Vintages Bordeaux Flashcards
How is the 2022 vintage looking in Bordeaux?
Heat and drought, but healthy harvest conditions En Primeur looks good
How was 2021 in Bordeaux?
Light wines - Cool, Damp needed sorting and some chaptalization
What was 2020 like in Bordeaux?
Hot, dry - very ripe and high tannin
How were 2019 and 2018 in Bordeaux?
2019 - EXCELLENT - good freshness
2018 - EXCELLENT - rain and hail to start but then a warm year, rich and intense wines
How was 2017 in Bordeaux?
Frost and Rain, early-drinking
Good years in the 2020’s for Sauternes?
2022 - Looks good - autumn rain and good yields
2021 - High quality, low quantity (major HAIL damage)
How were 2020, 2019 and 2018 in Sauternes?
2020 - Not much botrytis (smattering), dry
2019 - Selection needed - some rot issues. One wave of botrytis, good but simple, dry wine year
2018 - MILDEW and HAIL - simple, dry, not much botrytis
How were 2017 and 2016 for Sauternes?
2017 - FROST - low yields - dry year with fast botrytis infection, some great wines
2016 - LARGE YIELDS - late botrytis, not complex
What are the best Sauternes vintages from 2010-2015
2015 - very good, fresh pure
2014 - EXCELLENT Indian summer with botrytis
2013 - EXCELLENT, racy and fresh
2011 - AMAZING - widespread botrytis with cool conditions
2010 - Elegant, fresh, age worthy
What is the worst Sauternes vintage of recent years?
2012 - gray rot but no botrytis
no wines from Yquem, Rieussec, Suiduiraut, Raymond Lafon
What are the worst Bordeaux vintages of the past 20 years?
2017 - Frost and Rain, early-drinking
2013 - Storms, dilution
2012 - Wet, early - drink young
2011 - Unbalanced tannins, low alcohol
2007 - Mildew, mold, rain
2002 - thin, green streaks, firm tannins
What are the best Bordeaux vintages of the past 20 years?
2019 - EXCELLENT - good freshness
2018 - EXCELLENT - rich and intense
2016 - EXCELLENT quality and quantity
2010 - RIPE, Powerful
2009 - LUSH, polished
2008 - great for classicists
2005 - POWER and longevity
What years favored the Right Bank in the 2000s and the 90s?
2015
2012
2001
1998
1995
1994
Cool, Classic years of the 2000’s?
2008 - Classic, saving Indian Summer
2006 - Crisp, some wines hollow
2004 - cool, classic, light-bodied
2001 - wet September, fairly classic
What are the worst vintages of the 1990’s?
1999 - heat and rain, dilution
1998 - rain on LB
*1997 - Early drinking
*1993 - wet, underripe
*1992 - no sun, wet
*1991 - lean, green, some surprises
*worst
What are the best vintages of the 90’s?
2000 - Racy, delineated
1995 - rich, structured, tannic
1990 - EXCELLENT, ripe, lush
What are midweight vintages of the 90’s?
1996 - strong tannins, rain at harvest (less rain for the Left Bank and Cab more resilient)
1994 - September rains, some wines lean
What are the worst vintages of the 80’s?
1987 - Early drinking
1984 - Hurricane Hortense
1981 - Thin, spent
1980 - Never good
What are the best vintages of the 80’s?
1989 - EXCEPTIONAL
1983 - classic, great Margaux
1982 - OUTSTANDING, fleshy
What are some stern and austere vintages in Bordeaux?
2004
2002
1994
1988
1986 - Dense, brooding and tannic
1983
1978
What are some early drinking Bordeaux vintages?
2014
2012
2011
2007
1999
1997
1987
1985 - Charming and soft, losing steam
1981
1979
Best historical vintages for Bordeaux?
1978
1964
1959
1953
1950
1947
1929
1928
What are the best Sauternes vintages of the 2000’s?
2009 - AMAZING - rich and concentrated
2001 - OUTSTANDING
What are the worst Sauternes vintages of the 2000’s?
2004 - light wines, gray rot
2002 - delicate, early drinking
2000 - rain, early drinking
2010 in Sauternes common to 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003?
RIPE years
2010 - GREAT - fresh, ageworthy
2009 - OUTSTANDING
2007 - Lots of botrytis, round wines
2005 - opulent wines
2003 - more passerillage than botrytis
How were 2008 and 2006 similar in Sauternes?
Fresher years
2008 - tangy, not very ripe
2006 - very little botrytis
What are the best Sauternes vintages from the 90’s?
1999 - thick and spicy, low yields but high botrytis
1997 - careful selection made good classic wines
1996 - medium quality
What are the worst Sauternes vintages of the 90’s?
1998 - light, low botrytis
1995 - lacking complexity
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 - wet and rot
Trio of great 80’s Sauternes?
1990 - RICH and complex
1989 - OUTSTANDING, dramatic
1988 - ELEGANT, long-lived
Other good 80’s years for Sauternes?
1986 - GREAT - lots of botrytis, balanced
1983 - BEAUTIFUL, intense
Worst years of the 80’s for Sauternes?
1987 - Bad - harvest storms
1984 - weak vintage
1982 - fat, overblown
1981- spent
1980 - spent
Best Historical vintages for Sauternes?
1976 - Exotic, rich
1975 - Lively, structured
