Bordeaux - Sweet - Vintages Flashcards
2014
Botrytis in September, plenty in late October. Best since 01?
2013
Very uneven with low yields. Top producers can be trusted.
2012
Barsac did okay, but many did not make grand vin.
2011
Where red Bordeaux failed, Sauternes triumphed, giving opulent, rich, fresh wines of excellent quality.
2010
Botrytis was late and irregular. Delicate and restrained.
2009
Heat and humidity at the right time. Rich and concentrated.
2008
Yields were devastated by April frost. The pittance that remained, however, was high quality with plenty of botrytis influence.
2007
Complicated year requiring great precision with both picking schedules and selection. The top properties succeeded yet again.
2006
Not that much botrytis influence.
2005
No shortage of noble rot and almost as much sweetness as 2003 though not quite so much finesse as 2001.
2004
A very difficult year where the strictest selection was needed. Avoid at lower levels. And even the best tend to be pretty light.
2003
Extreme(ly sweet) but not particularly botrytised wines from this extreme(ly hot, dry) growing season.
2002
Vineyards near the rivers were blessed with botrytis. Small crop.
2001
Rain made it magnificent. Long term year. Greatest of modern era.
2000
Some pretty, bumptious wines for relatively short-term drinking but there was too much rain after the red wine harvest for the development of botrytis.
1999
Those producers who used only the very rich, botrytised grapes picked first produced some exciting wines but quality is extremely variable as later-picked grapes suffered somewhat.
1998
Rather loose, early-drinking wines without strong botrytis influence.
1997
Some very attractive, if not especially heavy, wines from the top producers. Ready to start drinking.
1996
Very slightly less successful than the 1997 vintage.
1995
Best Sauternes vintage since 1990 - so probably initially overrated. The noble rot developed so rapidly that most of the grapes were picked by early October. Not the most complex vintage.
1994
Grey rot in September, so choose the châteaux that could afford to be fussy.
1993
Another pretty dreadful autumn, hardly anyone made interesting wine.
1992
Endless rains ruined the crop. Many estates declassified altogether.
1991
After the April frosts a tiny crop was eventually harvested, but not bad.
1990
Massive rich wines that presently seem a shade less complex than 1989 and, especially, 1988.
1989
Huge, almost corpulent wines that are dramatic and exciting.
1988
Of the fabulous trio of vintages this shows more botrytis and elegance and may live longest. The least flashy, a slow burner?
1986
A very strong year, plenty of botrytis and beautifully balanced, though some are a little soft.
1985
Rich and elegant but too little noble rot to add the magic.
1983
The best since 1976, with similar power and size. Good value too!
1982
Overlooked as a white vintage. Limited botrytis but Suduiraut and Yquem were more successful than most.
1980
Much better than the reds, the top châteaux are delicious and affordable.
Botrytis in September, plenty in late October. Best since 01?
2014
Very uneven with low yields. Top producers can be trusted.
2013
Barsac did okay, but many did not make grand vin.
2012
Where red Bordeaux failed, Sauternes triumphed, giving opulent, rich, fresh wines of excellent quality.
2011
Botrytis was late and irregular. Delicate and restrained.
2010
Heat and humidity at the right time. Rich and concentrated.
2009
Yields were devastated by April frost. The pittance that remained, however, was high quality with plenty of botrytis influence.
2008
Complicated year requiring great precision with both picking schedules and selection. The top properties succeeded yet again.
2007
Not that much botrytis influence.
2006
No shortage of noble rot and almost as much sweetness as 2003 though not quite so much finesse as 2001.
2005
A very difficult year where the strictest selection was needed. Avoid at lower levels. And even the best tend to be pretty light.
2004
Extreme(ly sweet) but not particularly botrytised wines from this extreme(ly hot, dry) growing season.
2003
Vineyards near the rivers were blessed with botrytis. Small crop.
2002
Rain made it magnificent. Long term year. Greatest of modern era.
2001
Some pretty, bumptious wines for relatively short-term drinking but there was too much rain after the red wine harvest for the development of botrytis.
2000
Those producers who used only the very rich, botrytised grapes picked first produced some exciting wines but quality is extremely variable as later-picked grapes suffered somewhat.
1999
Rather loose, early-drinking wines without strong botrytis influence.
1998
Some very attractive, if not especially heavy, wines from the top producers. Ready to start drinking.
1997
Very slightly less successful than the 1997 vintage.
1996
Best Sauternes vintage since 1990 - so probably initially overrated. The noble rot developed so rapidly that most of the grapes were picked by early October. Not the most complex vintage.
1995
Grey rot in September, so choose the châteaux that could afford to be fussy.
1994
Another pretty dreadful autumn, hardly anyone made interesting wine.
1993
Endless rains ruined the crop. Many estates declassified altogether.
1992
After the April frosts a tiny crop was eventually harvested, but not bad.
1991
Massive rich wines that presently seem a shade less complex than 1989 and, especially, 1988.
1990
Huge, almost corpulent wines that are dramatic and exciting.
1989
Of the fabulous trio of vintages this shows more botrytis and elegance and may live longest. The least flashy, a slow burner?
1988
A very strong year, plenty of botrytis and beautifully balanced, though some are a little soft.
1986
Rich and elegant but too little noble rot to add the magic.
1985
The best since 1976, with similar power and size. Good value too!
1983
Overlooked as a white vintage. Limited botrytis but Suduiraut and Yquem were more successful than most.
1982
Much better than the reds, the top châteaux are delicious and affordable.
1980
