Lounge wine class: 2019 vintage French reds will be hella strong
So, I'm taking a wine class in my spare time at the local vintner. It's really cool to learn about the different kinds of wine, how they differ, how they are made, etc.
Last night's class was about the impact of climate change on wineries. It turns out wine is kind of a coal mine canary on this: the grapes are sensitive to temperature, precipitation, water acidity, etc.
The hottest day ever recorded in France was a month ago, and today is almost certain to set a new record. And there has been very little rain so far. This means the grapes will be drier and sweeter, so 2019 vintage French wines will be very strong, possibly a full percent more alcohol than normal. That also means they will have less tannin content, so the wine will be less red and taste less, well, "wine-y". You'll get more wood tastes from the barrels and more incidental flavors from the groundwater. The new wines, say the Beaujolais this winter, will absolutely knock you on your ass
Hopefully August will see some rain finally, but the character of this year's grapes is pretty much set at this point.
= new reply since forum marked as read
It is always my hostess gift, so I will bite the bullet & do it. I'll also make sure it's opened so I can have a taste. 
