Dry whites impress in Bordeaux

This is the verdict from Berry Bros. & Rudd (BB&R) sales director Simon Staples, who has been in the region tasting 2007 en primeurs alongside 23 other company employees.

He added: "The 2007 white wines are magnificent: the dry whites are the best I've tasted at this stage 20 years and this is unquestionably the second best year for Sauternes after the peerless 2001 vintage."

But while the dry whites have impressed, there has been a general industry consensus that last year's vintage was a mixed bag.

Staples mirrored these sentiments saying: "2007 will not go down in history as a great vintage. Bordeaux had a dreadful summer, as we did, with very little warmth and sunshine. An Indian Summer was its saviour and has been credited with turning the vintage around. Subsequently the red wines did not fare as well as the whites."

BBR has recently revamped its website with a beefed up Podcask' section. Listen to the latest show - a meeting of two wine minds' where Simon Staples talks with Jancis Robinon MW on Bordeaux 2007 - by clicking here.