1959 is a very great vintage and a superb achievement in most French wine regions. In Bordeaux, it even equalled or surpassed (in certain Grand Crus Classés) the 1961 vintage in terms of ageing potential. The red wines of Bordeaux from 1959 are rich, massive and built to age for a long time. The bottles have evolved very slowly. On the Right Bank (Saint-Émilion and Pomerol), the merlots had not all recovered from the frost of 1956, and the successes were fewer than among the great wines of the Médoc. The Sauternes 1959 are excellent, and the best can still be kept. In Burgundy, 1959 is described as a great year and the reds are rich, complete and of majestic balance. The fine September rains contributed to the quality of the grapes, the harvest volume was abundant, and the level of the red Burgundies is impressive (as is their ageing potential). The white Burgundies of 1959 are less successful. In Champagne, the 1959 vintage is superb. The wines are full-bodied and powerful yet rich and ripe, and therefore enjoy an enormous ageing potential. The Rhône Valley is no exception, and powerful wines such as Hermitage can be enjoyed for many years to come. In Alsace, the 1959 vintage is described as exceptional, and one can still find some very fine wines such as certain Gewurztraminer from the Weinbach estate, which, having consumed their residual sugar, lean towards a more mineral profile with aromas of quince. A superb 1959 for the Loire wines, with exceptional sweet wines from Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux. Moreover, 1959 is undeniably the vintage of the century for the red wines of Chinon. Finally, the Jura produced some exceptional 1959 Vins Jaunes that will delight enthusiasts.