As with the previous year, the 1971 vintage is of very high quality but with lower quantities. In red Bordeaux, all appellations produced good wines in 1971, and the grand cru classé wines of Margaux, grand cru classé wines of Pauillac, grand cru classé wines of Saint Estèphe and grand cru classé wines of Saint Julien all produced beautiful wines that developed a finesse and charm rather quickly, which may yet endure. A general success in white Bordeaux 1971 and also in Sauternes wines (very subtle). Despite a difficult flowering (millerandage) and severe hail episodes in the Côte de Beaune, the 1971 red Burgundy and white Burgundy wines managed to distinguish themselves and produce, in small quantities, interesting wines, some of which (such as the Chablis Grands Crus) may still be at their best. In Champagne, yields were reduced by a factor of 2.5 compared to 1970 (spring frost + hail), yet a few bottles still prove to be excellent. The 1971 vintage is less powerful and structured than 1970 in the Rhône Valley, but Côte Rôtie proves to be long-ageing. Weak for Loire wines, 1971 was once again a success in Alsace, which produced good concentrated wines (lovely Rieslings).