenses concerning travel, hotels, etc. The primary purpose of this website is to share my impressions and TNs with fellow wine lovers. Enjoy!
Left - two magician winemakers, Jacques Guinaudeau and Francois Mitjavile. Right - Danish schoolgirl harvesting at Chateau Palmer in September 2010
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