Izak Litwar, owner and publisher of www.greatbordeauxwines.com
I have a long history of visiting Bordeaux, starting with my first trip in 1984. I made subsequent visits in 1985 (during harvest), 1987, 1988, 1990, and 1993. From 1995 onwards, I have visited Bordeaux every year in May or June. Starting in 2002 with the vintage 2001, I have been attending primeur tastings organized by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux every year for invited journalists in March or April.
Between 2000 and 2018, I visited Bordeaux twice a year (except once in March for 2002 and 2005) during primeur in March or April and then again during harvest in September or October. In 2015 and 2019, I made three trips to Bordeaux: first during primeur, then in June for Vinexpo, and finally during harvest in September or October.
Unfortunately, in 2020, I couldn't go to Bordeaux due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout 2021, I tasted and rated 2019 and 2020 barrel samples and the 2018 vintage in bottle sent to me from Bordeaux to my home in Copenhagen, Denmark. I had to skip the primeur in March or April 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark, but I could visit Bordeaux and taste the 2019 and 2020 vintages for almost two weeks in November 2021. I returned once more in April 2023 for the primeur tasting of the 2022 vintage and in April 2024 for the primeur tasting of the 2023 vintage.
This website is primarily dedicated to Bordeaux, providing information about harvests, vintages, chateau profiles, and tasting notes. There is also a small section dedicated to Burgundy and Beaujolais. I regularly share my impressions and tasting notes from each visit to Bordeaux and from vertical and horizontal tastings held in Bordeaux and Denmark.
The website is independent, non-profit, and free to use. There are no advertisements or sponsors, and I don't receive any payment for my writing. I cover all expenses related to travel and accommodations myself. The primary goal of this website is to share my impressions and tasting notes with fellow wine enthusiasts. Feel free to explore and enjoy!
Left - two magician winemakers, Jacques Guinaudeau and Francois Mitjavile. Right - Danish schoolgirl harvesting at Chateau Palmer in September 2010
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