Bordeaux

Question 1

Red Bordeaux 2012

Answer 1

moderate quality at best, the En Primeur campaign was largely criticized for not being more reasonably priced in line with the quality.

Question 2

Red Bordeaux 2011

Answer 2

fair quality

Question 3

Red Bordeaux 2010

Answer 3

excellent vintage and highly regarded

Question 4

Red Bordeaux 2009

Answer 4

very good vintage, many wines show uncharacteristic ripeness, possibly calling into question their long-term ageability

Question 5

Red Bordeaux 2008

Answer 5

received lukewarm reviews at first, but prices were later buoyed by the Chinese market because 8 is exceptionally lucky in Chinese culture. Quality is fair to very good, more of a classic Bordelais vintage.

Question 6

Red Bordeaux 2007

Answer 6

lighter wines for early drinking. Excessively high prices in the en primeur campaign

Question 7

Red Bordeaux 2006

Answer 7

not exciting, but better than 2007

Question 8

Red Bordeaux 2005

Answer 8

excellent across the board.

Question 9

Red Bordeaux 2004

Answer 9

a cooler vintage for mid-term drinking

Question 10

Red Bordeaux 2003

Answer 10

the pan-european heatwave yielded wines with notes of raisination and excessive tannins that are best enjoyed young while the fruit is still lush.

Question 11

Red Bordeaux 2002

Answer 11

a cooler vintage which resulted in initally feeble ratings, but which later proved to be classically-styled wines for mid-term enjoyment.

Question 12

Red Bordeaux 2001

Answer 12

better on the right bank (superior to 2000), but careful selection of producer is key.

Question 13

Red Bordeaux 2000

Answer 13

excellent and possibly just a bit overrated due to the assosication with the new millenium

Question 14

Red Bordeaux 1999

Answer 14

solid quality, esp on the left bank. Hail damaged St. Emilion.
overall, early maturing

Question 15

Red Bordeaux 1998

Answer 15

very good on the right bank, but more stolid and unexciting on the left bank

Question 16

Red Bordeaux 1997

Answer 16

moderate at best. known for the overexuberance of the en primeur campaign, which resulted in many buyers paying more for the wines in barrel than they were worth when actually released.

Question 17

Red Bordeaux 1996

Answer 17

very good quality

Question 18

Red Bordeaux 1995

Answer 18

very good quality

Question 19

Red Bordeaux 1994

Answer 19

middling quality, September rains

Question 20

Red Bordeaux 1993

Answer 20

middling quality. Wet harvest. Better on the right bank

Question 21

Red Bordeaux 1992

Answer 21

simple, fruity and early drinking

Question 22

Red Bordeaux 1991

Answer 22

rain at harvest. Middling quality at best

Question 23

Red Bordeaux 1990

Answer 23

excellent across the board

Question 24

Red Bordeaux 1989

Answer 24

excellent quality

Question 25

Red Bordeaux 1988

Answer 25

excellent quality

Question 26

Red Bordeaux 1987

Answer 26

middling quality. should have been drunk up by now

Question 27

Red Bordeaux 1986

Answer 27

very good quality, but a bit harder and more tannic than the 1985s. Ch. Margaux in particular is unusually structured.

Question 28

Red Bordeaux 1985

Answer 28

excellent quality, but starting to show their age.

Question 29

Red Bordeaux 1984

Answer 29

widely panned and rightly so. Well past any prime it may have had.

Question 30

Red Bordeaux 1983

Answer 30

overshadowed by the magnificent 1982s and while not quite on par with them these wines can still represent excellent value

Question 31

exceptional vintages of Sauternes of the 1980s?

Answer 31

1983
1986
1988
1989

Question 32

exceptional vintages of Sauternes from 1930’s to 1980’s?

Answer 32

1937
1945
1949
1959
1975

Question 33

exceptional vintages of Sauternes of the 1990s?

Answer 33

1990
1996
1997

Question 34

exceptional vintages of Sauternes of the new century?

Answer 34

2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2010
2011
2013