Bordeaux Left Bank

Question 1

Trend, issues

Answer 1

• zigzag between years producing riper condition or return to classic
• Reduction of yields due to hail and frost

Question 2

2020

Answer 2

Extreme weather conditions, difficult vintage.
Dry hot conditions in September led to early harvest.
Touch of austerity.

Question 3

2019

Answer 3

**
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.

Question 4

2018

Answer 4

**
Complicated vintage.
Problems with mildew.
- Dense black fruits with strong and supple tannins.
Best wines are concentrated. Some will lack acidity for longevity.

Question 5

2017

Answer 5

*
Difficult vintage.
Frost. Lighter wines good in the mid-term.

Question 6

2016

Answer 6

The best vintage since 2010, widely regarded as classic.

Question 7

2015

Answer 7

Very nice wines for mid-term. St Julien and Pauillac are the most successful.

Question 8

2014

Answer 8

Not a great vintage. Cool summer, longest Indian summer. High acidity, good tannins.

Question 9

2013

Answer 9

Cool spring, late harvest at the start of October. Acidity is high. Wines to be enjoyed young. Smallest harvest since 1991.

Question 10

2012

Answer 10

*Lovely restaurant wines.
Described as Merlot year.
Good quality whites.

Question 11

2011

Answer 11

Bad vintage, wines unable to age.

Question 12

2010

Answer 12

Ripe vintage, same as 2009, but acidity and tannins are higher giving more classic impression.

Question 13

2009

Answer 13

Very rich vintage.

Question 14

2008

Answer 14

Rain at the beginning and end of the season. Wines for the short term.

Question 15

2007

Answer 15

Wines are lighter due to cool and wet conditions.

Question 16

2006

Answer 16

*
Left bank, flat wines.
Hot and cold periods during the growing season.

Question 17

2005

Answer 17

Great year with perfect conditions (1982).
Vintage in the modern idiom

Question 18

2004

Answer 18

*Classic restaurant vintage

Question 19

2003

Answer 19

Very hot and bad vintage. Lack of acidity in the wines

Question 20

2002

Answer 20

Lack of concentration

Question 21

2001

Answer 21

A nice well balanced vintage. similar to 2004 but with less concentration, higher acidity, more evident tannins

Question 22

2000

Answer 22

Vintage following the model of 1982.

Question 23

1999

Answer 23

Lighter wines, not deep wines

Question 24

1998

Answer 24

Distinct difference between Left and Right Bank. Left bank suffered from a combination of high tannins with dilution resulting from rain.

Question 25

1997

Answer 25

A large crop with problems of dilution and lack of ripeness.

Question 26

1996

Answer 26

*Indicated as a great vintage. Not as good as it was thought.

Question 27

1995

Answer 27

** Another dry year with good concentration.

Question 28

1994

Answer 28

Overrated

Question 29

1993

Answer 29

Not so much interest

Question 30

1992

Answer 30

A poor vintage

Question 31

1991

Answer 31

The first and worst of four uninteresting vintages.

Question 32

1990

Answer 32

*** excellent growing season, good harvest conditions. Balanced wines, very similar to 1989

Question 33

1989

Answer 33

** More inclined to power than elegance

Question 34

1987

Answer 34

Poor vintage of little interest

Question 35

1986

Answer 35

** Described as a classic vintage. Good tannin structure

Question 36

1985

Answer 36

Delicious forward vintage

Question 37

1984

Answer 37

Poor vintage

Question 38

1983

Answer 38

Very good vintage. Good wines from Margaux

Question 39

1982

Answer 39

Great vintage

Question 40

1975

Answer 40

Many chateau picked too early due to rain.

Question 41

1966

Answer 41

*** Very good in the Left Bank. Best wines still shows great finesse

Question 42

1964

Answer 42

** 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.

Question 43

1962

Answer 43

Great vintage but overshadowed by 1961

Question 44

1961

Answer 44

**** Second only to 1945. A cabernet year. Mouton and Latour are terrific.

Question 45

1959

Answer 45

Elegant vintage. Margaux is still very good

Question 46

1945

Answer 46

**** Best year of the century.