The 1961 vintage, a great post-war vintage.

by Julie Berteloot 21 May 2024

21 May 2024 11.1K views

The low volume of harvests inevitably increased the prices of wines from the vintage 1961. Reduced by bad weather, production ended up being improved by the rains triggered after the drought. Those who harvested late, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and Lynch Bages were right. Never have so many Grands Crus reached, in red, such a qualitative level.

Cold weather reduces the harvest by between 75 and 90%. Well vinified, the year is perfect even if it is in very small quantities. The bottles of vintage 1961 attract attention with their charm, delicacy and complexity. The wines are beautiful, fruity, soft and fleshy with a beautiful deep color, a concentrated bouquet, extract and tannin. They are very good and long-lasting. As for white wines, the quality is also very good.

The wines are very successful, the spring is mild and the summer dry and hot with good weather in September for the harvest. The wines were first adored by critics, then put aside in particular because of Robert Parker who did not find them to his taste.