1949: the third greatest vintage of the decade

The third great vintage of the decade, 1949 was a perfect success throughout France. The excellent climatic conditions allow the production of very great wines, both red and white.

Bordeaux

After 1945 and 1947, 1949 is a classic that is unanimously appreciated by fans. It confirms this decade as one of the best of the century. The winter is dry, the summer terribly dry and the autumn torrid. The fires in Landes and Bordeaux are on the minds of many people. It is one of the vintages which gives the most pleasure with a certain structure. At Mouton, its finesse makes it the most civilized wine the château has ever produced. Dry whites are also very successful. As for sweet wines, this is one of the greatest years of the century for them, and certainly one of the most expensive at present. Sauternes are monsters of pleasure: charm, sumptuous bouquets and harmony.

Bourgogne

Monumental and profound, a vintage of glory. The Chablis have a classic note and are having a great year. Summer is hot and dry with a few beneficial showers. 1949 remains one of the finest vintages of the century. The wines are elegant and well balanced. They keep well and are still delicious. The whites are very good, supple, well balanced and also keep good.

Rhône

It is a wine which renews the prowess of 1947 and 1945. The vintage is exceptional from North to South. Its maturity is still dazzling, it is in perfect state of conservation. The wines are remarkable, rich, powerful and perfectly balanced.

Champagne

A slow start, with a long and difficult flowering period. Summer is exceptionally hot and dry. Rain and hail occur from time to time. At Salon we compare 1949 with the 1943 vintage. All the big houses produced a champagne. The harvest is very small but very qualitative and good. The wines are elegant, fruity and firm.

Tasting souvenir.

Patrick Bernard tastes a Ducru Beaucaillou 1949

“I will never forget its color, tiled, orange and perfectly homogeneous, nor its undergrowth nose, of great freshness (…) nor this sweetness in the mouth which never leaves you for hours. I wasn’t hoping to find such a beautiful structure and such great aromatic richness.” – president of Millésima, a trading company.