Uniquely, every vintage has an event, song and film tied to it. As Neal recounted during our dinner with him in August, ‘I think it’s created a personal connection for people to the vintage or wines, as I find everyone picking up the book first goes to their birthyear to look at the song, film or event.’

This is a must-have book for anyone with a keen interest in wine, history or stories from the once simple Bordeaux farmers who almost lost all their vines to phylloxera, survived two world wars, faced the Great Depression, and yet cemented the region as the cornerstone of the fine wine world. ‘The idea was to anchor each vintage to a moment in history and make it resonate more strongly – perhaps it might conjure memories and some kind of emotional attachment, or evoke nostalgia,’ notes Martin. This great piece of literature is sure to stir your appreciation and whet your appetite for the wines of Bordeaux – both past and present.

Buy the book here, or view our full Bordeaux selection.

P.S. Be sure to look for the Bordeaux Vintage Guide playlist on Spotify. But be warned – Neal’s interest in music exceeds his incredible wine knowledge in scope and style, stretching from Wagner, ABBA, and the Bee Gees to the Spice Girls, Lady Gaga and Nirvana!