FranceBordeaux/Right Bank Reds (Pomerol, St.-Emilion)
| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2018 |
Score95–98 |
Drink WindowNYR |
DescriptionRainy first half of season tapered off sooner than the Left Bank, giving growers a chance to fend off mildew before the clusters fully formed; dry conditions in the second half favored clay and limestone soils. Pomerol produced some very big wines; St.-Emilion also stellar |
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DescriptionRainy first half of season tapered off sooner than the Left Bank, giving growers a chance to fend off mildew before the clusters fully formed; dry conditions in the second half favored clay and limestone soils. Pomerol produced some very big wines; St.-Emilion also stellar |
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Vintage2017 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm, dry growing season, with spring frost hitting low-lying areas of St.-Emilion and satellites particularly hard. Cloudy July kept wines on the fresh, pure side, with good acidity and modest tannins. St.-Emilion atop the limestone plateau is excellent, Pomerols are fleshy and forward |
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DescriptionWarm, dry growing season, with spring frost hitting low-lying areas of St.-Emilion and satellites particularly hard. Cloudy July kept wines on the fresh, pure side, with good acidity and modest tannins. St.-Emilion atop the limestone plateau is excellent, Pomerols are fleshy and forward |
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Vintage2016 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSame pattern as Left Bank, with rainy start, dry finish. Clay-based soils weathered the dry period best, limestone also strong; young vines and Pomerol's sandy soils the only weak spot, but otherwise a very homogenous vintage |
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DescriptionSame pattern as Left Bank, with rainy start, dry finish. Clay-based soils weathered the dry period best, limestone also strong; young vines and Pomerol's sandy soils the only weak spot, but otherwise a very homogenous vintage |
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Vintage2015 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionExtremely warm and dry growing season favored the Right Bank's clay and limestone soils. St.-Emilion the sweet spot; Pomerols are rich and layered. Values abound in Castillon and Fronsac |
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DescriptionExtremely warm and dry growing season favored the Right Bank's clay and limestone soils. St.-Emilion the sweet spot; Pomerols are rich and layered. Values abound in Castillon and Fronsac |
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Vintage2014 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA good spring was followed by a grey, humid summer, with slightly more rainfall than on the Left Bank. Merlot solid, but wines with Cabernet Franc the sweet spot as well-drained gravel soils were favored over clay |
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DescriptionA good spring was followed by a grey, humid summer, with slightly more rainfall than on the Left Bank. Merlot solid, but wines with Cabernet Franc the sweet spot as well-drained gravel soils were favored over clay |
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Vintage2013 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMerlot generally soft and forward but prime spots on limestone and gravel handled late rains better. Cabernet Franc also performed well, bolstering Pomerol and St.-Emilion. Generally more consistent than on Left Bank but still for early consumption |
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DescriptionMerlot generally soft and forward but prime spots on limestone and gravel handled late rains better. Cabernet Franc also performed well, bolstering Pomerol and St.-Emilion. Generally more consistent than on Left Bank but still for early consumption |
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Vintage2012 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionEarly-ripening Merlot favored in general over Left Bank Cabernet. Clay soils with good water retention kept vines going during August drought, while gravel easily drained off the later rains. Pomerol very solid; St.-Emilion more inconsistent with some wines prone to overextraction |
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DescriptionEarly-ripening Merlot favored in general over Left Bank Cabernet. Clay soils with good water retention kept vines going during August drought, while gravel easily drained off the later rains. Pomerol very solid; St.-Emilion more inconsistent with some wines prone to overextraction |
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Vintage2011 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionPomerols generally fresh and ripe; St.-Emilion Cabernet Franc excelled, buttressing the Merlot. Solid vintage that should age nicely, like 2001 and 2004 |
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DescriptionPomerols generally fresh and ripe; St.-Emilion Cabernet Franc excelled, buttressing the Merlot. Solid vintage that should age nicely, like 2001 and 2004 |
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Vintage2010 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionDry but not warm season led to powerful wines. Merlot sports slightly higher alcohols; Cabernet Franc excelled. Pomerol and St.-Emilion superb; terrific values through Castillon and Fronsac |
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DescriptionDry but not warm season led to powerful wines. Merlot sports slightly higher alcohols; Cabernet Franc excelled. Pomerol and St.-Emilion superb; terrific values through Castillon and Fronsac |
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Vintage2009 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRich and powerful, yet round and friendly, with velvety texture and loads of fruit. Pomerol excelled with St.-Emilion more variable. Don't overlook Fronsac and Castillon |
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DescriptionRich and powerful, yet round and friendly, with velvety texture and loads of fruit. Pomerol excelled with St.-Emilion more variable. Don't overlook Fronsac and Castillon |
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Vintage2008 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAfter a difficult growing season, late September weather allowed early-ripening Merlot to catch up. Right Bank wines fleshier than Left Bank |
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DescriptionAfter a difficult growing season, late September weather allowed early-ripening Merlot to catch up. Right Bank wines fleshier than Left Bank |
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Vintage2007 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAromatic and lightly fruity, with fine tannins. Some wines overextracted |
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DescriptionAromatic and lightly fruity, with fine tannins. Some wines overextracted |
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Vintage2006 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionTop vineyards made balanced reds; others slightly austere |
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DescriptionTop vineyards made balanced reds; others slightly austere |
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Vintage2005 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionOpulent and powerful, with solid backbones of tannins and acidity. Amazing Pomerols |
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DescriptionOpulent and powerful, with solid backbones of tannins and acidity. Amazing Pomerols |
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Vintage2004 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionMostly balanced, firm and delicate; some Cabernet Franc-based wines excellent |
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DescriptionMostly balanced, firm and delicate; some Cabernet Franc-based wines excellent |
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Vintage2003 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionExtremely ripe and rich; some wines too jammy |
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DescriptionExtremely ripe and rich; some wines too jammy |
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Vintage2002 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionBalanced and fruity, but lacking some tannin backbone |
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DescriptionBalanced and fruity, but lacking some tannin backbone |
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Vintage2001 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good quality; ripe tannins, refined style |
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DescriptionVery good quality; ripe tannins, refined style |
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Vintage2000 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Wines starting to open up now |
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DescriptionRich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Wines starting to open up now |
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Vintage1999 |
Score85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAromatic and delicate; for early drinking |
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DescriptionAromatic and delicate; for early drinking |
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Vintage1998 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionMuscular and rich; much better than Left Bank |
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DescriptionMuscular and rich; much better than Left Bank |
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Vintage1997 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSoft and friendly wines; fresh style |
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DescriptionSoft and friendly wines; fresh style |
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Vintage1996 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMedium-bodied wines; slightly diluted |
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DescriptionMedium-bodied wines; slightly diluted |
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Vintage1995 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionHarmonious yet structured; lovely fruit |
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DescriptionHarmonious yet structured; lovely fruit |
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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
