French Heatwave = Barossa Style Wines ?

[markg]

Will the current heatwave in France give the 2003 wines a more Barossa flavour profile do you think ?

[Phil Shorten]

Yep, it's hot down in France - up to 3,000 dead they reckon - it was 42 in Bordeaux last weekend! In some areas it is the earliest harvest on record - already starting to pick in Pessac-Leognan.

Will they taste like Barossa wines - I very much doubt it given the range of variables that go into the final wine - however, there is little doubt that it will be a riper year, lesser (if any requirement to chaptalize), lower acidity levels than normal and very ripe tannins.

Cheers
Phil