Bordeaux, the largest fine wine district on earth, offers so many vineyards in so many regions, that it would be impossible to master them all. To describe each wine accurately is a virtual impossibility, as the very nature of top Bordeaux wine is one of development over many years after bottling. Unlike New world wines, there can be a marked difference between vintages in Bordeaux.
| 1982 |
(97) |
Opulent, concentrated, stunning. Best of decade.
Perfect now. |
| 1983 |
(86) |
Balanced, rich, fruity. Most at peak now. Drink up |
| 1984 |
(70) |
Unripe, rough, tannic. Try in Coq au Vin. |
| 1985 |
(95) |
Ripe, supple, balanced, fine quality. Excellent
now. |
| 1986 |
(96) |
Powerful, intense, tannic. Excellent now. |
| 1987 |
(76) |
Light, simple, quick maturing, but well in decline
now. |
| 1988 |
(92) |
Rich, concentrated classic structure. At peak now, good value. |
| 1989 |
(96) |
Bold, rich, tannic, but maturing early. Drink now. |
| 1990 |
(95) |
Opulent fruit, intense flavours. Most châteaux at
peak. |
| 1991 |
(73) |
Some good quality (not St-Émilion or Pomerol).
Most past peak. |
| 1992 |
(74) |
In decline. Drink up quickly or throw out. |
| 1993 |
(80) |
Pleasant wines from Pomerol and St-Émilion. Some past peak now. |
| 1994 |
(86) |
Pomerols were best. Still drinking now. |
| 1995 |
(90) |
Fairly evenly good. Some ready now. Top châteaux will still improve. |
| 1996 |
(89) |
Médocs good. St Émilions & Pomerols drink
now. |
| 1997 |
(80) |
Evenly spread. Not a great year. Drink now. |
| 1998 |
(85) |
Médocs hard. Pomerol & St-Émilion fairly
evenly good. Hold. |
| 1999 |
(84) |
Médocs have potential. Pomerol & St-Émilion
weaker. Drink now. |
| 2000 |
(96) |
Médocs early evaluation suggests might rival 1982. Hold. |
| 2001 |
(90) |
Better than originally thought, particularly
Pomerol. Can drink now. |
|
2002 |
(88) |
Médocs in small yields good. Pomerol and St Emilion less so. Hold. |
|
2003 |
(85) |
Variable wines. Some powerful, some unbalanced. Hold. |
Top châteaux of vintages shown in red
are the best for drinking in 2006
|