Bordeaux: The 10 Best Vintages to Drink This Year!

The great Bordeaux crus are generally well suited to long ageing. After more than 20 or 30 years of cellaring, the wine will then be able to reveal all its complexity with a beautiful finesse and well-integrated tannins. In addition to fine grape maturity, great vintages have the particular advantage of allowing an even longer ageing potential. The wine's lifespan then appears to extend significantly. The youthful aromas inherited from the various grape varieties and the soil then blend with the noble notes of evolution provided, among other things, by the Cabernet Sauvignon or the Merlot.

One should not, however, overlook the interest of certain so-called "small" vintages, which produce wines that open up more quickly, without having to wait entire decades. Moreover, their weakness does not always stem from a lack of quality but more from a lack of renown. Indeed, it is very often comparison that lets them down: the shadow cast by a great vintage in the preceding or following years, but also sometimes too much attention given to the successful vintages of the left bank (Médoc, Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Margaux, Pessac Leognan, etc.) when it comes to judging a right bank vintage (Saint Emilion, Pomerol, etc.). The 1998 vintage is, for example, described as "mythical" in Pomerol, while it is considered rather "classic" in Saint Julien.

Among the last 30 vintages, we have selected the following vintages for their ability to open up well and be enjoyed particularly well this year:  

*1985 A very beautiful, indulgent vintage. Suave Bordeaux wines, with now well-integrated tannins and superb fruit. Whatever the appellation, the wines offer a great deal of pleasure today! They should be enjoyed as soon as possible. A very great fine wine from this vintage: Pauillac - Château Mouton Rothschild 1985

*1986 The year of Cabernet-Sauvignon! Great fine wines in the Médoc and in Pessac-Léognan, with scores close to perfection. They are only just opening up today. An accessible great fine wine from this vintage: Saint Julien - Château Talbot 1986

*1988 An austere vintage originally, with very pronounced tannins but highly favourable for long ageing. The sweet wines surpass all other wines in the region. The reds are now ideal for the finest meat pairings. A very great sweet wine from this vintage: Sauternes / Barsac - Château Coutet cuvée Madame 1988

*1989 The fine year closing out a superb decade. Very successful wines, with a beautiful concentration that still shines today through a superb richness, particularly for the Merlots. A legendary, exceptional wine: Pessac-Leognan - Château Haut Brion 1989

*1990 A sunny and "truly" exceptional vintage! The perfection both in the vineyard and in the winemaking makes it undeniably the greatest vintage between 1982 and 2005. The wines taste magnificently today. A beautiful accessible Pomerol from this vintage: Pomerol - Château Petit Village 1990

*1995 After 3 difficult years, it put Bordeaux back in the saddle to produce the finest wines of the 1995 vintage, particularly in Pomerol and Saint Emilion. A great fine wine from this vintage: Saint-Emilion - Château Valandraud 1995

*1996 Another great Cabernet-Sauvignon vintage for Médoc lovers. They are beginning to open up nicely, although a good decanting is recommended. An accessible Fine Wine Médoc from this vintage: Pauillac - Château Grand Puy Lacoste 1996

*1998 A legendary vintage in Pomerol, it marks the great success of the Merlots, which express themselves superbly. The Médoc wines are successful among the greatest but still require a little patience. A great Merlot from this vintage: Pomerol - Château Trotanoy 1998  

*2000 A very great year on the Left Bank, and fine successes on the Right Bank. The wines have perfect balance and superb expression in Pauillac, St Julien and St Estèphe. The simpler crus are ready to drink, the greatest will continue to age well. A great fine wine perfectly ready to drink from this vintage: Pessac-Léognan - Chateau Haut Bailly 2000  

*2001 An underestimated vintage as it follows the illustrious 2000 vintage. Yet it offers legendary sweet wines and remarkable Merlot-dominant wines, such as in St Emilion, Pomerol or even Pessac Léognan. The latter deliver a great deal of pleasure already today, and are often very good value! One of the greatest sweet wines produced in the last 100 years and from this vintage: Sauternes - Chateau d'Yquem 2001  

The vintages absent from this list may be so because the wines produced: - are not fully or not at all at their optimum (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), - are not among the vintages of great interest for ageing, or should already have been consumed (1987, 1991 to 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2007), with exceptions... 2015 and 2016 are also legendary vintages today, even if the finest deserve a little more time in the cellar...