Bordeaux Left Bank Flashcards
Trend, issues
- zigzag between years producing riper condition or return to classic
- Reduction of yields due to hail and frost
2020
Extreme weather conditions, difficult vintage.
Dry hot conditions in September led to early harvest.
Touch of austerity.
2019
**
Wines look powerful and aromatic.
July very hot, draught conditions.
Harvest complicated by threats of rain.
-Alcohol levels are high especially in Pauillac and St. Estephe.
2018
**
Complicated vintage.
Problems with mildew.
- Dense black fruits with strong and supple tannins.
Best wines are concentrated. Some will lack acidity for longevity.
2017
*
Difficult vintage.
Frost. Lighter wines good in the mid-term.
2016
The best vintage since 2010, widely regarded as classic.
2015
Very nice wines for mid-term. St Julien and Pauillac are the most successful.
2014
Not a great vintage. Cool summer, longest Indian summer. High acidity, good tannins.
2013
Cool spring, late harvest at the start of October. Acidity is high. Wines to be enjoyed young. Smallest harvest since 1991.
2012
*Lovely restaurant wines.
Described as Merlot year.
Good quality whites.
2011
Bad vintage, wines unable to age.
2010
Ripe vintage, same as 2009, but acidity and tannins are higher giving more classic impression.
2009
Very rich vintage.
2008
Rain at the beginning and end of the season. Wines for the short term.
2007
Wines are lighter due to cool and wet conditions.
2006
*
Left bank, flat wines.
Hot and cold periods during the growing season.
2005
Great year with perfect conditions (1982).
Vintage in the modern idiom
2004
*Classic restaurant vintage
2003
Very hot and bad vintage. Lack of acidity in the wines
2002
Lack of concentration
2001
A nice well balanced vintage. similar to 2004 but with less concentration, higher acidity, more evident tannins
2000
Vintage following the model of 1982.
1999
Lighter wines, not deep wines
1998
Distinct difference between Left and Right Bank. Left bank suffered from a combination of high tannins with dilution resulting from rain.
1997
A large crop with problems of dilution and lack of ripeness.
1996
*Indicated as a great vintage. Not as good as it was thought.
1995
**
Another dry year with good concentration.
1994
Overrated
1993
Not so much interest
1992
A poor vintage
1991
The first and worst of four uninteresting vintages.
1990
excellent growing season, good harvest conditions. Balanced wines, very similar to 1989
1989
**
More inclined to power than elegance
1987
Poor vintage of little interest
1986
**
Described as a classic vintage. Good tannin structure
1985
Delicious forward vintage
1984
Poor vintage
1983
Very good vintage. Good wines from Margaux
1982
Great vintage
1975
Many chateau picked too early due to rain.
1966
Very good in the Left Bank. Best wines still shows great finesse
1964
**
Great vintage for those who decided to pick early before the Autumn rains (Latour). Very good year in the right bank where rain was not a problem.
1962
Great vintage but overshadowed by 1961
1961
Second only to 1945. A cabernet year. Mouton and Latour are terrific.
1959
Elegant vintage. Margaux is still very good
1945
Best year of the century.
