Financial Times

'Things are looking a little brighter for Bordeaux's wine business,' says JANCIS ROBINSON MW, following the latest reports from this year's harvest. With fine-wine trading on the up, due to the imminent inclusion of wine in pension funds, Robinson takes a look at the past 10 vintages from France's famous wine region. 'Drought was a serious problem' in 2005, 'but rain arrived in time to save the crop'. The 2003s 'have calmed down considerably, almost as though they've had a cold shower,' she reports. 2000 was the 'please-all, big-boned vintage', and 1997 brought 'mild, well-mannered wines for drinking now'. Detailed tasting notes on all of the vintages are featured on the Purple Pages of Robinson's website: www.jancisrobinson.com