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Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1991

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1991

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Bordeaux vintage charts

Remember vintage charts are best used as general guides. Bordeaux is a large area with many microclimates. What may have been an off year for the Medoc may have been excellent for Saint-Emilion on the other side of the Gironde River. Bordeaux wines overall are of such high quality that even wines from lesser vintages are often superior to the best wines from lesser regions. 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's

Excellent	Good	Off Years
1961 1970 1981 1990 1966 1975 1982 1995 1978 1983 1996 1985 1986 1988 1989	1962 1971 1984 1991 1964 1973 1987 1992 1967 1976 1993 1979 1994* 1997	1960 1972 1980 1963 1974 1977 *some exceptional wines were produced this year
Bordeaux Wine
1994 Good colors, full flavors, ripe tanins and generous fruit are all characteristics of this commercial 'modern' vintage. In spite of the September rain the grapes came in healthy, after a warm summer that fully ripened all varieties. Perhaps they will lack a little elegance, but they will certainly give much pleasure. 1993 Lighter structures than either 1994 or 1995. The summer was less warm, and the rain in September was heavier. To make the most of the vintage it was often necessary to declassify 50% of crop, or more. The Merlots generally came in healthy, but Cabernets were more affected by the heavy harvest rain. But for those who enjoy elegance and finesse there are some fine examples. Chateau Margaux must be one of the most outstanding, but there are many others. They are soft, pleasing and the best show length, character and the fine elegant balance that is unique to Bordeaux. Petits Chateaux are often now ready to be enjoyed, and grands crus are likely to be at their best from 1988, and develop well for the following five years or so. 1992 The wettest summer for at least fifty years did not provide the conditions for making great wine, which makes it all the more gratifying to find some that have evolved better than seemed possible. Severe slection to eliminate unhealthy grapes, and vats that were too dilute, have enabled some producers to make wines that express their terroir character with real charm. They are certainly not for the fruit and power brigade, but with the absence of any dominating tanins they display exactly what they are - pretty, light and from terroirs that produce wines with real character. They can be enjoyed now, and should not be cellared for more than another two or three years. 1985 A year perhaps better for Merlot than for Cabernet. The wines are softer than 1986, and have good fruit and pleasing ripeness. They want another three to five years, but the best should be good for a further five. Excerpt from Peter A. Sichel's Vintage & Market Report (March 1996)	1991 Another vintage that has usually been ignored, or written off, by commentators, but that is well worth attention. Spring frosts annihilated the Merlot, and also reduced the crop of Cabernets. But then a warm summer ripened those grapes that were left, and in spite of yet another wet September the small crop was gathered during the first half of October in good, dry conditions. Of course, there were problems - particularly with "second generation" grapes that had to be separated - but those who tackled them efficiently were able to make limited quantities classic, compact, rather closely knit, and for the time being rather austere Bordeaux that will mature for many years in bottle. As somebody said "the advantage of formulae, is that they do away with the need to think", but it is a pity that they are applied to condemn vintages across the board, when proprietors of reputable chateaux today will do all they can to produce wine of quality every year, and will declassify wines that they consider substandard. Again, they will not appeal to those whose priority is power and fruit, but they will provide interest and pleasure to those who enjoy complexities of restrained Bordeaux. The high proportion of Cabernet will ensure them of a long and slow development. All this mostly applies to the M?doc, as on the right bank the frost damage was so severe that many chateaux in St. ?milion and Pomerol were able to bottle no wine under their labels. 1990 Probably one of the most perfect expressions of Bordeaux that has been produced since the war....or even before. They do not have the concentration of those years of small yield - 1945 and 1961 - but they have an elegance, length and complexity that is still unique to the area. The tanins are ripe and unobtrusive, they have good fruit, but above all they have the balance and elegance that must put the best wines in a category of 'greats'. Though they were launched at prices below 1989, they are generally now fetching prices that are higher. They are already appearing on restaurant lists, and enthusiasts would be well advised to taste them there, and keep their own stock for another ten or twenty years	1989 Comparing 1989 to 1990 is one of the most interesting exercises currently available to Bordeaux tasters. They are very different, yet were produced in two years when the weather pattern was both exceptionally advantageous, and similar. It is another aspect of the Bordeaux culture that puts the subject beyond immediate subjective pleasure. Comparing the two vintages of almost any chateau the 1989 will be found to be more generous, but more rustic. They have good fruit, and fill the mouth with ripe flavor, but are more loosely knit, and do not quite have the same elegance. It is difficult to identify what in the weather pattern produced this universal characteristic difference between the two years, but perhaps there was a tendency to pick 1989s a little too early, before the tanins were fully ripe. It is of course also an excellent and exceptional year that needs at least another ten years for top chateaux. Like 1928 and 1929 they can then be compared over the following decades. 1988 Not as exceptional as 1989 and 1990, but another classic Bordeaux vintage. The summer was not hot, but it was drier than either of the two following years. So sugar contents were lower, and acidities higher, providing less power, but perhaps more elegance and bouquet. They are not as generous, but have excellent length, and the complexity that is not always present in warmer vintages. They provide pleasure already, but it is pity not to give the top chateaux another three years, and they should have a further ten to twenty years of graceful development potential. 1987 These wines were diluted by too much rain, but many produced light, pleasing wines that are probably now at their best. 1986 This year is a classic, excellent year for Cabernet particularly. They have great length, are still quite firm but with no aggressive tanin. They will mature well for many years.

Excellent

Good

Off Years

1961 1970 1981 1990
1966 1975 1982 1995
1978 1983 1996
1985
1986
1988

1989

1962 1971 1984 1991
1964 1973 1987 1992
1967 1976 1993
1979 1994*
1997

1960 1972 1980

1963 1974

1977

*some exceptional wines were produced this year

Bordeaux Wine

1994

Good colors, full flavors, ripe tanins and generous fruit are all characteristics of this commercial 'modern' vintage. In spite of the September rain the grapes came in healthy, after a warm summer that fully ripened all varieties. Perhaps they will lack a little elegance, but they will certainly give much pleasure.

1993

Lighter structures than either 1994 or 1995. The summer was less warm, and the rain in September was heavier. To make the most of the vintage it was often necessary to declassify 50% of crop, or more. The Merlots generally came in healthy, but Cabernets were more affected by the heavy harvest rain. But for those who enjoy elegance and finesse there are some fine examples. Chateau Margaux must be one of the most outstanding, but there are many others. They are soft, pleasing and the best show length, character and the fine elegant balance that is unique to Bordeaux. Petits Chateaux are often now ready to be enjoyed, and grands crus are likely to be at their best from 1988, and develop well for the following five years or so.

1992

The wettest summer for at least fifty years did not provide the conditions for making great wine, which makes it all the more gratifying to find some that have evolved better than seemed possible. Severe slection to eliminate unhealthy grapes, and vats that were too dilute, have enabled some producers to make wines that express their terroir character with real charm. They are certainly not for the fruit and power brigade, but with the absence of any dominating tanins they display exactly what they are - pretty, light and from terroirs that produce wines with real character. They can be enjoyed now, and should not be cellared for more than another two or three years.

1985

A year perhaps better for Merlot than for Cabernet. The wines are softer than 1986, and have good fruit and pleasing ripeness. They want another three to five years, but the best should be good for a further five. Excerpt from Peter A. Sichel's Vintage & Market Report (March 1996)

1991

Another vintage that has usually been ignored, or written off, by commentators, but that is well worth attention. Spring frosts annihilated the Merlot, and also reduced the crop of Cabernets. But then a warm summer ripened those grapes that were left, and in spite of yet another wet September the small crop was gathered during the first half of October in good, dry conditions. Of course, there were problems - particularly with "second generation" grapes that had to be separated - but those who tackled them efficiently were able to make limited quantities classic, compact, rather closely knit, and for the time being rather austere Bordeaux that will mature for many years in bottle. As somebody said "the advantage of formulae, is that they do away with the need to think", but it is a pity that they are applied to condemn vintages across the board, when proprietors of reputable chateaux today will do all they can to produce wine of quality every year, and will declassify wines that they consider substandard. Again, they will not appeal to those whose priority is power and fruit, but they will provide interest and pleasure to those who enjoy complexities of restrained Bordeaux. The high proportion of Cabernet will ensure them of a long and slow development. All this mostly applies to the M?doc, as on the right bank the frost damage was so severe that many chateaux in St. ?milion and Pomerol were able to bottle no wine under their labels.

1990

Probably one of the most perfect expressions of Bordeaux that has been produced since the war....or even before. They do not have the concentration of those years of small yield - 1945 and 1961 - but they have an elegance, length and complexity that is still unique to the area. The tanins are ripe and unobtrusive, they have good fruit, but above all they have the balance and elegance that must put the best wines in a category of 'greats'. Though they were launched at prices below 1989, they are generally now fetching prices that are higher. They are already appearing on restaurant lists, and enthusiasts would be well advised to taste them there, and keep their own stock for another ten or twenty years

1989

Comparing 1989 to 1990 is one of the most interesting exercises currently available to Bordeaux tasters. They are very different, yet were produced in two years when the weather pattern was both exceptionally advantageous, and similar. It is another aspect of the Bordeaux culture that puts the subject beyond immediate subjective pleasure. Comparing the two vintages of almost any chateau the 1989 will be found to be more generous, but more rustic. They have good fruit, and fill the mouth with ripe flavor, but are more loosely knit, and do not quite have the same elegance. It is difficult to identify what in the weather pattern produced this universal characteristic difference between the two years, but perhaps there was a tendency to pick 1989s a little too early, before the tanins were fully ripe. It is of course also an excellent and exceptional year that needs at least another ten years for top chateaux. Like 1928 and 1929 they can then be compared over the following decades.

1988

Not as exceptional as 1989 and 1990, but another classic Bordeaux vintage. The summer was not hot, but it was drier than either of the two following years. So sugar contents were lower, and acidities higher, providing less power, but perhaps more elegance and bouquet. They are not as generous, but have excellent length, and the complexity that is not always present in warmer vintages. They provide pleasure already, but it is pity not to give the top chateaux another three years, and they should have a further ten to twenty years of graceful development potential.

1987

These wines were diluted by too much rain, but many produced light, pleasing wines that are probably now at their best.

1986

This year is a classic, excellent year for Cabernet particularly. They have great length, are still quite firm but with no aggressive tanin. They will mature well for many years.

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