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.
Vintage
FOLLOW YOUR WINES UNTIL THEY ARE AT THEIR VERY BEST
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.
1985
POWERFUL - TANNIC - WELL-BALANCED
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.
1986
WARM - HARMONIOUS
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.
1987
CHARMING - TENDER - LIGHT
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.
1988
DENSE - ELEGANT - HARMONIOUS
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.
1989
RICH - COMPLEX - INTENSE
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.
1990
POWERFUL - FLESHY - CONCENTRATED
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.
1991
FRUITY - SUPPLE - WELL-BALANCED
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.
1992
REFINED – SUPPLE – WELL-BALANCED
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.
1993
REFINED – ELEGANT– WELL-STRUCTURED
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.
1994
COMPLEX – WELL-BALANCED
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.
1995
RICH – POWERFUL – ELEGANT
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.
1996
COMPLEX – CONCENTRATED – WELL-BALANCED
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.
1997
SUPPLE – ELEGANT – REFINED
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.
1998
POWERFUL – ROBUST – WELL-BALANCED
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.
1999
REFINED – ELEGANT– WELL-STRUCTURED
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.
2000
COMPLEX – CONCENTRATED – ELEGANT
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.
2001
BALANCED - FLESHY - HARMONIOUS
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.
2002
AROMATIC– ROUND – BALANCED
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.
2003
COMPLEX – CONCENTRATED - WELL-ROUNDED
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.
2004
AROMATIC – STRUCTURED – WELL-BALANCED
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.
2005
RICH – POWERFUL - HARMONIOUS
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.
2006
COMPLEX – WELL-BALANCED – ELEGANT
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.
2007
AROMATIC – WELL-BALANCED - ELEGANT
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.
2008
FRUITY - COMPLEX – WELL-BALANCED
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.
2009
FRUITY - COMPLEX – WELL-BALANCED
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.
2010
RICH - FLESHY - CONCENTRATED
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.
2011
FRUITY - ELEGANT – WELL-STRUCTURED
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.
2012
WELL-BALANCED - WELL-ROUNDED – AROMATIC
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.
2013
AROMATIC - ELEGANT - HARMONIOUS
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.
2014
WELL-BALANCED - POWERFUL - FRUITY
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.
2015
RICH - WELL-STRUCTURED - HARMONIOUS
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.
2016
MULTILAYERED – FLESHY – HARMONIOUS
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.