Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Well, OK, there are some anomalies... but think.
70, 80 (not a disaster), 90, 00, 10
71, 81, 91, 01, 11 (all average to decently underrated; many of the top wines are still lovely)
82 (an anomaly) but 72, 92, 02, 12 (No Yquem)
73 (good at Mouton, ), 83 (good in places), 93 (good in places), 03 (excellent in places)
74 (disaster), 84 (almost a disaster), 94 and 04 (saved by good winemakers)
75 (OK this one is debatable), 85, 95, 05
76 (some great stuff), 86, 96, 06
77, 87, 97, 07 (there are anomalies, but they aren't the most special vintages.
78, 88, 98, 08 (all underrated, but with time are showing some class)
79, 89, 99, 09 (OK, 79 and 99 are more problematic but there are magical wines, and I'm still to be shown the magic in 09)

Pre-70 is a bit more of a mine-field with winemaking, but this is more to do about the general quality of the grapes that were harvested.
It looks increasingly like the vintages come in ten year cycles that look remarkably similar with the few odd exceptions.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2012/12/no-yquem-in-2012

OK. Can we now rank this according to ending digit to just kind of wrap this for the files, or get some consensus, or perhaps ignite a virulent argument? Which is the worst, which is the best and all in between? 4 looks maybe it's the worst.

Boy, the 6's look like the dark horse in this list. 86's are coming into their own right now, 96's need no introduction, and 06's are overlooked classic clarets.

The 1s are probably the worst.

0s and 6s looking like the best selection.

AlohaArtakaHoundsong wrote:OK. Can we now rank this according to ending digit to just kind of wrap this for the files, or get some consensus, or perhaps ignite a virulent argument? Which is the worst, which is the best and all in between? 4 looks maybe it's the worst.

2009 is a dead ringer for 1979

I think this list is just a testimony to the human desire to construct patterns, even when there are none. 2003 has nothing in common with 1993 which in turn has nothing in common with 1983. I also love the 2s...1982 (one of the greatest vintages ever), 1992 (one of the worst vintages ever), 2002 (short on fruit but not so bad if you like classically styled left bank)...well, if you squint and look at it crosseyed and write off 1982 as an anomaly maybe there is commonality...don't take this the wrong way, I do appreciate the work Jono clearly put into this one

All a bit of fun when I read that Yquem would not make a 2012.

But 1980 sucked. So the whole premise is flawed.