Bordeaux Left Bank Vintages

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Trend of warmer vintages started 1982. Zigzag between years: riper conditions and reversion to the old classic.
Warm vintages: 1999, 2000, 2005, 2009 (the richest), 2010, 2015.
2016 was a top vintage.
Bad vintages: 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997.
Decent vintages: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013.
2021 reached a record low for yields.

Question 2

2020

Answer 2

Extreme weather conditions. Early, rainy, hot, dry and very complicated. Dry, hot conditions in September led to early harvest. Margaux may shine due to high percentage of Merlot.

Question 3

2019

Answer 3

Powerful wines following a hot summer except for August. September was cooler. High level of alcohol in Pauillac and St. Estephe.

Question 4

2018

Answer 4

Complicated. Rainy spring and early summer: problems with mildew.
The dry and hot weather until October. Concentration.

Question 5

2017

Answer 5

Difficult vintage, small production.

Question 6

2016

Answer 6

Best vintage since 2010, regarded as classic.

Question 7

2015

Answer 7

Attractive vintage. Very nice wines for mid term.

Question 8

2014

Answer 8

Not a great vintage, but better than the preceding 3 years. Cool summer was followed by the longest indian summer on record. Elegance rather than power.

Question 9

2013

Answer 9

Cold spring, uneven flowering. Late harvest at the start of October.
Acidity is high. Smallest harvest since 1991.

Question 10

2012

Answer 10

A Merlot year.

Question 11

2011

Answer 11

saved from disaster by the fine conditions in September.

Question 12

2010

Answer 12

Ripe vintage with higher acidity and tannins than 2009. More classic and longer lived. Elegant wines.

Question 13

2009

Answer 13

Very rich year.

Question 14

2008

Answer 14

Rain at the beginning and at the end. Short term, dilution.

Question 15

2007

Answer 15

Light wines due to cool and wet conditions.

Question 16

2006

Answer 16

Flat wine in the left bank

Question 17

2005

Answer 17

A great year with perfect conditions resembling 1982. Modern vintages without excess.

Question 18

2004

Answer 18

Well balanced wines for mid-term.

Question 19

2003

Answer 19

The year of canicule.

Question 20

2002

Answer 20

Classic vintage, but lack of concentration.

Question 21

2001

Answer 21

A nice well balanced vintage, similar to 2004 in style but with less concentration and higher acidity.

Question 22

2000

Answer 22

Following the example of 1982.

Question 23

1999

Answer 23

Lighter wines

Question 24

1998

Answer 24

Distinct difference between left (too much dilution) and right bank (better).

Question 25

1997

Answer 25

Dilution and lack of ripeness.

Question 26

1996

Answer 26

A great classic vintage. high acidity and tannins.

Question 27

1995

Answer 27

Dry year with good concentration.

Question 28

1994

Answer 28

Overrated

Question 29

1993

Answer 29

Improvement from the previous years.

Question 30

1992

Answer 30

Poor vintage

Question 31

1991

Answer 31

Worst vintage

Question 32

1990

Answer 32

The better of a pair of back to back promising vintages. Finesse. Harvest was later than 1989.

Question 33

1989

Answer 33

Warm conditions giving ripe wines. More power than elegance.

Question 34

1988

Answer 34

More power than elegance.

Question 35

1987

Answer 35

Poor vintage

Question 36

1986

Answer 36

Classic vintage, good tannic structure, better on the left bank.

Question 37

1985

Answer 37

a delicious forward vintage, described as charming.

Question 38

1984

Answer 38

Very poor vintage

Question 39

1983

Answer 39

Very good vintage except for Margaux.

Question 40

1982

Answer 40

Great vintage that started the modern era.

Question 41

1975

Answer 41

Rain forced chateaux to pick early.

Question 42

1966

Answer 42

Good on the left bank.

Question 43

1964

Answer 43

Autumn rains. Good wines for those who picked before the rain. (Latour). Good year in the Right bank.

Question 44

1961

Answer 44

Second only to 1945. Cabernet year. Mouton and Latour are still terrific.

Question 45

1945

Answer 45

The best year of the century.