The best vintages of Bordeaux red wines

All over the world, leading oenologists and wine lovers fine wines agree on the undeniable reputation of the Bordeaux red wines. The diversity of the years in which these fine wines and the quest for the most prestigious wines are driving wine lovers to turn their attention to best vintages. After a brief but self-explanatory overview of what a vintage is, you'll be able to identify the most important ones. great vintages of Bordeaux red wines.

 

Over 1,000 wines and 60 Bordeaux vintages in stock

> ACCESS TO THE BORDEAUX CELLAR

 

A vintage?

First and foremost, it's a number that appears on the labels of fine wine bottles. It indicates the year in which the grapes used to produce the wine were harvested. The vintage also tells you about the climatic conditions of the year in which the wine was produced. This enables you to appreciate a wine not only in terms of its quality, but above all, its age.

The best red Bordeaux vintages

Many factors influence the quality of a vintage. These include the climatic and geographical situation of the area where the vines are grown, the terroir of the estate and the skill of the winemaker. Here, you'll discover the best Bordeaux vintages of the last 40 years, which we've classified into 2 categories: exceptional vintages and great vintages.

- Exceptional vintages

Classified as exceptional, the 2009 vintage gives you the opportunity to enjoy red wines of a quality worthy of kings. It was a year of extreme climatic fluctuations, with cool nights and warm days in Bordeaux. These conditions worked in favor of the red wines, as they optimized the cultivation of the vines concerned, producing very even flowering, impeccably ripe grapes and wines of sensational purity. Among the best red wines of 2009, you'll find "pauillac" and "saint-estèphe". Powerful, rich, opulent and sensual wines that would drive even the most demanding taste buds to paroxysms of satisfaction.

In general, the 2005 vintage bottles will remain a success. Marked by prolonged drought and a notorious water deficit, this year saw light, tepid rain in September. However, the presence of glorious sunshine would have enabled us to achieve brilliant ripeness, followed by wines bursting with fruit and tannins, with a perfect level of acidity. A 2005 would be an excellent choice if you're looking for a wine with a long evolution in bottle. The exceptional climatic conditions of 2005 justify the obvious excellence of the wines produced. Very full-bodied, strongly structured and straddling the line between harmony and power, the wines of this atypical vintage would be far better in your mouth than in your dreams.

The 1990 vintage was, in terms of both quality and quantity, a real overall success, with wines that are sappy, rich, full-bodied and strongly structured. These wines are at the height of their sensory potential, and could be found in very good cellars.

The 1982 vintage remains an undeniable overall success in terms of both quantity and quality. And this, with wines in full bloom that will easily find their place in good cellars. They are rich, charming, full-bodied and strongly structured. A 1982 red wine would be a wise choice when you want a light, tender and pleasant wine.

 

Over 1,000 wines and 60 Bordeaux vintages in stock

ACCESS TO THE BORDEAUX CELLAR

 

- Great vintages

The 2010 vintagewas an overall success. Although it has to be said that the Xynthia storm and a harsh winter took their toll on the flowering. This year's summer changed all that, with sunny days and cool nights. This led to excellent ripening of the grapes. Full-bodied, rich, well-structured and harmonious, the 2010 wines have the fruit of young wines, and are therefore built for long cellaring, to appeal to great collectors of fine wines for a long time to come.

The year 2000 was considered to be a great vintage, reflected in its overall success. Concentrated, elegant, full-bodied and well-structured, this year's Bordeaux wines are in full bloom. Worthy of continuing their career in good cellars, these are wines of exceptional quality.
The 1989 vintage was also an overall success. 1989 vintage bottles are in full bloom and could take pride of place in good cellars. These wines are opulent, full-bodied and well-structured.

The 1985 vintage is one of Bordeaux's great red wine vintages. An overall success, this year has produced wines that are balanced, rich, harmonious and in full bloom. Everything needed to hold the attention of lovers of tender, elegant wines.

To the scent of this list of best vintages of Bordeaux red winesNow you're well informed about the choices to be made according to the characteristics you're looking for in your favorite vintage. For older vintages (before 1980), please consult our Vintage table. You will notice that the vintages 1945, 1949, 1953, 1959, 1961 and 1975 are also Exceptional Bordeaux Red vintages. We'll take a closer look at these legendary vintages in a future article.