Vintage
While Saint-Émilion wines are enjoyable when only a year or two old, they become irresistible as time goes by.
A wine’s vintage labels the year the grapes were picked and the wine was made. It can’t be mistaken, the vintage usually features clearly on the label. So, the vintage displays how old a wine is, but it is also an important measure of its quality.
The vintage enables you to anticipate the ageing of your wines, to know when they will be at their best and thus to decide the best time to open them.
At this point, tasting can begin! Take time to observe what happens carefully and pay close attention to your perceptions. Then simply talk of what you feel about the wine with the people around you, who are sharing this amazing experience with you.
A vintage which produced wines of great longevity, and which are now at their peak. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
Less concentrated than the 1985, this vintage is peaking now. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
A vintage which matured quickly – to be opened right away. Wines in full bloom to consume or to keep in good cellars depending on the vintage.
Classic, well-balanced wines with an elegant, complex bouquet. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
A vintage which enjoyed exceptional climatic conditions, giving us wines with smooth tannins, great elegance and superb balance. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
The wines of this superb vintage boast rich, mature tannins and wonderfully fleshy texture. They have aged magnificently, and are absolutely delicious at the moment. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
Very agreeable, mature wines to drink right away. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
Very agreeable, mature wines to drink right away. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
Wines of great aromatic harmony. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
Aromatic, tannic wines. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
An excellent vintage, with very ripe and remarkably well-balanced tannins. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
Charming wines, with great structure and balance. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
Wines for pleasure: aromatic and well-balanced. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
Powerful wines with elegant, mature tannins. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
Charming and well-balanced: an enticing vintage. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
The wines of this outstanding vintage have developed subtle, complex bouquets of ripe crystallised fruit, spice and wood. They are well structured with mellow tannins that have softened over time, and smooth, lasting finishes. - Best left to age for a few years, but can be enjoyed now.
Altough this vintage has been somewhat forgotten, the wines reveal a bouquet with an attractive palette of complex aromas reminiscent of crystallised fruits and spice. Many of them are their best now; their soft mellowed tannins are very enjoyable. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
These wines have aged well and when tasted they are enjoyable, appealing, balanced and soft. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
2003 was a hot year and the wines of this vintage have attractive garnet robes and bouquets with hints of fruit compote and spice. They are packed with sun, supple and round and continue to be delicious. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
The appeal of these classical wines is in their complex aromas, their attractive freshness and their subtle tannins. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
The wines of this unparalleled vintage have very complex aromas and are concentrated, silky smooth and beautiffuly balanced, revealing great promise for the future. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
These wines with their tannins softened by ageing in the bottls have alluring dense, gentle textures on the palate, tasty, fresh balance and complex persistent bouquets. - Mature wines which can be enjoyed straightaway. Depending on the estate, some can be left to develop further.
These wines are now beginning to open up and offer a highly pleasurable tasting experience. Beautifully complex aromas, smooth and well-rounded tannins: happiness in a bottle. Ready to drink now. - Fully developed wines which can be enjoyed now or kept in a good cellar for a few more years, depending on the estate.
These wines display impressively deep, intense colour and rich mellowed tannins, while releasing complex aromas. They are to be laid down, but could be enjoyed in a few years, courtesy of their velvety tannins. - Best left to age for a few years, but can be enjoyed now.
Made from naturally low yields, these classical wines will be appealing for many years for their balance of powerful aromas, freshness, structure and elegance. - Best left to age for a few years, but can be enjoyed now.
The wines combine the rich, ripe aromatic complexity with the powerful tannins, the fleshy texture and the heady smooth, fresh length that charcaterise great keeping wines. Extremely promising. - Best left to age for a few years, but can be enjoyed now.
Wines, from this precocious and complex vintage, have aromatic assets (ripe fruits and spices), are fresh and well-rounded and should age well in bottle during a few years.
This late and demanding vintage reveals wines with a rare color depth with a beautiful range of ripe fruits and a fresh mouth feel. Pure pleasure.
This demanding vintage marked by very unstable weather conditions produced a small harvest. Aromatic, fruity with slim and elegant structure, the wines of this vintage will need to be consumed in the next couple of years.
Lovely vintage presenting powerful wines that benefit from a fine balance between alcohol and acidity. It presages a good aromatic complexity for the future. These wines will be most enjoyable with an ageing potential of between 5 and 10 years.
All characteristics are united to give birth to a grand vintage for ageing. With an exceptionnal tannin and maturity and panoply of delicate, varied aromas, 2015 will delight the palate of the most avid connoisseurs after a few years of cellaring.
This vintage enjoyed exceptional weather conditions and the fruit was remarkably disease-free and ripe when picked. The freshness in these wines makes them subtle, elegant and long.
Despite the difficulties engendered by different episodes of frost, the winegrowers were able to get the very best from this vintage producing fresh, fruity and well-balanced wines, which will not fail to give some lovely surprises.
