Vintages Flashcards
1959
1959
- Exceptional
- Perfect weather - warm, sunny
- Lush, easy drinking up front - much like 2009
- Have aged very well, but are harder to find due to popularity and drinkability at release
1960
1960
- Abysmal
- Destroyed by rain
1961
1961
- Exceptional
- Very warm, dry summer
- Early harvest w/ low yields
- Small, thick-skinned, deeply concentrated berries
- Rich, tannic, ageworthy
1962
1962
- Fair for still wine
- Exceptional sweet wine
1963
1963
- Abysmal
- Cold, wet, rotted
- Palmer declassified entire crop
1964
1964
- Disaster vintage Left Bank and Sauternes
- Excellent on Right Bank - harvested before devastating rains
1965
1965
- Disaster vintage
1966
1966
- 2nd best of the 1960s
- Hard and tannic on release
- Still drinking well now
1967-1969
1967-1969
1967: Light, easy-drinking, over the hill, very good in Sauternes
1968: Disaster, WETTEST year since 1951
1969: Similar
Great vintages of the 1960’s
1961
1962 (Sauternes only)
1966 (by comparison)
Disaster vintages of the 1960’s
1960
1963
1964
1965
1968
1969
1970
- Excellent
- 1st good vintage since 1961
- Big crop, heavy production
1972-1974
1972-1974
- Series of disasters
- Cold, wet, rainy
1975
1975
- Only fair - hard and tannic - but best of a string of bad vintages
- Exceptional in sauternes
1977
1977
- Disaster vintage
- The other worst vintage of the decade
Great vintages of the 1970’s
1970
1975 (by comparison)
1982
1982
- Vintage of the century
- Phenomenal, perfect weather
1983
1983
- Very good for dry wines
- Spectacular for sweet wines - best since 1967
1985
1985
- Exceptional
- Particularly good on the right bank
- Elegance over power
1986
1986
- Also Exceptional
- Hot, very dry “Traditional”, high-tannin
1987
1987
- Worst of the 1980’s along with 1984
- Harvest was totally rained out
1988
1988
- Very poor and dilute red wines
- Exceptional sweet wines (1st of 3 great vintages)
1989
1989
- Exceptional
- Very hot - hottest summer since 1949
- Earliest harvest since 1870’s
- Big crop, lots of power, lots of fruit
- Exceptional for sweet wines as well
Great vintages of the 1980’s
1982
1983 (especially Sauternes)
1985
1986
1988 (Sauternes only)
1989
Disaster vintages of the 1980’s
1984
1987
1990
1990
- Exceptional - vintage of the century vs 2 Record-breaking heat, sun, and rain
- Similar to 1989; slightly more well-regarded
1991-1994
1991-1994
* Series of poor years
1991, 1992: Total disaster, across the board
1993: slightly better, but not much
1994: Mediocore, but optimism led to price inflation
1995
1995
- Best of the last 5 years
- BIG CROP
- Hard, tannic, somewhat charmless similar to 1975
1996
1996
- Exceptional
- Best since 1990, bettter on the Left Bank
- Pure, deep, concentrated wines
- Verg good sweet wines as well
1997
1997
- Difficult year for dry wines
- Very exceptional sweet wines
1998
1998
- Excellent on the Right Bank
- Similar quality to 2000, but much better QPR
- Left Bank washed out by rain
1999
1999
- Rainy and fraught by hail
- Would have a disaster if it weren’t for modern winemaking philosophy and techniques
Great vintages of the 1990’s
1990
1996
1997 (Sauternes only)
1998
Disaster vintages of the 1990’s
1991
1992
1993
2000
2000
- Exceptional across the board
- First great vintage for both banks since 1990
2001
2001
- Spectacular for sweet wine
- Right Bank very good, especially now
- Left bank wines are somewhat dilute
2002
2002
- “Classic” - somewhat green and underripe
- But, the pricing is reasonable
2003
2003
- Heat wave vintage
- Best wines are from cooler and/or more clay heavy appellations
2004
2004
- Huge crop - very high yields
- Ladybug vintage - some complaints of greenness
- Drink now
2005
2005
- Vintage of the century - exceptional across the board
- Generally hot and dry with just the right amount of rain
- Record upticks in price
2006
2006
- Hard, tannic, and austere vintage
- Good wine made through rigorous sorting
- Very wet September
2007
2007
- Soft, pleasant, easy drinking
- Gratuitiously overpriced as futures
- Exceptional for sweet wine
2008
2008
- Very long, cool, sunny, dry summer
- Vey late harvest - up to 160 days of hang time for some (vs 100 avg)
- 1st vintage to hit once the Asian market blew up
2009
2009
- Exceptioanl across the board
- Rich, opulent, well-fruited
2010
2010
- Also Exceptional, but more tannic, less drinkable now
- Very powerful
- Will age
- Drought year = high extract
2011
2011
- Difficult year, very small yields
- Fresh and aromatic, less concentrated, drink now
- Big botrytis year - excellent in Sauternes
2012
2012
- Hot, dry summer delayed ripening (shutdown)
- Very late, harvest, affected by rain
- Rigorous sorting necessary
2013
2013
- Extremely difficult weather
- rainstorms, rainstorms, rainstorms, hail, wind, etc.
- Very low yields - most of the crop was destroyed or unusable
2014
2014
- Better than the 3 previous years
- Warm and sunny at harvest, yields are up, and the grapes are likely in better condition
20th Century Exceptional Vintages
1899
1900
1921
1928 (high tannin, austere)
1929
1934
1937 (Sauternes only)
1945
1947 (especially Right Bank)
1949
1953
Bordeaux Vintages 2011 -
2014Great vintage for the Cabernet Sauvignon based wines of the Medoc. The wines are especially strong the further north you go, with Pauillac and St. Estephe producing really good wine, followed by St. Julien and Margaux. The wines are soft, ripe and display silky tannins with good concentration. Due to their forward style, while age worthy, many of the wines will be fun to drink early. The vintage is mixed in St. Emilion and moderate in Pomerol, with many wines possessing a slightly dilute character. It’s a good vintage for dry, white Bordeaux wine, in a bright, acidic style. Sauternes and Barsac was also successful. Drink or hold. 92 Pts
2013 Light, early drinking year with a focus on red fruits. St. Julien and Pomerol are the top two appellations. Dry white Bordeaux was also successful. The best wines of the vintage are the sweet Bordeaux wines from Sauternes and Barsac. Enjoy the red wines on the young side. Drink 83 Pts
2012 A classic vintage, in a good way. The best wines come from Pomerol and St. Emilion. However Pomerol is favored as the Merlot for most estates fully ripened. The vintage was also successful in Pessac Leognan, but more difficult in the Medoc, as the Cabernet Sauvignon did not achieve ripeness. While the dry white wines are of high quality, Sauternes was a disaster. Some of the top estates were forced to declassify their entire crop, including Chateau d’Yquem. Most of the red wines will drink well young. Drink 89 Pts
2011 An average year with the best red wines coming from Pomerol and St. Emilion that could be described as classic. The wines are fresh, bright and acidic and focus more on red fruit than darker berries. It’s another very successful year for Sauternes. For most wines, it’s an early drinking vintage. Drink 85 Pts
Bordeaux Vintages 2001 - 2010
2010 Very good year for wines from all Bordeaux appellations. Tannic, powerful, structured and rich, the best wines need 15-20 or more years to develop. Margaux, Pauillac, Pessac Leognan and St. Emilion are the best regions. Sauternes was also successful. Hold 97 Pts
2009 Great year with a wonderful style. The wines are ripe, sexy and lush. Pomerol, Pauillac, Pessac Leognan and St. Estephe produced the best Bordeaux wines. Hold 97 Pts
2008 This is a mixed vintage with some good wines, but not great wines. Pomerol and Pauillac were the most successful regions. Prices remain fair for the quality. Hold 91 Pts
2007 Overpriced, early drinking vintage. Drink or hold 87 Pts
2006 Powerful, tannic, broad shouldered wines that require cellaring. The best wines came from the Pomerol, the Medoc, especially Pauillac and Pessac Leognan. Hold 91 Pts
2005 This is a stunning vintage from top to bottom in all appellations and in all price ranges. If you have the money, this is one of the best Bordeaux vintages to lay down in your cellar. These stunning wines will only get better and more expensive. Hold 100 Pts
2004 This is a moderately priced vintage with some attractive wines, but not great wines from both banks. Drink or hold. 91 Pts
2003 An interesting vintage with some stunning Bordeaux wines that were produced in the northern Medoc appellations of Pauillac and Saint Estephe. Some strong wines were produced in St. Emilion from heavy limestone soils. Avoid 2003 Pomerol wines. The vintage lacks consistency. But at the top end, 2003 Bordeaux wines are stunning. Sauternes was also strong in this vintage. Drink or hold. 93 Pts
2002 The best wines were produced in the Medoc. This is an average vintage with a lot of wines that can be bought for fair prices. But there is an under ripe quality to the wines that will become more pronounced as the years go on. Drink or hold. 89 Pts
2001 A nice charming vintage. The best wines came from Pomerol and St. Emilion as well as Sauternes. Many of the wines are ready to drink. 92 Pts
Bordeaux Vintages 1991 - 2000
2000 A stunning vintage which produced great wines with opulent character, freshness and purity from every red Bordeaux wine appellation. This is the type of vintage Bordeaux lovers can never have enough of in their cellars. It might look expensive today, but when these wines mature, prices will be much higher. Drink or hold 100 Pts
1999 Rapidly maturing wines of decent quality. This is not a year for long term cellaring as almost every wine was ready to drink. 86 Pts
1998 Sublime Bordeaux wine was produced in Pomerol and St. Emilion. The Medoc was mixed. Pessac Leognan offers good wines. Strong wines are harder to find in the Left Bank. The best Right Bank wines are not quite at the level of 2000, but they sell for uch less money and they are delicious. This is a vintage to buy. Drink or hold. 92 Pts
1997 Early maturing and expensive on release, every wine is now mature and ready to drink. Sauternes produced wines of quality as well. Drink. 85 Pts
1996 The wines from the Medoc in this vintage can be stunning! The wines are much better in the Left Bank, where the Cabernet Sauvignon excelled. Avoid Pomerol and St. Emilion. Drink or hold. 89 Pts
1995 Tannic and austere, this vintage is better suited for fans of old school, traditional styled wine. The wines from the Right Bank, Pomerol and St. Emilion are perhaps slightly more successful. Drink or hold 90 Pts
1994 Lean, slightly green and not exciting. Merlot based wines were better in this year. Drink 87 Pts
1993 Early drinking vintage that is in decline. Drink 85 Pts
1992 A poor rain plagued vintage that should be avoided. 70 Pts
1991 A bad vintage that should not be purchased. 65 Pts
Bordeaux Vintages 1981 -1990
1990 Great, every appellation. Most ready to drink, but can be aged. Petit chateaux should have been drunk a few years ago. Rich, roasted, round, ripe. Consistent on both banks. 96 Pts
1989 Stunning, both banks. The exception of perfect, legendary Haut Brion. First Growths were not the top wines. Ripe, rich, silky. Lacks consistency. Better in Pomerol than St. Emilion. Most wines are drinking great. Drink or hold. 95 Pts
1988 Good but not great year that allowed consumers to drink this while waiting for 1989 and 1990 to mature. Not developing as well as hoped. Some developed green, herbal or olive sensation. Merlot based wines were more successful. Drink 89 Pts
1987 Majority are in decline. Drink 82 Pts
1986 Hard, tannic, austere, still requires aging. Cabernet Sauvignon wines were most successful. Drink or hold. 88 Pts
1985 Charming from both banks; fully mature. Drink 90 Pts
1984 Poor vintage; over the hill. Drink 80 Pts
1983 Fully mature; most in a slow decline. Margaux and Sauternes were best appellations. Drink 87 Pts
1982 Stunning, great style that ushered in modern age of Bordeaux and Robert Parker. Great from both banks in every appellation. Most are fully mature. If well stored, the better wines will improve with additional cellaring. Pauillac, Saint Julien and Pomerol were the most successful appellations. Drink or hold. 96 Pts
1981 Early drinking vintage in decline. Drink 84 Pts
