Vintages Flashcards

Question

Disaster vintages of the 1980's

Answer 1

**1984** **1987**

Answer 2

**1990** * **Exceptional - vintage of the century vs 2 Record-breaking heat, sun, and rain** * **Similar to 1989; slightly more well-regarded**

Answer 3

**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**

Answer 4

**1995** * **Best of the last 5 years** * **BIG CROP** * **Hard, tannic, somewhat charmless similar to 1975**

Answer 5

**1996** * **Exceptional** * **Best since 1990, bettter on the Left Bank** * **Pure, deep, concentrated wines** * **Verg good sweet wines as well**

Answer 6

**1997** * **Difficult year for dry wines** * **Very exceptional sweet wines**

Answer 7

**1998** * **Excellent on the Right Bank** * **Similar quality to 2000, but much better QPR** * **Left Bank washed out by rain**

Answer 8

**1999** * **Rainy and fraught by hail** * **Would have a disaster if it weren't for modern winemaking philosophy and techniques**

Answer 9

**1990** **1996** **1997 (Sauternes only)** **1998**

Answer 10

**1991** **1992** **1993**

Answer 11

**2000** * **Exceptional across the board** * **First great vintage for both banks since 1990**

Answer 12

**2001** * **Spectacular for sweet wine** * **Right Bank very good, especially now** * **Left bank wines are somewhat dilute**

Answer 13

**2002** * **"Classic" - somewhat green and underripe** * **But, the pricing is reasonable**

Answer 14

**2003** * **Heat wave vintage** * **Best wines are from cooler and/or more clay heavy appellations**

Answer 15

**2004** * **Huge crop** - **very high yields** * **Ladybug vintage - some complaints of greenness** * **Drink now**

Answer 16

**2005** * **Vintage of the century - exceptional across the board** * **Generally hot and dry with just the right amount of rain** * **Record upticks in price**

Answer 17

**2006** * **Hard, tannic, and austere vintage** * **Good wine made through rigorous sorting** * **Very wet September**

Answer 18

**2007** * **Soft, pleasant, easy drinking** * **Gratuitiously overpriced as futures** * **Exceptional for sweet wine**

Answer 19

**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**

Answer 20

**2009** * **Exceptioanl across the board** * **Rich, opulent, well-fruited**

Answer 21

**2010** * **Also Exceptional, but more tannic, less drinkable now** * **Very powerful** * **Will age** * **Drought year = high extract**

Answer 22

**2011** * **Difficult year, very small yields** * **Fresh and aromatic, less concentrated, drink now** * **Big botrytis year - excellent in Sauternes**

Answer 23

**2012** * **Hot, dry summer delayed ripening (shutdown)** * **Very late, harvest, affected by rain** * **Rigorous sorting necessary**

Answer 24

**2013** * **Extremely difficult weather** * **rainstorms, rainstorms, rainstorms, hail, wind, etc.** * **Very low yields - most of the crop was destroyed or unusable**

Answer 25

**2014** * **Better than the 3 previous years** * **Warm and sunny at harvest, yields are up, and the grapes are likely in better condition**

Answer 26

**1899** **1900** **1921** **1928 (high tannin, austere)** **1929** **1934** **1937 (Sauternes only)** **1945** **1947 (especially Right Bank)** **1949** **1953**

Answer 27

**2014**Great 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

Answer 28

**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

Answer 29

**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

Answer 30

**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

Vintages Flashcards

(54 cards)