Bordeaux - Sweet - Vintages

Question 1

2014

Answer 1

Botrytis in September, plenty in late October. Best since 01?

Question 2

2013

Answer 2

Very uneven with low yields. Top producers can be trusted.

Question 3

2012

Answer 3

Barsac did okay, but many did not make grand vin.

Question 4

2011

Answer 4

Where red Bordeaux failed, Sauternes triumphed, giving opulent, rich, fresh wines of excellent quality.

Question 5

2010

Answer 5

Botrytis was late and irregular. Delicate and restrained.

Question 6

2009

Answer 6

Heat and humidity at the right time. Rich and concentrated.

Question 7

2008

Answer 7

Yields were devastated by April frost. The pittance that remained, however, was high quality with plenty of botrytis influence.

Question 8

2007

Answer 8

Complicated year requiring great precision with both picking schedules and selection. The top properties succeeded yet again.

Question 9

2006

Answer 9

Not that much botrytis influence.

Question 10

2005

Answer 10

No shortage of noble rot and almost as much sweetness as 2003 though not quite so much finesse as 2001.

Question 11

2004

Answer 11

A very difficult year where the strictest selection was needed. Avoid at lower levels. And even the best tend to be pretty light.

Question 12

2003

Answer 12

Extreme(ly sweet) but not particularly botrytised wines from this extreme(ly hot, dry) growing season.

Question 13

2002

Answer 13

Vineyards near the rivers were blessed with botrytis. Small crop.

Question 14

2001

Answer 14

Rain made it magnificent. Long term year. Greatest of modern era.

Question 15

2000

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

1999

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

1998

Answer 17

Rather loose, early-drinking wines without strong botrytis influence.

Question 18

1997

Answer 18

Some very attractive, if not especially heavy, wines from the top producers. Ready to start drinking.

Question 19

1996

Answer 19

Very slightly less successful than the 1997 vintage.

Question 20

1995

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

1994

Answer 21

Grey rot in September, so choose the châteaux that could afford to be fussy.

Question 22

1993

Answer 22

Another pretty dreadful autumn, hardly anyone made interesting wine.

Question 23

1992

Answer 23

Endless rains ruined the crop. Many estates declassified altogether.

Question 24

1991

Answer 24

After the April frosts a tiny crop was eventually harvested, but not bad.

Question 25

1990

Answer 25

Massive rich wines that presently seem a shade less complex than 1989 and, especially, 1988.

Question 26

1989

Answer 26

Huge, almost corpulent wines that are dramatic and exciting.

Question 27

1988

Answer 27

Of the fabulous trio of vintages this shows more botrytis and elegance and may live longest. The least flashy, a slow burner?

Question 28

1986

Answer 28

A very strong year, plenty of botrytis and beautifully balanced, though some are a little soft.

Question 29

1985

Answer 29

Rich and elegant but too little noble rot to add the magic.

Question 30

1983

Answer 30

The best since 1976, with similar power and size. Good value too!

Question 31

1982

Answer 31

Overlooked as a white vintage. Limited botrytis but Suduiraut and Yquem were more successful than most.

Question 32

1980

Answer 32

Much better than the reds, the top châteaux are delicious and affordable.

Question 33

Botrytis in September, plenty in late October. Best since 01?

Answer 33

2014

Question 34

Very uneven with low yields. Top producers can be trusted.

Answer 34

2013

Question 35

Barsac did okay, but many did not make grand vin.

Answer 35

2012

Question 36

Where red Bordeaux failed, Sauternes triumphed, giving opulent, rich, fresh wines of excellent quality.

Answer 36

2011

Question 37

Botrytis was late and irregular. Delicate and restrained.

Answer 37

2010

Question 38

Heat and humidity at the right time. Rich and concentrated.

Answer 38

2009

Question 39

Yields were devastated by April frost. The pittance that remained, however, was high quality with plenty of botrytis influence.

Answer 39

2008

Question 40

Complicated year requiring great precision with both picking schedules and selection. The top properties succeeded yet again.

Answer 40

2007

Question 41

Not that much botrytis influence.

Answer 41

2006

Question 42

No shortage of noble rot and almost as much sweetness as 2003 though not quite so much finesse as 2001.

Answer 42

2005

Question 43

A very difficult year where the strictest selection was needed. Avoid at lower levels. And even the best tend to be pretty light.

Answer 43

2004

Question 44

Extreme(ly sweet) but not particularly botrytised wines from this extreme(ly hot, dry) growing season.

Answer 44

2003

Question 45

Vineyards near the rivers were blessed with botrytis. Small crop.

Answer 45

2002

Question 46

Rain made it magnificent. Long term year. Greatest of modern era.

Answer 46

2001

Question 47

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.

Answer 47

2000

Question 48

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.

Answer 48

1999

Question 49

Rather loose, early-drinking wines without strong botrytis influence.

Answer 49

1998

Question 50

Some very attractive, if not especially heavy, wines from the top producers. Ready to start drinking.

Answer 50

1997

Question 51

Very slightly less successful than the 1997 vintage.

Answer 51

1996

Question 52

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.

Answer 52

1995

Question 53

Grey rot in September, so choose the châteaux that could afford to be fussy.

Answer 53

1994

Question 54

Another pretty dreadful autumn, hardly anyone made interesting wine.

Answer 54

1993

Question 55

Endless rains ruined the crop. Many estates declassified altogether.

Answer 55

1992

Question 56

After the April frosts a tiny crop was eventually harvested, but not bad.

Answer 56

1991

Question 57

Massive rich wines that presently seem a shade less complex than 1989 and, especially, 1988.

Answer 57

1990

Question 58

Huge, almost corpulent wines that are dramatic and exciting.

Answer 58

1989

Question 59

Of the fabulous trio of vintages this shows more botrytis and elegance and may live longest. The least flashy, a slow burner?

Answer 59

1988

Question 60

A very strong year, plenty of botrytis and beautifully balanced, though some are a little soft.

Answer 60

1986

Question 61

Rich and elegant but too little noble rot to add the magic.

Answer 61

1985

Question 62

The best since 1976, with similar power and size. Good value too!

Answer 62

1983

Question 63

Overlooked as a white vintage. Limited botrytis but Suduiraut and Yquem were more successful than most.

Answer 63

1982

Question 64

Much better than the reds, the top châteaux are delicious and affordable.

Answer 64

1980