2007

Best Wines of 2007: Which Wines to Buy from 2007?

The 2007 vintage is often viewed as one of average quality, with production varying widely depending on the region. However, certain wine regions experienced favorable climatic conditions, and talented producers were able to take advantage of this year to offer exceptional wines. Overall, 2007 wines are characterized by a lovely freshness, great finesse, and good aging potential, though some may lack the concentration typical of great years.

Bordeaux 2007: An Early Vintage with Lovely Freshness Bordeaux experienced a relatively early vintage in 2007, with generally favorable weather conditions in September. Cabernet Sauvignon ripened particularly well, while Merlot showed wines that are rounder and fruitier. Though overall quality varies, the great châteaux managed to produce balanced, fresh wines with beautiful structure.

Top Wines:

• Château Margaux (Médoc): An elegant wine, with fresh red fruit, cedar, and a silky tannic structure.
• Château Latour (Médoc): A powerful, concentrated wine, with cassis, cedar, tobacco, and great length.
• Château Cheval Blanc (Saint-Émilion): A complex wine with aromas of black fruit, truffle, and cocoa, with great finesse.
• Château Pétrus (Pomerol): A deep wine with notes of black plum, truffle, and dark chocolate, very concentrated.

To Buy: The grand Bordeaux châteaux such as Château Margaux, Château Cheval Blanc, and Château Pétrus, which offer excellent aging potential and beautiful freshness.

Burgundy 2007: A Fresh Vintage with Very Good Wines In Burgundy, the 2007 vintage was marked by moderate yields and favorable weather, with sunny days allowing for optimal grape maturation. Pinot Noir showed fruity aromas with great finesse, while Chardonnay displayed pure fruit expression with marked minerality. This vintage can be enjoyed relatively young but also has great aging potential.

Top Wines:

• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Côte de Nuits): A wine of great purity, with red fruit, undergrowth, and violet aromas.
• Domaine Leflaive (Puligny-Montrachet): An elegant wine, with yellow fruit, brioche, and beautiful acidity.
• Domaine Armand Rousseau (Gevrey-Chambertin): A structured wine, with black cherry, licorice, and earthy notes.
• Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé (Musigny): A complex wine, with rose, cherry, and undergrowth aromas.

To Buy: The Pinot Noirs from Gevrey-Chambertin and the Chardonnays from Puligny-Montrachet, which offer great aging potential and excellent quality-to-price ratio.

Rhône Valley 2007: A Quality Vintage with Tannic Wines The Rhône Valley enjoyed favorable climatic conditions in 2007, particularly in Côte-Rôtie and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Grenaches of the region were particularly successful, yielding rich and concentrated wines, while the Syrahs produced elegant wines with spicy aromas and good freshness. Northern Rhône wines are more structured, while Southern Rhône wines are fruitier and more concentrated.

Top Wines:

• Domaine Jean-Louis Chave (Hermitage): A powerful wine, with black fruit, pepper, leather, and chocolate aromas.
• Château de Beaucastel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): A rich and complex wine, with black fruit, garrigue, leather, and tobacco notes.
• Guigal (Côte-Rôtie): An elegant wine, with violet, black fruit, and spice aromas.
• Domaine du Pegau (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): A concentrated and structured wine, with red fruit, tobacco, and licorice aromas.

To Buy: Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage, which show great depth, concentration, and aging potential.

Piedmont (Italy) 2007: A Complex and Balanced Vintage In Piedmont, the 2007 vintage was marked by relatively moderate summer temperatures, allowing for a gradual maturation of the grapes, particularly for Barolos and Barbarescos. These wines are well-structured, with good acidity and remarkable complexity. Though more accessible than some grand vintages, they possess excellent aging potential.

Top Wines:

• Gaja (Barbaresco): An elegant and complex wine, with black fruit, truffle, licorice, and fresh acidity.
• Vietti (Barolo): A refined wine, with black cherry, leather, chocolate, and undergrowth notes.
• Pio Cesare (Barbaresco): A structured wine, with red fruit, rose, leather, and tobacco aromas.
• Bruno Giacosa (Barbaresco): A subtle wine, with fresh red fruit, rose, and earthy aromas.

To Buy: The Barbarescos and Barolos from 2007, which are ready to drink but also have excellent aging potential.

California 2007: An Excellent and Complex Vintage In California, the 2007 vintage was favorable for producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, with highly concentrated aromas and great complexity. The Chardonnays from the coast were also very successful, offering a lovely balance between fruitiness and minerality. 2007 is a year when Californian wines achieved a beautiful balance between power and finesse.

Top Wines:

• Opus One (Napa Valley): A powerful and complex wine, with cassis, cedar, and chocolate aromas.
• Robert Mondavi (Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon): A rich wine, with black fruit, pepper, and tobacco notes.
• Harlan Estate (Napa Valley): A concentrated wine, with cassis, leather, and chocolate aromas.
• Kistler (Sonoma Coast Chardonnay): An elegant wine, with yellow fruit, brioche, and hazelnut aromas.

To Buy: The Napa Valley Cabernets and Pinots Noir for their power and complexity.

Champagne 2007: A Balanced and Promising Vintage The 2007 vintage in Champagne produced elegant and well-balanced wines with beautiful freshness and aromas of white fruit and brioche. Though production was slightly lower, some producers managed to create Champagnes with purity and finesse, capable of aging beautifully.

Top Wines:

• Dom Pérignon (Vintage Champagne): A fresh Champagne, with white fruit, brioche, and hazelnut aromas.
• Krug (Vintage Champagne): A rich and complex Champagne, with dried fruit, brioche, and vanilla notes.
• Bollinger (Vintage Champagne): A powerful Champagne, with red fruit, brioche, and honey aromas.

To Buy: The Vintage Champagnes from Dom Pérignon, Krug, and Bollinger for their balance and aging potential.

Summary of the 2007 Vintages:

• Bordeaux 2007: An elegant vintage with fresh, well-structured wines.
• Burgundy 2007: Refined wines, with lovely freshness and pure fruit expression.
• Rhône Valley 2007: Concentrated and complex wines with aging potential.
• Piedmont 2007: Balanced wines with great complexity and aging potential.
• California 2007: Powerful, balanced, and complex wines.
• Champagne 2007: A promising vintage, elegant and fresh, with good aging potential.