Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts Top 10 - 2018

[sdr]

So what are your top 10 wines you tasted in 2018?

They don’t have to be the “best” ones, just the most interesting ones that you will remember for years to come.

My list:


#10: 1980 Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieille Vignes

Shockingly earthy and interesting from an old off vintage.

#9: 1959 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon

Courtesy of CabFan, this is by far the most fascinating California Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted and holding up incredibly well.

#8: 2014 Lucien LeMoine Criôts-Batard-Montrachet

Damn, this is extravagantly tasty already.

#7: 1982 L’Évangile

Now the greatest Pomerol of the vintage.

#6: 1982 Krug

Most champagne from this vintage are dead and gone, not this one.

#5: 1971 Climens

Sensational elegance and poise in a delicate package.

#4: 1971 Haut-Brion Blanc

Compelling complexity in ancient white Bordeaux.

#3: 1961 Pichon-Baron

Extraordinary combination of aged complexity and youthful (!) fruit.

#2: 1982 Haut-Brion

Yet another fabulous ‘82 and it’s better than ever.

#1: 1982 Latour

There can be no longer be any doubt about the greatest wine of this very special vintage.

Stu

[DavidG]

Hard to put them in order, but these all moved me in 2018

1988 Krug
1988 Yquem
1982 Mouton
1986 Mouton
1989 Beaucastel
2003 Cos D'Estournel
2015 Canon
1989 Penfolds Grange
2001 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
1959 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon

Four of these were from the BWE Convention: the Donnhoff on Friday, the Charles Krug brought by Peter to the Friday dinner and the two Mouton brought by Stuart to the Saturday dinner.

You know Stuart's drinking well when 1982 and 1986 Mouton don’t make his top ten list. But I think we all knew that anyway.

[marcs]

So the 2015 Canon did move you, huh? Your note on it seemed kind of non-commital, like it was too young and rich to judge.

[jal]

In order
1.2006 Rayas
2.1986 Lynch Bages
3.1989 Lynch Bages
4.1982 Gruaud Larose
5.1979 Pichon Lalande
6.1978 Leoville LasCases
7.1999 Emmanuel Rouget Echezeaux (one crappy bottle, the other was singing)
8.1985 l'Evangile
9. 2014 Jacques Carillon Puligny Montrachet Les Champs Canet
10. 1990 Yquem

[Comte Flaneur]

So what are your top 10 wines you tasted in 2018?

They don’t have to be the “best” ones, just the most interesting ones that you will remember for years to come.

My list:


#10: 1980 Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieille Vignes

Shockingly earthy and interesting from an old off vintage.

#9: 1959 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon

Courtesy of CabFan, this is by far the most fascinating California Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted and holding up incredibly well.

#8: 2014 Lucien LeMoine Criôts-Batard-Montrachet

Damn, this is extravagantly tasty already.

#7: 1982 L’Évangile

Now the greatest Pomerol of the vintage.

#6: 1982 Krug

Most champagne from this vintage are dead and gone, not this one.

#5: 1971 Climens

Sensational elegance and poise in a delicate package.

#4: 1971 Haut-Brion Blanc

Compelling complexity in ancient white Bordeaux.

#3: 1961 Pichon-Baron

Extraordinary combination of aged complexity and youthful (!) fruit.

#2: 1982 Haut-Brion

Yet another fabulous ‘82 and it’s better than ever.

#1: 1982 Latour

There can be no longer any doubt about the greatest wine of this very special vintage.

Stu

Great list Stu. I would not have expected anything less....1980 was not an off vintage in Cotes de Nuits. Ponsot is sensational and so is Romanee Conti. Interesting comment about 1982 L’Evangile. I could have picked this up at auction today for £300, probably less than...

https://bacchus.auctionserver.net/m/lot ... iew%3Dlist

[Comte Flaneur]

Four of these wines (6 through 3) supplied by Tim:

10. Leoville Lascases 2005
9. Ausone 1982 - majestic out of imperial
8. Lafite 1978
7. Lafite 1988
6. Yquem 1976
5. DRC Montrachet 2003
4. Yquem 1967
3. Haut Brion 1953 - ‘the DNA of Haut-Brion’ - F. Adz
2. DRC Richebourg 1990
1. Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1976

[jckba]

Some great and some legendary wines on the lists shown above but the year is not done yet and I am hoping that my list will change some btw now and then. Happy holidays to all!

[SF Ed]

Hard to put these in order, but:

10 -1986 Mouton
9 - 1996 Clos de Goisses
8 - 1982 Ausone
7 - 2002 Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet
6 - 1967 Produttori del Barbaresco Pori
5 - 1964 Gaja Barbaresco
4 - 1928 Haut Brion
3 - 1947 Drouhin Laroze Clos de Beze
2 - 1989 Haut Brion
1 - 1953 Haut Brion

8, 5, 4, 2 and 1 were all at Tim's 50th in Bordeaux. The most insane wine weekend I have ever experienced.

You can also see I like old wine. No surprises there

SF Ed

[Blanquito]

My top 10 in order, so far (2018 ain't over!):
1990 DRC Richebourg
1982 Cheval Blanc
1982 Gruaud Larose
1986 Pichon Lalande
1986 Lynch Bages
1970 Magdelaine
1982 Magdelaine
1985 Beychevelle
1995 Tommaso Bussola Recioto della Valpolicella Tb
1990 & 1996 d'Yqyem (tie)

[JimHow]

I would have to go back to the notes from the DC convention, I remember having about 6 absolutely sick glasses of wine in front of me at one point, even before Stuart’s 82 and 86 Moutons.
And those Haut Brions from Timmy’s party, including Ian’s 1982 Ausone.
And that’s ‘67 Yquem was earth moving.
As I’ve said previously, that 79 Gruaud that Tom brought to my house was a highlight.
I’m not worthy!

[robert goulet]

My top 10 in order, so far (2018 ain't over!):
1990 DRC Richebourg
1982 Cheval Blanc
1982 Gruaud Larose
1986 Pichon Lalande
1986 Lynch Bages
1970 Magdelaine
1982 Magdelaine
1985 Beychevelle
1995 Tommaso Bussola Recioto della Valpolicella Tb
1990 & 1996 d'Yqyem (tie)

Bobby popped a '66? Magdelaine earlier this yr., it was delightful

[Blanquito]

Love Magdelaine, never had the 66 but good bottles of the 70 are so stellar.

[AKR]

on the 1970 Magdelaine watch out for the non estate bottled ones.

I've had a couple of Belgian (I think) bottled ones over the years that I bought a long time ago and there was something off (to me) about them. Friends didn't agree and liked them, but I'd watch out for that.

========

Some of the nicest wines I've had this year have been Californian - 78 Freemark Abbey, 91 Cardinale, 86 Inglenook and so on. Rather surprising. Maybe its ever so slightly easier and safer to buy them near their production area.