1951 Vintage
The 1951 vintage in France was one of the worst of the 20th century, marked by a cold winter, a rainy spring with late frosts in Burgundy, and a glacial, stormy summer that slowed the ripening of the grapes, followed by a rainy September that encouraged disease. In Bordeaux, yields fell to less than 20 hl/ha, producing lean, acidic and tannic red wines lacking in fruitiness, while the whites were excessively acidic; only Petrus or Haut-Brion offered viable exceptions. In Burgundy, green reds and hard tannins, quickly oxidised whites; in Champagne, rare exceptional cuvées such as Salon. Overall, national production reduced by 30%, classified as "disastrous".