Bordeaux - White - Vintages Flashcards
2014
Searing acidity is the hallmark of many of these wines, some of which are exceptionally pleasing. Others, eh?
2013
Lightness in white blends. Not a bad thing.
2012
Dry white is success of vintage. Namely Pessac and Graves
2011
Some real energy and excitement in the dry whites though not great for the sweet whites.
2010
Tremendous quality, combining the best weight of the 2009s with the lively freshness of the 2008s.
2009
Warm -> fleshy, still decent acid. SB yields were lower.
2008
Cool season. Balanced whites. Volume affected by hail and frost.
2007
Dry whites were highlight. Slightly cool temps.
2006
The cool August preserved acid levels and fruit in these wines, which deserve serious attention.
2005
Very concentrated successful wines in general. Some run slightly to fat.
2004
A long growing season and cool September nights, along with increasing white winemaking skill, produced a good tally of wines with impressive acid levels.
2003
Acid levels were dangerously low in the heatwave. For very early drinking except for the very finest.
2002
Small crop of concentrated, fragrant wines.
2001
The low temperatures of September helped maintain freshness and produced well-etched, fruity flavours with good acidity.
2000
Summer was if anything too hot to produce nervy wines and most of these were best drunk young, although there are one or two great wines at the top of the tree.
1999
Some attractive, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc was harvested but the Sémillon fruit was often dilute.
1998
Attractive wines with no shortage of ripeness.
1997
Rather lacklustre without much depth or personality.
1996
Like most French 1996 whites, vivacious, crisp wines.
1995
Lots of body and flavour and structure thanks to the warm summer wherever grapes were picked before the mid-September rains.
Searing acidity is the hallmark of many of these wines, some of which are exceptionally pleasing. Others, eh?
2014
Lightness in white blends. Not a bad thing.
2013
Dry white is success of vintage. Namely Pessac and Graves
2012
Some real energy and excitement in the dry whites though not great for the sweet whites.
2011
Tremendous quality, combining the best weight of the 2009s with the lively freshness of the 2008s.
2010
Warm -> fleshy, still decent acid. SB yields were lower.
2009
Cool season. Balanced whites. Volume affected by hail and frost.
2008
Dry whites were highlight. Slightly cool temps.
2007
The cool August preserved acid levels and fruit in these wines, which deserve serious attention.
2006
Very concentrated successful wines in general. Some run slightly to fat.
2005
A long growing season and cool September nights, along with increasing white winemaking skill, produced a good tally of wines with impressive acid levels.
2004
Acid levels were dangerously low in the heatwave. For very early drinking except for the very finest.
2003
Small crop of concentrated, fragrant wines.
2002
The low temperatures of September helped maintain freshness and produced well-etched, fruity flavours with good acidity.
2001
Summer was if anything too hot to produce nervy wines and most of these were best drunk young, although there are one or two great wines at the top of the tree.
2000
Some attractive, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc was harvested but the Sémillon fruit was often dilute.
1999
Attractive wines with no shortage of ripeness.
1998
Rather lacklustre without much depth or personality.
1997
Like most French 1996 whites, vivacious, crisp wines.
1996
Lots of body and flavour and structure thanks to the warm summer wherever grapes were picked before the mid-September rains.
1995
