FranceBordeaux/Sauternes
| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2018 |
Score89–92 |
Drink WindowNYR |
DescriptionMildew pressure early in the season and a hailstorm midway through curtailed yields severely, and as in 2016 a very dry second half of the season denuded the potential for waves of botrytis infection during harvest. Wines are ripe, round and forward, but lack the complexity of top years |
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DescriptionMildew pressure early in the season and a hailstorm midway through curtailed yields severely, and as in 2016 a very dry second half of the season denuded the potential for waves of botrytis infection during harvest. Wines are ripe, round and forward, but lack the complexity of top years |
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Vintage2017 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSpring frost hit Barsac hard, Sauternes less so, reducing yields; dry and warm season led to healthy grapes, with late-season rains kicking off a very fast botrytis infection as grapes were ripe. Growers had to move fast, most picking just two or three tries; wines are juicy and forward, with tropical fruit profiles |
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DescriptionSpring frost hit Barsac hard, Sauternes less so, reducing yields; dry and warm season led to healthy grapes, with late-season rains kicking off a very fast botrytis infection as grapes were ripe. Growers had to move fast, most picking just two or three tries; wines are juicy and forward, with tropical fruit profiles |
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Vintage2016 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSecond half of growing season was extremely dry, affecting botrytis. Grapes were ripe and healthy, but botrytis arrived late, in only one or two waves, rather than in multiple waves. Wines are fresh and friendly, but without the complexity of great years; Barsac has a bit more energy than Sauternes |
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DescriptionSecond half of growing season was extremely dry, affecting botrytis. Grapes were ripe and healthy, but botrytis arrived late, in only one or two waves, rather than in multiple waves. Wines are fresh and friendly, but without the complexity of great years; Barsac has a bit more energy than Sauternes |
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Vintage2015 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionGrowing season was warm and dry early, cool and wet late. Rains were light, though, and separated by periods of dry weather, allowing for waves of botrytis growth and leisurely picking. Wines are fresh and pure in style |
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DescriptionGrowing season was warm and dry early, cool and wet late. Rains were light, though, and separated by periods of dry weather, allowing for waves of botrytis growth and leisurely picking. Wines are fresh and pure in style |
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Vintage2014 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionAfter a dry, cool growing season, initial harvests brought in fresh, racy fruit. Botrytis was spurred after a long Indian summer, allowing for successive pickings of more tropical styled, botrytis-affected fruit. The combination should make for a special vintage |
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DescriptionAfter a dry, cool growing season, initial harvests brought in fresh, racy fruit. Botrytis was spurred after a long Indian summer, allowing for successive pickings of more tropical styled, botrytis-affected fruit. The combination should make for a special vintage |
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Vintage2013 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionBotrytis spread quickly during a rainy September and October, with just enough breaks to allow grapes to concentrate. Both Sauternes and Barsac excellent, with fresh, racy styled wines. A cross in style between the racy '11 and flattering '07, with a bit less zip and concentration |
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DescriptionBotrytis spread quickly during a rainy September and October, with just enough breaks to allow grapes to concentrate. Both Sauternes and Barsac excellent, with fresh, racy styled wines. A cross in style between the racy '11 and flattering '07, with a bit less zip and concentration |
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Vintage2012 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionBotrytis formed but with constant rains and no warm, sunny patches during harvest, the grapes couldn't get concentration. Best Sauternes are friendly, but loosely knit and lack complexity; some top châteaus did not produce grand vins. Barsac fared much better, with some excellent wines |
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DescriptionBotrytis formed but with constant rains and no warm, sunny patches during harvest, the grapes couldn't get concentration. Best Sauternes are friendly, but loosely knit and lack complexity; some top châteaus did not produce grand vins. Barsac fared much better, with some excellent wines |
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Vintage2011 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionBotrytis arrived early and spread quickly; a cool second half of season allowed grapes to retain acidity. Wines are racy, detailed, pure and driven |
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DescriptionBotrytis arrived early and spread quickly; a cool second half of season allowed grapes to retain acidity. Wines are racy, detailed, pure and driven |
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Vintage2010 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionBotrytis arrived late and quickly. Wines are ripe and juicy, with tropical fruit character. Barsac shows more freshness than Sauternes. Not as dense as '01 or '09 |
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DescriptionBotrytis arrived late and quickly. Wines are ripe and juicy, with tropical fruit character. Barsac shows more freshness than Sauternes. Not as dense as '01 or '09 |
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Vintage2009 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionTerrific companion vintage to the reds, with ripe, powerful botrytis character and rich texture with freshness and balance |
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DescriptionTerrific companion vintage to the reds, with ripe, powerful botrytis character and rich texture with freshness and balance |
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Vintage2008 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMarked by tangy acidity; not broadly ripe, but some are showy enough |
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DescriptionMarked by tangy acidity; not broadly ripe, but some are showy enough |
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Vintage2007 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionLots of botrytis led to a rich, tropical fruit and raisined-style vintage with rounded, hedonistic wines |
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DescriptionLots of botrytis led to a rich, tropical fruit and raisined-style vintage with rounded, hedonistic wines |
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Vintage2006 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionNot as dense as top years, but fresh, vibrant wines with lively acidity |
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DescriptionNot as dense as top years, but fresh, vibrant wines with lively acidity |
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Vintage2005 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionOpulent and structured, with underlying finesse |
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DescriptionOpulent and structured, with underlying finesse |
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Vintage2004 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionHarmonious, aromatic and spicy; for early drinking |
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DescriptionHarmonious, aromatic and spicy; for early drinking |
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Vintage2003 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionExotic, ripe and spicy; good botrytis |
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DescriptionExotic, ripe and spicy; good botrytis |
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Vintage2002 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSmall crop; clean and spicy, with good fruit |
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DescriptionSmall crop; clean and spicy, with good fruit |
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Vintage2001 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionMagnificently rich and structured, yet balanced |
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DescriptionMagnificently rich and structured, yet balanced |
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Vintage2000 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMost of the crop was rained on; only small quantities of good wine |
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DescriptionMost of the crop was rained on; only small quantities of good wine |
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Vintage1999 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCreamy, rich and spicy |
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DescriptionCreamy, rich and spicy |
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Vintage1998 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionElegant, refined and delicious |
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DescriptionElegant, refined and delicious |
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Vintage1997 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionBalanced, racy and structured; classy |
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DescriptionBalanced, racy and structured; classy |
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Vintage1996 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSpicy, rich and round; generous style |
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DescriptionSpicy, rich and round; generous style |
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Vintage1995 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSweet and balanced; uneven quality |
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DescriptionSweet and balanced; uneven quality |
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Vintage1992 |
Score72 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionLight, straightforward, diluted and medium sweet |
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DescriptionLight, straightforward, diluted and medium sweet |
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Vintage1991 |
Score77 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionModerately sweet, attractive apertif wines |
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DescriptionModerately sweet, attractive apertif wines |
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Vintage1990 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionHarmonious, rich and racy |
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DescriptionHarmonious, rich and racy |
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Vintage1989 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionLoads of botryitis; opulent and structured |
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DescriptionLoads of botryitis; opulent and structured |
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Vintage1988 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionElegant and refined |
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DescriptionElegant and refined |
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Vintage1987 |
Score79 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionClean and appealing, with little botrytis |
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DescriptionClean and appealing, with little botrytis |
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Vintage1986 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCharming, lively and fresh; spicy and sweet |
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DescriptionCharming, lively and fresh; spicy and sweet |
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Vintage1985 |
Score79 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionLittle botrytis character; clean and sweet |
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DescriptionLittle botrytis character; clean and sweet |
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Vintage1984 |
Score68 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionA wet, difficult harvest; a few good wines |
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DescriptionA wet, difficult harvest; a few good wines |
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Vintage1983 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionIntense, complex and rich |
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DescriptionIntense, complex and rich |
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Vintage1982 |
Score77 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionMostly fat, alcoholic and sweet |
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DescriptionMostly fat, alcoholic and sweet |
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Vintage1981 |
Score83 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionMedium richness; finely balanced wines |
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DescriptionMedium richness; finely balanced wines |
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Vintage1980 |
Score82 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionGood year; balanced, lightly botrytized wines |
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DescriptionGood year; balanced, lightly botrytized wines |
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Vintage1976 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionExotic, thick and powerful |
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DescriptionExotic, thick and powerful |
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Vintage1975 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionHarmonious, lively, spicy and sweet |
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DescriptionHarmonious, lively, spicy and sweet |
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Vintage1971 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSupple, refined and long |
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DescriptionSupple, refined and long |
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Vintage1967 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionClassic; long-lived, everything is there |
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DescriptionClassic; long-lived, everything is there |
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Vintage1959 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionConcentrated, lots of botrytis |
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DescriptionConcentrated, lots of botrytis |
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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
