By LINCOLN SILIAKUS, currently in Sablet

What a year it’s been down here! It is still raining, and there is snow on the hills.  The vendange was wet, too, and a lot of grapes were rotten. Domains with the resources to do it threw out a lot of grapes.  But I have just tasted some 2008s from the barrel from Dom Berthet-Reyne in Cairanne, both white and red.  Promising.  It won’t be a good year, but there may be some good wine.  On the other hand, and this has to remain a secret, don’t hesitate to buy the excellent 2007s.  The 2007 Bordeaux vintage shouldn’t turn you off the south.
I’ll report again when the sun comes out.