1946 Vintage wine

1946 Vintage wine

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The 1946 vintage is a rare wine, born in the immediate post-war period, between the two legends that are 1945 and 1947. A cold and wet start to the year encouraged coulure and disease, but a hot and dry summer saved the harvest, yielding fine, upright wines, today full of tertiary elegance. The Right Bank of Bordeaux and the finest terroirs produced the most beautiful successes, with Château Mouton Rothschild 1946 and Château Cheval Blanc 1946 as the most sought-after witnesses.
In 2026, the 1946 wine celebrates its 80th anniversary: it is the ideal 80th anniversary wine, as rare as it is moving to give as a gift.

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Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux

Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux
1946 vintage - sodivin blog article

Our article on the 1946 vintage
Vintage Guide - SoDivin

SoDivin Vintage Guide
80th anniversary wine - SoDivin

80th anniversary wine

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The FAQ

Is the 1946 vintage considered a great wine year?

The 1946 vintage is not a uniformly great year, but it offers some very fine wines from exceptional terroirs.

Can you still drink a wine from 1946 today?

Yes, some wines from 1946 are still perfectly drinkable when they have been stored in good conditions.

Why are wines from 1946 rare?

The low production of the time and the losses related to time explain the great rarity of wines from 1946.

The 1946 vintage: the expression of a French wine region in recovery

The 1946 vintage holds a distinctive place in the history of French wine. It came in the immediate postwar period, when wine estates were slowly emerging from shortages and labor and equipment constraints while regaining a measure of agricultural stability. Weather conditions in 1946 varied considerably by region. A relatively cool spring was followed by a more favorable summer, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually. Yields remained modest, sometimes low, but fruit quality proved satisfactory in several major terroirs.

The effect on ripeness depended heavily on soil and exposure. The best-sited vineyards produced balanced wines, supported by firm acidity and moderate alcohol levels. The overall style of 1946 wines favors finesse, precision, and an honest expression of their origins, far from the opulent profiles of great warm, sunny vintages. Historically, this vintage is now valued more for its heritage and emotional significance than for any universal acclaim. When stored in good conditions, some 1946 wines still show remarkable resilience. Their aging potential has now been fully realized, offering a valuable glimpse into the passage of time.

Bordeaux 1946 – The classic expression of a wine region in recovery

In Bordeaux, a harsh winter and late spring delayed the growing cycle. A hot summer then allowed gradual ripening, but rain in the first half of September and a harvest that began on September 7 meant some grapes were still underripe. Overall quality is considered average to poor, with wines often light in concentration. The 1946 reds have a fine frame, tannins that have now fully softened, and tertiary aromas of leather, tobacco, and forest floor. The Right Bank, in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, produced the finest results thanks to rigorous selection and Merlot’s better suitability to the year than Cabernet.

In stock in our cellar, 1946 Château Mouton Rothschild remains the vintage’s most emblematic wine in Bordeaux. On the Right Bank, 1946 Château Cheval Blanc and Petrus are among the most sought-after bottles, while Château Latour, along with Margaux and Léoville Las Cases, embodies the Médoc’s consistency in a difficult year.

Burgundy 1946 – The precision of its terroirs amid unpredictable weather

In Burgundy, 1946 brought a more favorable summer than 1945, allowing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to ripen more evenly. The limestone soils helped regulate water availability, yielding healthy grapes despite modest harvests. The wines have delicate structure, lively acidity, and aromas now dominated by dried fruit, humus, and sweet spices. Chablis, showing greater precision and expressiveness than average, ranks among the vintage’s most successful areas.

The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Armand Rousseau estates are, alongside Leroy and Comte Georges de Vogüé, among the very few producers whose 1946 bottles merit collectors’ attention. They testify to the ability of Burgundy’s great terroirs to age gracefully for decades, even in less-than-exceptional years.

Rhône Valley 1946 – Balanced ripeness and elegant profiles

In the Rhône Valley, 1946 was more favorable in the north than in the south. Moderately warm summers allowed Syrah to reach adequate ripeness on the northern granite terroirs, while Grenache sometimes lacked concentration farther south. The wines stand out for their aromatic finesse, softened tannins, and still-perceptible freshness; the northern crus fully realized their aging potential.

The 1946 Hermitage from Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, grown on the granite slopes of Tain, exemplifies the Northern Rhône’s success in this vintage, alongside Côte-Rôtie wines from Guigal and Jamet and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines from Rayas. These bottles, now exceedingly rare, appeal more for their balance and clarity of expression than for their power.

Champagne 1946 – Rarity and a testament to history

In Champagne, 1946 brought challenging conditions and uneven ripeness. Yields remained low, and few houses declared a vintage. Surviving 1946 vintage Champagnes are now extremely rare: their highly evolved character—dried fruit, honey, toast, and a vinous texture—makes them collector’s items. Alongside Bollinger, Pol Roger, and Louis Roederer, 1946 Krug is among the rare bottles from this period still sought after at auction, prized more for its historical and emotional significance than for the drinking experience.

Give a 1946 wine: an excellent gift idea

Looking for a great wine from 1946? Want to give a 1946 wine as a gift, or simply enjoy one yourself? Explore our unique cellar and find your bottle. A fine wine from someone’s birth year makes an original, memorable gift. A wedding anniversary, the year you met, a retirement celebration… There are so many occasions to mark with a vintage wine.

A 1946 wine is the perfect gift for an 80th birthday.

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