Vintage 1964
The 1964 vintage in Bordeaux is better for red wines from the Right Bank (Pomerol and Saint Emilion) and in Graves than in the Médoc. Indeed, the early October rains came to spoil the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest (the Graves had been harvested just before). Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which ripen earlier, escaped the rains and were able to produce very good aging wines that are worth seeking out. The white Graves wines from 1964 and the sweet wines of Sauternes 1964 have a lesser reputation. In Burgundy, the year 1964 is excellent, offering great red wines that are richly structured and suitable for aging. For white Burgundy 1964, the year benefited the Meursault and Puligny Montrachet areas, but their rather low acidity does not guarantee excessive aging potential. In Chablis, a storm destroyed a good part of the 1964 harvest. In Champagne, the 1964 vintage is highly regarded and some producers like Laurent Perrier consider it a great vintage. In the Rhône Valley, the year 1964 was dry and produced good wines, but in very limited quantity (particularly in Châteauneuf du Pape). In Alsace, the 1964 vintage is excellent, and it is still possible to truly enjoy a Gewurztraminer from 1964. The Loire Valley produced a very good 1964 vintage for red wines, and the Bourgueil, Chinon and Saumur Champigny appellations often produced very great bottles.