Bordeaux Wine Vintages
2007
Bordeaux 2007 has been an extremely varied vintage - Some of the Grand
Châteaux have made soft, rich seductive wines which offer delightful
early drinkers - we shall be offering all of these. The majority are either
dilute and lack weight or are over-extracted - But we don't offer you those!
The 2007 white wines are magnificent: the dry whites are the best we've tasted
at this stage 20 years and this is unquestionably the second best year for
Sauternes after the peerless 2001 vintage.
See Full Vintage
Report & Available Wines
2006 In
a nutshell, Bordeaux 2006 has been an excellent Merlot year on the Right Bank
with Pomerol being the undisputed star. On the Left Bank, it has been a
Cabernet year, with St Julien standing out for consistency, parts of Margaux
and Pauillac also producing very fine wines. On the White wine front, 2006 has
delivered exceptional quality of dry wines.
See Full
Vintage Report & Available Wines
2005 - An exceptional and
landmark vintage. Arguably the greatest since 1982 and with the benefit
of the practical and technological benefits that have accrued in the
intervening period. As hot and as tannic as 2003, but defined by much
cooler nights which allowed the vines to rest and recuperate, resulting in
wines of brilliant purity of fruit over a perfect balance of intense but ripe
tannins and acidity. A full-bodied but impressive year for the dry whites
and a beautiful Sauternes vintage as well.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
2004 - A lukewarm July, a wet
August and a cool but dry September produced classic, linear wines. The
best were produced by those that managed to control a potentially huge
crop. An underrated year for reds and an outstanding year for the dry
white wines. A sound but unexceptional vintage in Sauternes.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
2003 - The hottest
vintage ever witnessed in Bordeaux, presenting winemakers with a stiff
challenge. Sugar levels rose spectacularly in late summer with some producers
harvesting early in order to preserve acidity. However growers who waited until
their grapes were fully ripe have been rewarded with darkly coloured, rich
concentrated wines of great depth and concentration. The wines of
Sauternes have enormous levels of noble rot and are also formidably
concentrated.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
2002 - A cool but dry
summer, but a spectacular September. Rigorous, finely crafted red, with
cool, ripe tannins and good body, which will age well. A very fine year
for the dry whites, and sound, one dimensional sweet white wines.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
2001 - A very long
growing season, with harvesting well into October. Cool weather at that
time accentuated the vivid, fresh fruit flavours in the reds, whose palates are
energetic and delicious. The cool weather suited the white grape
varieties and the dry wines are excellent. Conditions for noble rot could
not have been better and this is a superlative vintage for sweet wines.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
2000 - A perfect growing
season in the Millenium Year, with a hot, dry summer. Universally fine
red wines, but the heat produced full-bodied whites, a little short on
aromatics. Dry conditions did not help the development of noble rot and
the sweet wines are respectable, but not classic.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1999 - A fine
start to the season gave the vines a head start but this was dissipated by rain
and hail in September. The Left Bank is the more successful, having
avoided most of the hail. The reds are attractive wines which will age
only over the medium term but the dry whites are excellent, having been
harvested before the change in the weather. The wet conditions helped
Sauternes which was harvested after the wet weather, and produced excellent
quality.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1998 - a very hot summer
followed by rain in September. The early-maturing Merlot escaped the
worst, and the Right Bank, especially Pomerol, produced some outstanding
wines. Initially the tannins on the Left Bank seemed assertive but the
wines have evolved well. The dry white wines were fruity and fresh, but
all but the best should be drunk by now. This was another successful
vintage for sweet wines.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1997 - following
bizarre, quasi-tropical conditions in August, the red grapes were exceptionally
ripe, with very low levels of tannin and acidity. The wines are lush and
exceptionally fruit, delicious to drink but not complex or suitable for
extended ageing. Dry whites were also similarly precocious. Sweet
wines are forward and fruity but with considerable substance, charming and
indulgent.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1996 - September rain provided the distinction
between the Left and Right Banks. Arriving just as the Merlot was
ripening, the rain influenced a lightweight year for St Emilion and Pomerol,
but splendid conditions gave the Left Bank clear blue skies, warm days and cold
nights and exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested during October.
Outstanding for St. Estèphe, Pauillac and St . Julien. The dry
whites are rich and will age well. For the sweet wines, the good levels
of acidity give a line of freshness and detail and there are some very fine
examples.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1995 - A very fruity and
attractive vintage for the reds, but with plenty of backbone and ageing
potential, unaffected by the September rains which freshened rather than
diluted the crop. Especially fine in St Emilion. A good dry white
wine year and the first in a sequence of good to outstanding vintages for
Sauternes.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1994 - A potentially
outstanding vintage, upset by an especially rainy September. The reds
show breeding but are characterised by strong tannins and acidity, with fruit
playing third fiddle. Some good wines were made by those who selected
only the best of the crop. A good, full-bodied vintage for the dry
whites, and a small and undistinguished crop for sweet wines.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1993 - A very rainy
September with adverse conditions which continued throughout the harvest.
This followed a good summer so the best wines show some class, but lack
intensity. The rains removed any possibility of a successful sweet wine
vintage.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1992 - Yet again rain
arrived at the wrong moment, following a disappointing summer. The only
successes are to be found at properties where rigorous selection was
applied. Another difficult year for the Sauternais.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1991 - The severe frost
over the weekend of 20th and 21st April decimated the potential crop at
flowering. The subsequent harvest was very late and further hindered by a
deluge at the end of September. A handful of attractive wines were made
which have survived surpringly well but because of the tiny harvest, they are
rarely seen. A write-off in Sauternes.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1990 - A hot, dry year
and a huge production, characterised by opulent rich wines, generally perceived
as superior to 1989, and a vintage which has gathered gravitas as it has
aged. A very fine year on both sides of the river. In Sauternes,
rain at the end of August encouraged an early and rapid spread of noble rot,
allowing most producers to finish their harvest before the red wine
estates. These are also full-bodied wine that have a solidity, but the
depth to develop with age.
See Full Vintage Report & Available
Wines
1989 - Another giant crop, following a hot dry year. The harvest period was almost entirely free of rain, causing some problems with the Cabernet Sauvignon which, stressed by the drought, produced grapes with high sugar levels, but unripe tannins. The best wines are outstanding, but some are marked by low acidity and a tough, extracted style. However, the top successes and a more consistent level of quality are to be found in Sauternes.
1988 - A classically styled vintage, with good fruit but a firm sheath of tannin after a very dry year. After the disappointment of the 1987 vintage, many producers picked their Cabernet Sauvignon too early and those wines have a hard, green edge. Those châteaux that picked late made the most succesful wines. A stunning vintage for Sauternes, at the time felt to be one of the greatest of the past 50 years.
1987 - A hot summer brought the grapes to the edge of maturity but a heavy rains at the first two weeks of October diluted the crop, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon. The result was an ample, fruity vintage that was charming to drink in its youth, but is now past its best. A light, pretty vintage for Sauternes but without merit for cellarage.
1986 - A great vintage in the Médoc, and for Pauillac and St. Julien in particular, but no more than average in the Graves and the Right Bank, which were badly affected by rain in September and, specifically, a mighty storm on 23rd September. The northern Médoc was unaffected and so, following a hot and dry summer and exceptional warm, windy and dry conditions after the storm, it was able to yield intense, fully ripe Cabernet Sauvignon picked in mid-October. Some truly exceptional wines were made at the great estates. The fine end-of-season also benefitted Sauternes where some very fine wines were made, although not in the league of 1988.
1985 - A pleasant summer (after a freezing winter) was succeeded by the hottest and driest September ever. Beautifully poised wines were produced; generously fruity, softly tannic and charmingly composed. Although felt by some to be too superficial, the best wines have aged beautifully. The dry September eliminated any chance of noble rot in Sauternes and solid, four-square wines were produced.
1984 - A poor flowering led to a tiny crop of Merlot, so most wines from this vintage have a disproportionate percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Thus the wines were taut and firm but without much grace. By virtue of the Cabernet Sauvignon, most are still deeply coloured and surprisingly youthful. There is little Sauternes of interest.
1983 - A very hot July was followed by a very hot and humid August, causing problems in the vineyards where grey rot took hold. The treatments necessary thickened skins so, although September and October were sunny and dry, the eventual wines mostly lack the grace and pedigree of its predecessor. The exception is the commune of Margaux, where generally the 1983s exceed the 1982s. In Sauternes, the humidity of August seeded the noble rot, although the subsequent lack of rain prevented a great vintage.
1982 - At the time, this was the largest harvest on record, combining quantity and quality. Its excellence is now legendary, and although felt at the time to be superbly rich and concentrated but perhaps lacking structure, the best wines remain closed and unevolved. A truly great year. By contrast, a decent year for Sauternes but lacking in any significant noble rot.
Earlier fine vintages :
Red Wines
1975, 1971, 1970, 1966, 1964, 1962, 1961, 1959, 1955, 1953, 1949, 1947, 1945
Sweet Wines
1976, 1975, 1971, 1967, 1962, 1959, 1955, 1953, 1949, 1947, 1945
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