Three greatest vintages

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William P
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Three greatest vintages

Post by William P »

We answered the three greatest wines questions but that was easy. My question is: what are the three greatest vintages in your opinion based on experience. This is infinitely more interesting because of the dialogue between Parker and many on this board. The 89vs90 controversy or 95vs96. Then there is the will 2000 last and was 2003 too hot. Maybe 2005 is just too much. Let the games begin.

Bill
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stefan
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by stefan »

Vintages 2000 and earlier:

1. 1961
2. 1982
3. Hard to choose. I guess 1990.
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William P
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by William P »

1. 1982
2. 1989
2. 2000 (hard to choose)
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Jeff Leve
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Jeff Leve »

2009, 2010, 2005... Better wines from more producers makes these better vintages for me. I also believe that the top wines in those vintages are the equal of, and are probably better than the best wines from the legendary vintages of the past.
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JimHow
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by JimHow »

2010
2002L
1986L
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RDD
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by RDD »

Jeff Leve wrote:2009, 2010, 2005... Better wines from more producers makes these better vintages for me. I also believe that the top wines in those vintages are the equal of, and are probably better than the best wines from the legendary vintages of the past.
I can see that.

But I'm going with Stefan's
response also.

1961 - Mythic
1982 - Nature made it. Sit back. Relax . And enjoy the ride.
1990 - Seemed to great everywhere.
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jckba
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by jckba »

I haven't had the means or the luck to taste many of the great moldy oldies so for me based on the vintages that I am somewhat familiar with and feel have the strongest potential, I am going to go with:

1. 2010
2. 2009
3. 2005
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Blanquito
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Blanquito »

Pre-2000, from vintages I've tried enough to judge:
1. 1982
2. 1990
3. 1985 or 1989
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DavidG
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by DavidG »

Vintages I've actually drunk enough of to warrant an opinion, and old enough to prove it, as opposed to potential:
1. 1982
2. 1990
3. 1989

I've had a few awesome 1961s, and suspect that would be number 1 or 2 if I'd had enough experience to legitimately judge.

In 15 years, my answer might well mirror Jeff Leve's: 2009, 2010, 2005. Right now they aren't offering as much of what I cherish as 1982, 1989 and 1990.
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AKR
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by AKR »

I'm going with

1. 1990
2. 2005
3. 2000
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Comte Flaneur
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Comte Flaneur »

As of today being the cut off, history will probably judge 2015, 2010 and 2005.

In terms of legends today, 1929, 1959 and 1961

My personal favourites, 1982, 1985 and 1989
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Rudi Finkler
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Rudi Finkler »

Not in a particular order:

1985
1990
2001
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DavidG
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by DavidG »

Rudi - did you mean to type 2001 or 2010? If 2001 I think your perspective may be unique (unless you are limiting your comments to Sauternes), and I'd like to hear which wines stand out for you.
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Rudi Finkler »

Bill's question is: "what are the three greatest vintages in your opinion based on experience"... and after forty years of experience my answer is: 1985, 1990, 2001. What's your problem with it, David? :-)
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by DavidG »

No problem at all Rudi. My question, "Which wines stand out for you?" was in reference to 2001. As that was not a vintage heralded by critics or commentators as a "vintage of the century," I wondered if it was a typo. But more importantly since it wasn't a typo, the lack of critical hype for 2001 could mean that there are some good deals out there. Which is why I am curious which (red) wines you particularly liked from that year.
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AKR
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by AKR »

Perhaps Rudi means the Sauternes when lauding the 2001s.

the 2001 Climens, Rieussec, Suduiraut are all some of the greatest wines I've ever had.

And the level just below them (La Tour Blanche, Coutet, et al) are amazing too.
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DavidG
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by DavidG »

Yes, I've had some great Sauternes from 2001. It was a great year for that region, thus the qualifier in my original question.
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Rudi Finkler
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Rudi Finkler »

DavidG wrote:No problem at all Rudi. My question, "Which wines stand out for you?" was in reference to 2001. As that was not a vintage heralded by critics or commentators as a "vintage of the century," I wondered if it was a typo. But more importantly since it wasn't a typo, the lack of critical hype for 2001 could mean that there are some good deals out there. Which is why I am curious which (red) wines you particularly liked from that year.
Hopefully there are still some good deals out there, David.
No question, there are great Sauternes from 2001, but 2001 is also a great vintage for decided lovers of classically styled red Bordeaux wines, especially wines from the Left Bank, and 2001 is the last vintage that combine classic purity, elegance and finesse with refinement and sophisticated understatement in an irresistible manner, at least for me.

The top wines are fantastically balanced, rarely exceed 13,5 % alcohol, and are never overloaded with obtrusive jammy fruit and oak. Pichon-Comtesse immediately springs to mind, but also Roc de Cambes, La Fleur de Gay, Lafite, D'Issan, Leoville-Barton, Martet -Rèserve de Famille, Carmes Haut-Brion, Haut-Bailly, Haut-Bergey, Moulin Saint-Georges, Pavie Macquin, and even Ferrière, and many, many more.

I never buy wines with 14+% alcohol. And therefore, for me, vintages like 2009 or 2010 are largely taboo. But one man's hell is another man's heaven. :)
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sdr
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by sdr »

#1. 1961 - amazingly concentrated and pure, most still going strong.

#2. 1982 - lavishly fruity with ripe tannins and good acidity.

#3. 1959 - unique vintage profile of smoke and brown sugar, not a lot of highlights but there are three masterpieces, Lafite, LMHB and Mouton. I have hopes 1989 will eventually equal or surpass 1959.

Stuart
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Blanquito
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by Blanquito »

My top 5 Sauternes vintages are:
1. 1986
2. 1990
3. 1971 (semi-biased as its my birthyear)
4. 2001
5. 1988
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stefan
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by stefan »

Last night we drank a wonderful 2001 Leoville-Barton, Rudi. It was as good as the 1996 that we drank at the same dinner.
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DavidG
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by DavidG »

Thanks Rudi. I can find 2001 La Fleur de Gay for $80, Lafite ~$600, Leoville Barton for $100, Haut Bailley for $80, Haut Bergey for $70, Pavie Macquin for $75. Other than the Lafite, those all sound worth exploring.

Patrick, I would put 2001, 1988, 1989, 1986 and 1990 as my top 5 Sauternes vintages. I'm biased too: married in '88 and our daughter was born in '89 so those years are extra-sweet.
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stefan
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Re: Three greatest vintages

Post by stefan »

The Leoville Barton is definitely worth it, David.
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