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 was unable to visit Bordeaux due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout 2021, I tasted and rated barrel samples of the 2019 and 2020 vintages, as well as the bottled 2018 vintage, which were sent to me from Bordeaux to my home in Copenhagen, Denmark. I had to skip the primeur tasting in March and April 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark. However, I was able to visit Bordeaux in November 2021 to taste the 2019 and 2020 vintages for nearly two weeks. I returned to Bordeaux in April 2023 for the primeur tasting of the 2022 vintage and again 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 devoted 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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