It’s early days for those of us who think it takes 15-20 years (or longer) for a good Bordeaux to start strutting its stuff, but there should be plenty of first impressions out there. How do you rank the 2010-2019 vintages in Bordeaux?
What are your criteria?
Is potential for aged complexity more important than early approachability or a broad drinking window?
Do you give more weight to the top performers, or is a high level across many estates more important?
Do first growths and super seconds count more or less than your personal favorites?
Of course it’s impossible to apply a generalization about an entire vintage to individual wines. That’s never stopped a dedicated band of Bordeaux wine enthusiasts from opining about vintage rankings.
I would move 2012 up a notch or two for the right bank wines.
Based more on personal favorites and wines I’ve cellared with substantial consideration for aging complexity and some for consistency across the board.
I haven’t tasted enough 2019s to rank the vintage, but reports all indicate it would be at or near the top of the list. I haven’t had any 2013s but it seems to be universally disliked and a shoo-in for last place.
The 2018 i tasted up to date are super concentrated, super ripe and flabby.
Maybe in 20-30 years they will be better, but i remember what producers told us in 2015 in Bordeaux : if a vintage isn’t ok to start, lesser to improve significantly down the road. Right now, 2018 don’t delivers too much, is it a good or bad thing?
2016’s at the opposite… will be great all their life i guess.
Guys
My ranking has a few qualifications but I have to rate 2016 as the best.
Even the lesser wines of that vintage are outstanding (I mean compared to other vintages) and they will continue to improve for some decades.
So my list is as follows:
1 2016 especially in left bank but right bank wines continue to improve
2 2019 (a fraction ahead of 2010)
3 2010 though I have found 2009 is generally better at least for now
4 2015 not sure why this vintage does not not get much love here - excellent overall though better in right bank
5 2014 better than previously rated and not sure why. Evolving well
6. 2018 okay a problem vintage for me as alcohol often high and not my style
7. 2012 not great but right bank not bad. Had some nice wines at lowish prices
8. 2017 some okay wines though lack flesh and depth
9 2011 the wines are sometimes green and ugh others have developed better than I expected
10 2013. Not tried many but the handful I’ve had, including some well rated wines, are rather dull.
Overall a good 10 yr period and 2020 is also a top vintage especially on the right bank.
I have a lot of wines from 2010, 2016 and 2019, with lesser volumes of 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2012.
A few odd leftovers from the others.
I’ve backfilled on 2014, 15 and 16 though 16 is very expensive here.
I don’t recall having any 2018s yet, but I have heard and read reviews indicating that it was strong on the Right Bank, if not the Left.
Does anyone have an opinion about just the 2018 Right Bankers?
2019
2016
2018
2010
2015
2014
2012
2011
2017
2013
....for the moment. Maybe in 5 years there are some significant changes? Many 2016's and 2010's are very closed at the moment, 2019 is going into this phase now IMHO so everything is in motion...
hautbrionlover wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2024 3:36 am
I don’t recall having any 2018s yet, but I have heard and read reviews indicating that it was strong on the Right Bank, if not the Left.
Does anyone have an opinion about just the 2018 Right Bankers?
HBL
2018 is loved by some for its ripeness and richness, though I have found most of the wines I have tried from the right bank to be too high in alcohol and not to my taste. A simple example was that at the Decanter tasting on the weekend (in Singapore, not London) I tried a well regarded 2018 right bank wine, and the alcohol hit me straight away. I put the glass down, turned the bottle around to find that is said 15% ABV.
So I bought very few wines from 2018, though have bought quite a few 2019 and 2020 wines from the right bank. Been to quite a few tastings of both and found a few wines only that were a bit spirity. In any case, I have never had a taste for spirits.
Guys
I’m sipping a CB Margaux - 2016 Château Tour de Bessan.
Now this estate won’t challenge Ch Margaux or Palmer but at its price point, it is a very nice wine with good ripe and intense fruit, ripe tannins, moderate intensity and balance. A little rustic but with Wendys pork collar dish, it can handle the somewhat coarse food. I’d have the wine in preference but don’t tell her…
Anyway the lesser wines from 2016 are regularly above their station. They lesser 2015s were good but 2016 has much more depth and structure compared to the bright and cheerful 15s.
Every time I drink a 2016, I think this is one of the absolutely best vintages of my life. I’ve be checking out the auctions for even the first growths rom that vintage. 2016 is great.
Guys
I’m sipping a CB Margaux - 2016 Château Tour de Bessan.
Now this estate won’t challenge Ch Margaux or Palmer but at its price point, it is a very nice wine with good ripe and intense fruit, ripe tannins, moderate intensity and balance. A little rustic but with Wendys pork collar dish, it can handle the somewhat coarse food. I’d have the wine in preference but don’t tell her…
Anyway the lesser wines from 2016 are regularly above their station. They lesser 2015s were good but 2016 has much more depth and structure compared to the bright and cheerful 15s.
Every time I drink a 2016, I think this is one of the absolutely best vintages of my life. I’ve be checking out the auctions for even the first growths rom that vintage. 2016 is great.
