Just had a 2000 Bdx that knocked my socks off. Led me to wonder…where does 2000 rank among the best vintages of the last 50 years? I’m not experienced enough to say but maybe you are:
1961
1982
1985
1986
1989
1990
1996 L
1998 R
2000
2003
2005
2009
2010
I’m thinking Bdx 2K is up there with 1961 and 1982 and maybe 1990 belongs in there too, with all the rest competing one rung down…but am I wrong about that?
Not sure there will be a way to even make a semblance of an objective or rationally subjective opinion here. Those people that saw 61 and even 82 in their prime will never be able to see the latter years in their prime. I will say that in 61 and 82 there were probably a lot less great wines because of the lack of technological advances. But, competition among the greats may be fairly equal.
I have an opinion, but it is rendered somewhat worthless considering I’ve never tasted a single 1961 wine and only a few dozen bottles of 1982 and therefore I’ll keep my worthless opinion to myself.
Chris
C’mon now, the only “worthless” opinion on this board is Frenchies! ![[berserker.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/8/8600bbd4810d342b8fbd4ffb62b4f0026275fd37.gif "berserker"){kind=small}
61, 70, 82, 83, 86, 89, 90, 95, 96, 98 (RBank), 00, 01 (RBank), 03, 05, 09, 10.
Personally guess 09 will be the best of the 00’s.
70 is number 2? I’ve had many bottles of 70 including a few 1st and I think the majority of them are over the hill.
My fav’s are 82, 86, 89, 90, 85, 83, 95, 96, 00 and 88. I also think quite a few of the 79’s are drinking well but I’ll hold judgement on 01-10.
Paging Paul Savage (who thinks the '70s need more time).
I have loved the 1970 wines, especially Mouton, Latour and Cheval Blanc. Figeac was great too.
The problem with this kind of exercise is that it depends so much on style preferences. I would never rank '95 ahead of '00 as I find the '95s unbalanced/lacking in fruit for their substantial tannins. On the flip side, I find '89 too loose/lacking in structure to be truly great, so I would put that much lower as well. I love '01, and would rank it very high (for both sides fo the Gironde), but I doubt many others would. I like the style very much.
Of the vintages I know reasonably well I would have to go '82, '00, '90, '01, '70, '05 and down from there (I like '96 a lot but not enough great wines - same for '98). I’ve had exactly 2 '61s in my life, so not a large enough sample to judge.
I agree with David that style matters. I like 90 a lot but doubt it will have the staying power of some other vintages. I will never know how good 09 is since I am not buying the wines. 05 has a lot of potential - the wines are powerful but balanced. 82 and 00 have to rate in the top 3 - the 00 is a very classic style and many will favor it. Can’t comment on 61.
I’ll play but have limited experience with 61.
1961, 1982, 2000, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1983, 1998(R), 2005, 1983, 1970, 1995
I am leaving out 09 and 10 until I can try some.
05,61,00,82,90,96,89,98,03,86,85
I hear 2011 will be the vintage of the century. JK.
I have limited experience (like 1990-2006 vintages) as well so will follow Chris’ lead and bit my tongue. However, I do agree with Lorin on 1998 Rt Banks. Really enjoy those right now.
Oops, no particular order, just went from oldest ot youngest that I like(d).
Well I have tasted the full range young and old and would order them thusly from #1 (1961) thru #15 (1964)
1961, 1982, 2005 est., 1990, 2000, 1989, 1966, 2003 est., 1986, 1985, 1970, 1985, 1978, 1988, 1964.
The structure and perfection that the 61s’ exhibit surprised me after tasting a range around 1965. After 1990 or so they have become the quintessential Bordeaux. A Ducru 61 a few weeks ago was really superb being just a bit beyond peak. A beauty, bought on release from Harvard Wine and Liquor, Boston MA. A Myron Norman Selection.
I can’t make a judgement on vintages after about 2005; simply too young to assess. My sequence is of course subjective as all hell but this is kinda where I see the sequence. The structured vintages interleave with the more opulent but my taste appreciates both styles.
I might be inclined to interchange the 70 and the 78 due to having more 78s’ that I have enjoyed recently such as Las Cases, Latour and Cheval Blanc. But 70 was similar to 78 in some ways. 1966 I slip in around 7th due to better quality than I first thought - needed plenty of time.
I’m definitely in the '96 LB, '98 RB contingent.
Thanks for the nice write-up, Ramon.
I’ve had the 1983, 1986, 1990 and 1996 (thanks to the bottle you brought to Allegretti’s) in the last couple of years, and I’ve loved them all (with enough air). Killer wines, for my palate.
I’m surprised the 1985 was your top wine-- is it that good, or were the bigger vintages just not showing that well?
I have to agree that 1985 deserves to be on the list twice.
I would also put in a plug for 1979, my favorite vintage of the 70s.
Going just on vintages I have experience with:
1982
1990
1986
1970
1966
1989
1996
I think everything since 1990 is too soon to call.
If any of the vintages since '61 turn out as good as the few '61s I’ve had, I’ll be a happy camper. I guess I am most optimistic about 2000.
Awesome…this is the kind of epic overview from a truly experiencd Bordeaux-phile that I was hoping to get.
Just from my own experience I wonder about 2005, which you have rated extremely highly. The one potentially great vintage I have really deep experience with is 2000. I remember 2000s as being very good right from birth and every point since. Even when you taste a good 2000 that is clearly shut down or too young, the structure and fruit are so good that the wine still gives a lot of pleasure. For me, that makes it really stand out in comparison with other vintages in my experience. Now that has not been my experience with 2005 at all, some of those wines are really unyielding young. CT comments seem to show that too.
Hi. Newbie here.
What about best QPR vintages? I didn’t start buying until 2005 and by then prices were beyond me. So I’m doing some back filling these days concentrating on 2001 and 2004 because I’ve actually tried some of those wines upon release, liked them, and can still find them at a decent price today.
Right now I’m really enjoying 2004 Pontet Canet and 2004 Pichon Baron which I can still get for under $70 per bottle. Curious as to how people would rank the quality of the 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1999?
Thanks,
Fred
Those would be my first QPR choices as far as recent vintages go. Older than that, 1988, 1981, 1975, 1971, and 1966.