| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2020 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionThe run continues of high quality yet heterogeneous vintages. A rainy winter provided ample water reserves, but the rain stretched into spring, leading to severe mildew pressures. Summer turned hot and dry, and harvest ran early, spurred by the heat. Some excellent wines, though others show grainy textures and slightly muddled fruit (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionThe run continues of high quality yet heterogeneous vintages. A rainy winter provided ample water reserves, but the rain stretched into spring, leading to severe mildew pressures. Summer turned hot and dry, and harvest ran early, spurred by the heat. Some excellent wines, though others show grainy textures and slightly muddled fruit (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2019 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionSummer was extremely hot and dry, but well-spaced rains prevented maturity blockage, with a late-running harvest after a mid-September rain favoring Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines are richly fruited, but tannins are the issue; the best are refined, others slightly austere. Upper Médoc is the highlight, but very heterogeneous overall (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionSummer was extremely hot and dry, but well-spaced rains prevented maturity blockage, with a late-running harvest after a mid-September rain favoring Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines are richly fruited, but tannins are the issue; the best are refined, others slightly austere. Upper Médoc is the highlight, but very heterogeneous overall (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2018 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionExtreme conditions early led to severe mildew pressure that reduced yields at some estates, yet dry and warm weather starting in mid-July saved the vintage. The best reds are dense and tannic, with slightly higher alcohol and lower acidity, but terrific drive and definition (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionExtreme conditions early led to severe mildew pressure that reduced yields at some estates, yet dry and warm weather starting in mid-July saved the vintage. The best reds are dense and tannic, with slightly higher alcohol and lower acidity, but terrific drive and definition (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2017 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm and dry year ran early all season; southern areas most affected by spring frost, while Médoc generally spared. Well-timed rains prevented maturity blockage, but September diluted earlier-ripening Merlot. Wines are fresh and pure; best in Pauillac and St.-Julien, other AOCs more heterogeneous (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionWarm and dry year ran early all season; southern areas most affected by spring frost, while Médoc generally spared. Well-timed rains prevented maturity blockage, but September diluted earlier-ripening Merlot. Wines are fresh and pure; best in Pauillac and St.-Julien, other AOCs more heterogeneous (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2016 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionA year of extremes, with a very rainy spring backed by a very dry summer. Cabernet relished the drought, yielding reds that are ripe and tannic, but also racy, fresh and full of aromas; yields normal to above normal. Upper Médoc superb, with St.-Estèphe, Pauillac and St.-Julien the epicenter of quality (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionA year of extremes, with a very rainy spring backed by a very dry summer. Cabernet relished the drought, yielding reds that are ripe and tannic, but also racy, fresh and full of aromas; yields normal to above normal. Upper Médoc superb, with St.-Estèphe, Pauillac and St.-Julien the epicenter of quality (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2015 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionExtremely dry season saved by rain at veraison led to an even crop of ripe and lush reds. Later rains hampered some parts of the upper Médoc. Margaux is truly special, St. Julien and Pessac superb (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionExtremely dry season saved by rain at veraison led to an even crop of ripe and lush reds. Later rains hampered some parts of the upper Médoc. Margaux is truly special, St. Julien and Pessac superb (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2014 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionA good spring was followed by a gray, humid summer, but dry weather and a long harvest period through September and October saved the vintage. Best in the upper Médoc with Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, along with Petit Verdot, relishing the late harvest; less dynamic in Margaux and Pessac (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionA good spring was followed by a gray, humid summer, but dry weather and a long harvest period through September and October saved the vintage. Best in the upper Médoc with Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, along with Petit Verdot, relishing the late harvest; less dynamic in Margaux and Pessac (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2013 |
Score84 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool start and very wet finish saved by warm, dry July and August. Disease pressure was very high and harvest on the early side. Reds are light and easy; Margaux least successful of Left Bank AOCs (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool start and very wet finish saved by warm, dry July and August. Disease pressure was very high and harvest on the early side. Reds are light and easy; Margaux least successful of Left Bank AOCs (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2012 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionCool and wet early led to uneven crop set and disease pressure, while dry, hot August resulted in some blocked ripening; September rains helped, but harvest window was short before October rains arrived, leaving some Cabernets marked by taut tannins; Pessac and Margaux favored over upper Médoc; more inconsistent overall than Right Bank (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool and wet early led to uneven crop set and disease pressure, while dry, hot August resulted in some blocked ripening; September rains helped, but harvest window was short before October rains arrived, leaving some Cabernets marked by taut tannins; Pessac and Margaux favored over upper Médoc; more inconsistent overall than Right Bank (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2011 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionDry and hot early, then cool and wet late. Yields down due to small berries. Fresh fruit and bright acidity are prominent; tannins are strident but ripe, with lower alcohols (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionDry and hot early, then cool and wet late. Yields down due to small berries. Fresh fruit and bright acidity are prominent; tannins are strident but ripe, with lower alcohols (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2010 |
Score99 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionRipe and powerful, with racy tannins and acidity for balance. More structure-driven than the opulent 2009, with better definition of fruit; should be very long-lived (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionRipe and powerful, with racy tannins and acidity for balance. More structure-driven than the opulent 2009, with better definition of fruit; should be very long-lived (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2009 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionLush, rich and beautifully polished reds. Top Médoc estates made glorious wines; Pessac also excelled (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionLush, rich and beautifully polished reds. Top Médoc estates made glorious wines; Pessac also excelled (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2008 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionDamp, gray growing season led to disease pressure; Indian summer in September saved the vintage. Wines are fresh rather than dense, with sometimes crisp acidity (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionDamp, gray growing season led to disease pressure; Indian summer in September saved the vintage. Wines are fresh rather than dense, with sometimes crisp acidity (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2007 |
Score85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionInconsistent; look to top names for delicacy and balance (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionInconsistent; look to top names for delicacy and balance (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2006 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionBest are solid, tannic and racy; others slightly hollow (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionBest are solid, tannic and racy; others slightly hollow (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2005 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionFabulous aromas and great length; wines with depth, structure and finesse (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionFabulous aromas and great length; wines with depth, structure and finesse (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2004 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionOverlooked vintage with round, supple tannins and charming fruit (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionOverlooked vintage with round, supple tannins and charming fruit (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2003 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionExotic and powerful, with big, velvety tannins (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionExotic and powerful, with big, velvety tannins (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2002 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool-style clarets, with firm tannins; stick to top names (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool-style clarets, with firm tannins; stick to top names (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2001 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSleeper vintage; balanced, fruity and structured (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionSleeper vintage; balanced, fruity and structured (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2000 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRacy tannins and very delineated reds now hitting their stride (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionRacy tannins and very delineated reds now hitting their stride (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1999 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionFruity and balanced; some wines slightly green (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionFruity and balanced; some wines slightly green (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1998 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good quality despite rain at harvest (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionVery good quality despite rain at harvest (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1997 |
Score85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionTropical August; light and pleasant wines (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionTropical August; light and pleasant wines (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1996 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionWet August, yet Cabernets still excellent; firm (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionWet August, yet Cabernets still excellent; firm (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1995 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionHarmonious, rich and structured; long-lived (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionHarmonious, rich and structured; long-lived (See all ratings) |
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Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
