Vintages Bordeaux

Question 1

How is the 2022 vintage looking in Bordeaux?

Answer 1

Heat and drought, but healthy harvest conditions En Primeur looks good

Question 2

How was 2021 in Bordeaux?

Answer 2

Light wines - Cool, Damp needed sorting and some chaptalization

Question 3

What was 2020 like in Bordeaux?

Answer 3

Hot, dry - very ripe and high tannin

Question 4

How were 2019 and 2018 in Bordeaux?

Answer 4

2019 - EXCELLENT - good freshness

2018 - EXCELLENT - rain and hail to start but then a warm year, rich and intense wines

Question 5

How was 2017 in Bordeaux?

Answer 5

Frost and Rain, early-drinking

Question 6

Good years in the 2020’s for Sauternes?

Answer 6

2022 - Looks good - autumn rain and good yields

2021 - High quality, low quantity (major HAIL damage)

Question 7

How were 2020, 2019 and 2018 in Sauternes?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

How were 2017 and 2016 for Sauternes?

Answer 8

2017 - FROST - low yields - dry year with fast botrytis infection, some great wines

2016 - LARGE YIELDS - late botrytis, not complex

Question 9

What are the best Sauternes vintages from 2010-2015

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is the worst Sauternes vintage of recent years?

Answer 10

2012 - gray rot but no botrytis

no wines from Yquem, Rieussec, Suiduiraut, Raymond Lafon

Question 11

What are the worst Bordeaux vintages of the past 20 years?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What are the best Bordeaux vintages of the past 20 years?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What years favored the Right Bank in the 2000s and the 90s?

Answer 13

2015
2012
2001

1998
1995
1994

Question 14

Cool, Classic years of the 2000’s?

Answer 14

2008 - Classic, saving Indian Summer

2006 - Crisp, some wines hollow

2004 - cool, classic, light-bodied

2001 - wet September, fairly classic

Question 15

What are the worst vintages of the 1990’s?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What are the best vintages of the 90’s?

Answer 16

2000 - Racy, delineated

1995 - rich, structured, tannic

1990 - EXCELLENT, ripe, lush

Question 17

What are midweight vintages of the 90’s?

Answer 17

1996 - strong tannins, rain at harvest (less rain for the Left Bank and Cab more resilient)

1994 - September rains, some wines lean

Question 18

What are the worst vintages of the 80’s?

Answer 18

1987 - Early drinking

1984 - Hurricane Hortense

1981 - Thin, spent

1980 - Never good

Question 19

What are the best vintages of the 80’s?

Answer 19

1989 - EXCEPTIONAL

1983 - classic, great Margaux

1982 - OUTSTANDING, fleshy

Question 20

What are some stern and austere vintages in Bordeaux?

Answer 20

2004
2002
1994
1988
1986 - Dense, brooding and tannic
1983
1978

Question 21

What are some early drinking Bordeaux vintages?

Answer 21

2014
2012
2011

2007

1999
1997

1987
1985 - Charming and soft, losing steam
1981

1979

Question 22

Best historical vintages for Bordeaux?

Answer 22

1978
1964
1959
1953
1950
1947
1929
1928

Question 23

What are the best Sauternes vintages of the 2000’s?

Answer 23

2009 - AMAZING - rich and concentrated

2001 - OUTSTANDING

Question 24

What are the worst Sauternes vintages of the 2000’s?

Answer 24

2004 - light wines, gray rot

2002 - delicate, early drinking

2000 - rain, early drinking

Question 25

2010 in Sauternes common to 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003?

Answer 25

RIPE years

2010 - GREAT - fresh, ageworthy

2009 - OUTSTANDING

2007 - Lots of botrytis, round wines

2005 - opulent wines

2003 - more passerillage than botrytis

Question 26

How were 2008 and 2006 similar in Sauternes?

Answer 26

Fresher years

2008 - tangy, not very ripe

2006 - very little botrytis

Question 27

What are the best Sauternes vintages from the 90’s?

Answer 27

1999 - thick and spicy, low yields but high botrytis

1997 - careful selection made good classic wines

1996 - medium quality

Question 28

What are the worst Sauternes vintages of the 90’s?

Answer 28

1998 - light, low botrytis

1995 - lacking complexity

1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 - wet and rot

Question 29

Trio of great 80’s Sauternes?

Answer 29

1990 - RICH and complex

1989 - OUTSTANDING, dramatic

1988 - ELEGANT, long-lived

Question 30

Other good 80’s years for Sauternes?

Answer 30

1986 - GREAT - lots of botrytis, balanced

1983 - BEAUTIFUL, intense

Question 31

Worst years of the 80’s for Sauternes?

Answer 31

1987 - Bad - harvest storms

1984 - weak vintage

1982 - fat, overblown

1981- spent

1980 - spent

Question 32

Best Historical vintages for Sauternes?

Answer 32

1976 - Exotic, rich

1975 - Lively, structured