Bordeaux Wine Vintages

Perhaps more than any other region, the quality and style of Bordeaux vintages are endlessly discussed and analysed. Great years such as 1961, 1982 and 2005 take on legendary status, while underwhelming vintages such as 1991, 1994 and 2013 are often cast aside. In truth, it is hard to generalise across the whole region, with some years producing more notable wines on the Left Bank than the Right Bank, for example, or for the white wines rather than the reds. And at the top level, most estates now have such rigorous viticultural standards that they produce a fine grand vin year in, year out. But in more recent times, years such as 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018 have all carved out a reputation for yielding consistently noteworthy, ageworthy wines that are likely to prove the quality of the vintage over time. And while it is a little early to be conclusive, several judges are already suggesting that 2022 might just trump the lot.