2007 Vintage — A Sunny, Selective Year, Outstanding in Southern Rhône and Sauternes

Buying a 2007 wine means choosing a bottle that has already reached a mature stage, ideal as a birthday bottle, a birth-year wine or for a tasting of wines with attractive evolution. The 2007 vintage is not homogeneous across all regions, but it offers major successes, especially in the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Sauternes.

The style of 2007 varies strongly by appellation. In the Southern Rhône, the wines are often rich, generous, powerful and sun-filled. In Sauternes and Barsac, sweet wines are among the great highlights of the vintage, with freshness, intensity and excellent ageing potential. By contrast, 2007 red Bordeaux and certain regions more sensitive to the vintage conditions should be selected with greater caution.

The Style of the 2007 Vintage

The 2007 vintage is a year of contrasts. Some regions produced highly successful, expressive and already seductive wines, while others suffered from uneven ripeness, a difficult summer or more irregular quality. It is therefore important to avoid broad generalisations and to assess the vintage by region, appellation and producer.

The finest 2007 bottles now offer attractive maturity. Great Southern Rhône wines can show Mediterranean richness, ripe dark fruit and spice, while 2007 Sauternes shines through its balance of sweetness, freshness, noble botrytis and aromatic complexity.

Which 2007 Wines Should You Buy First?

• Very high priority: 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, great Southern Rhône wines, 2007 Sauternes and Barsac.
• High priority: leading estates from Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the Southern Rhône, benchmark Sauternes and Barsac estates.
• Medium priority: 2007 Champagne from leading houses, 2007 Italy from serious producers, selected dry white Bordeaux.
• Low to medium priority: 2007 red Bordeaux, 2007 red Burgundy, modest or poorly stored red wines.

Southern Rhône 2007: The Great Red Wine Highlight

Southern Rhône 2007 is one of the great success stories of the vintage. The wines, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, stand out for their richness, generosity, ripe fruit and sunny character. The best estates produced powerful, broad, spicy and highly expressive reds that have often reached a very attractive stage of maturity today.

The style of great Southern Rhône 2007 wines may evoke blackberry, black cherry, plum, fig, garrigue, pepper, leather, liquorice, cocoa, Mediterranean herbs and sweet spices. Some wines are rich and opulent, so it is best to favour producers that preserved balance, freshness and good alcohol management.

Styles to look for:

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007 — One of the great choices of the vintage, especially from benchmark estates.
• Gigondas 2007 — Very interesting for lovers of powerful, spicy Southern Rhône reds.
• Vacqueyras 2007 — A strong option from good producers, with a rich and generous style.
• Great Southern Rhône estates 2007 — Best chosen for balance, precision and ageing capacity.

Buying priority: very high. For red wines, the Southern Rhône is one of the most recommendable categories of the 2007 vintage.

Sauternes 2007: The Great Bordeaux Highlight

In Sauternes and Barsac, 2007 is a major success. While red Bordeaux is more difficult, the sweet wines benefited from excellent botrytis development and good freshness. The best wines are intense, precise, concentrated without heaviness and have very strong ageing potential.

Great 2007 Sauternes can offer aromas of apricot, candied orange, honey, saffron, roasted pineapple, mango, beeswax, white flowers, sweet spices and exotic fruits. Their balance between richness and vitality makes them one of the safest choices of the vintage for a birthday bottle or birth-year wine.

Examples of great wines to look for:

• Château d’Yquem 2007 — A major reference of the vintage, complex, precise and built for ageing.
• Château Climens 2007 — An elegant, luminous and refined Barsac.
• Château Coutet 2007 — Fresh, balanced and very interesting for lovers of precise sweet wines.
• Château Suduiraut 2007 — A rich, broad and classic Sauternes.
• Château Rieussec 2007 — Structured, generous and expressive, best selected in good storage condition.

Buying priority: very high. 2007 Sauternes is one of the great peaks of the vintage and one of the best Bordeaux choices.

Red Bordeaux 2007: A Secondary and Highly Selective Category

In Bordeaux, 2007 is far less convincing for red wines than for sweet wines. Vintage conditions produced wines that are often lighter, less deep and intended for earlier drinking than the great surrounding years. The best châteaux made correct wines through sorting and careful winemaking, but this category should not be a priority.

The best 2007 red Bordeaux may offer a classical profile, with light blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, red fruit, graphite, fine leather and forest floor. They are mainly suited to lovers of supple, evolved and ready-to-drink Bordeaux, rather than buyers seeking a great wine for very long ageing.

Styles to consider with caution:

• 2007 classified growths — Buy only with reliable provenance and sensible pricing.
• Pomerol and Saint-Émilion 2007 — Some successful bottles are possible, but strict selection is essential.
• Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux 2007 — Best reserved for leading châteaux only.

Buying priority: low to medium. In Bordeaux, 2007 Sauternes is far more recommendable than red wines.

Champagne 2007: An Uneven Year, but Interesting from Leading Houses

Champagne 2007 is a vintage to select carefully. After a very early spring, the summer was difficult and quality depends heavily on grape variety, sector and harvest decisions. Chardonnay often performed better than Pinot Meunier, making blanc de blancs and selected cuvées from serious houses particularly interesting.

The best 2007 Champagnes may show notes of lemon, apple, pear, chalk, white flowers, brioche, hazelnut, almond and candied citrus. These are wines to choose from benchmark producers, with a preference for well-balanced cuvées and perfectly preserved bottles.

Styles to look for:

• 2007 blanc de blancs — Often one of the best Champagne options of the vintage.
• 2007 vintage Champagnes from leading houses — Worth considering with documented provenance.
• 2007 prestige cuvées — Interesting from houses that made a rigorous selection.

Buying priority: medium, with preference for blanc de blancs, leading houses and well-preserved bottles.

Burgundy 2007: A Fresh, Accessible and Producer-Driven Year

In Burgundy, 2007 is a fresher and lighter vintage that requires producer-based selection. Red wines can be delicate, supple and already evolved, but they generally lack the depth of great years. White wines are often more interesting, especially from serious domaines and great terroirs.

2007 red Burgundies may evoke red cherry, strawberry, rose, fine spice and light forest floor. White wines can show lemon, apple, white flowers, hazelnut, chalk and lightly buttery notes. When buying, favour reliable producers and perfectly stored bottles.

• White Burgundy 2007 — Often more interesting than the reds, especially from top domaines.
• Côte de Nuits 2007 — Worth seeking from the best producers, in a lighter and evolved style.
• Côte de Beaune 2007 — Interesting for whites, more selective for reds.
• 2007 grands crus and premiers crus — To be considered only from reputable domaines.

Buying priority: medium for whites from top producers; more cautious for reds.

Italy 2007: Ripeness, Richness and Fine Successes from Top Producers

In Italy, 2007 can offer rich, ripe and generous wines, especially in Tuscany and from certain top producers in Piedmont. The style is often more solar and accessible than in very classical years, with expressive fruit and sometimes broad structure.

Great Italian wines from 2007 may evoke black cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, spice, liquorice, dried herbs and balsamic notes. Purchases should remain focused on serious producers, as overly ripe or heavily extracted wines may now lack freshness after several years of evolution.

• Brunello di Montalcino 2007 — A strong option from benchmark estates, in a ripe and expressive style.
• Super Tuscans 2007 — Interesting from leading producers and with clear provenance.
• Barolo and Barbaresco 2007 — Worth considering from producers able to preserve balance and freshness.

Buying priority: medium to high from top Italian producers, especially in Tuscany and benchmark cuvées.

Spain 2007: Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Selective Age-Worthy Wines

Spain 2007 can offer good opportunities from serious producers, especially in Rioja, Ribera del Duero and selected age-worthy cuvées. The vintage should be approached selectively, but leading Spanish houses can offer mature and interesting wines today.

The best 2007 Spanish wines may develop notes of dark fruits, ripe cherry, tobacco, leather, cedar, noble vanilla, spice, cocoa and forest floor. For a birthday bottle, they can represent an interesting alternative to red Bordeaux of the same age.

• Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva 2007 — Best chosen from historic houses.
• Ribera del Duero 2007 — Interesting from reputable estates and age-worthy cuvées.
• Priorat 2007 — Worth considering for lovers of powerful Mediterranean wines.

Buying priority: medium, with selection by producer and storage condition.

California 2007: Napa Valley and Great Cabernet Sauvignon

California 2007, especially Napa Valley, is an interesting option for lovers of mature, rich and structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Several great 2007 Napa wines developed strong reputations and can now offer a mature expression of California Cabernet.

The style may combine blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, cedar, mint, dark chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, graphite and sweet spices. These wines suit lovers of powerful but already evolved Napa wines, provided benchmark producers and well-stored bottles are favoured.

• Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 — Worth seeking from historic producers and benchmark cuvées.
• Great Californian wines 2007 — Interesting for lovers of mature New World wines.
• Magnums of 2007 Cabernet — Preferable when available.

Buying priority: medium to high depending on producer, especially for great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Buying a 2007 Wine: Essential Criteria

When buying a 2007 bottle, the first step is choosing the right region. 2007 Southern Rhône wines and 2007 Sauternes offer the strongest guarantees of the vintage. Red Bordeaux, red Burgundy and more modest wines should be selected more strictly according to producer, fill level, provenance and storage condition.

• Producer: favour estates known for consistency and their ability to preserve balance.
• Style: favour wines naturally successful in 2007: Southern Rhône, Sauternes, great whites and top international producers.
• Storage: check provenance, storage history, fill level, capsule and overall bottle condition.
• Format: favour magnums and larger formats for age-worthy reds.
• Drinking window: many 2007 wines are ready to drink today, except for great sweet wines and some top reds.

Serving Advice for a 2007 Bottle

Red wines from 2007 should be served according to their structure. Great Southern Rhône wines may benefit from early opening or measured decanting, especially if they remain powerful. More fragile Bordeaux and Burgundy bottles should be tasted before any extended aeration.

2007 Sauternes should be served slightly chilled, around 10 to 12°C. They can pair with foie gras, blue cheeses, fruit desserts, gently spiced cuisine or be enjoyed alone as contemplative wines. 2007 Champagnes should be served cool, but not ice-cold, to preserve aromatic finesse.

Summary of the 2007 Vintage

• Southern Rhône 2007 — The great red wine highlight, with rich, sunny, generous and often highly successful wines.
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007 — One of the most sought-after categories of the vintage.
• Sauternes 2007 — A major Bordeaux highlight, with freshness, intensity, noble botrytis and excellent ageing potential.
• Red Bordeaux 2007 — Secondary category, best reserved for famous names and well-preserved bottles.
• Champagne 2007 — Uneven vintage, interesting for blanc de blancs and leading houses.
• Burgundy 2007 — Fresh, producer-driven year; whites are often more interesting than reds.
• Italy 2007 — Fine successes from top producers, especially in Tuscany.
• Spain 2007 — Interesting option from serious houses, especially Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
• California 2007 — Interesting for great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

2007: A Mature Vintage to Choose by Region

The 2007 vintage is a contrasted but highly interesting year when selected carefully. Its greatest successes are found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and great Southern Rhône wines, as well as Sauternes and Barsac. These categories are among the best choices for a birthday bottle, a birth-year wine or a tasting of mature wines.

2007 red Bordeaux, Burgundy, selected Champagnes, Italian, Spanish or Californian wines can also be interesting, provided benchmark producers and perfectly stored bottles are favoured. Well chosen, a 2007 wine can offer a generous, mature and deeply enjoyable experience.