| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2022 |
Score95–98 |
Drink WindowNYR |
DescriptionA beautiful vintage, marked by very warm and dry weather right from the start, continuing on through harvest, with well-timed rains in June and August. Merlot berries were small and concentrated; Cabernet Franc also relished the conditions. Wines are very aromatic and sleek, with Pomerol and St.-Emilion excelling (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionA beautiful vintage, marked by very warm and dry weather right from the start, continuing on through harvest, with well-timed rains in June and August. Merlot berries were small and concentrated; Cabernet Franc also relished the conditions. Wines are very aromatic and sleek, with Pomerol and St.-Emilion excelling (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2021 |
Score84 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAs with the Left Bank, this is the most heterogeneous vintage in a generation, with a small crop due to frost and an extremely rainy June. Temperatures were cooler than normal in July and August, while warm September weather saved the day, barely. Yields lower than on the Left Bank; Pomerol edges out St.-Emilion overall (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionAs with the Left Bank, this is the most heterogeneous vintage in a generation, with a small crop due to frost and an extremely rainy June. Temperatures were cooler than normal in July and August, while warm September weather saved the day, barely. Yields lower than on the Left Bank; Pomerol edges out St.-Emilion overall (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2020 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionAnother imperfect and heterogeneous season. A rainy winter gave vineyards ample water reserves, but the rain stretched into spring, leading to severe mildew pressures. Summer turned hot and dry, but the Right Bank escaped the heavy August rain, with Pomerol looking particularly strong; clay soils were key (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionAnother imperfect and heterogeneous season. A rainy winter gave vineyards ample water reserves, but the rain stretched into spring, leading to severe mildew pressures. Summer turned hot and dry, but the Right Bank escaped the heavy August rain, with Pomerol looking particularly strong; clay soils were key (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2019 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionA similar growing season to the Left Bank, with hot and dry conditions and heat waves in June and July favoring cooler terroirs with good water retention—Pomerol with its clay soils and St.-Emilion with its limestone, both yielding superb wines. Very inconsistent outside of the elite areas (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionA similar growing season to the Left Bank, with hot and dry conditions and heat waves in June and July favoring cooler terroirs with good water retention—Pomerol with its clay soils and St.-Emilion with its limestone, both yielding superb wines. Very inconsistent outside of the elite areas (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2018 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionRainy first half of season tapered off sooner than the Left Bank, with dry conditions in the second half favoring clay and limestone soils, yet the wines are more inconsistent overall, with some beautiful examples, but others showing slightly austere, herbaceous profiles; late-ripening Cabernet Franc a key player (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionRainy first half of season tapered off sooner than the Left Bank, with dry conditions in the second half favoring clay and limestone soils, yet the wines are more inconsistent overall, with some beautiful examples, but others showing slightly austere, herbaceous profiles; late-ripening Cabernet Franc a key player (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2017 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm, dry growing season, with spring frost hitting low-lying areas of St.-Emilion and satellites particularly hard. Cloudy July kept wines on the fresh, pure side, with good acidity and modest tannins. St.-Emilion atop the limestone plateau is excellent, Pomerols are fleshy and forward (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionWarm, dry growing season, with spring frost hitting low-lying areas of St.-Emilion and satellites particularly hard. Cloudy July kept wines on the fresh, pure side, with good acidity and modest tannins. St.-Emilion atop the limestone plateau is excellent, Pomerols are fleshy and forward (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2016 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSame pattern as Left Bank, with rainy start, dry finish. Clay-based soils weathered the dry period best, limestone also strong; young vines and Pomerol's sandy soils the only weak spot, but otherwise a very homogenous vintage (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionSame pattern as Left Bank, with rainy start, dry finish. Clay-based soils weathered the dry period best, limestone also strong; young vines and Pomerol's sandy soils the only weak spot, but otherwise a very homogenous vintage (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2015 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionExtremely warm and dry growing season favored the Right Bank's clay and limestone soils. St.-Emilion the sweet spot; Pomerols are rich and layered. Values abound in Castillon and Fronsac (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionExtremely warm and dry growing season favored the Right Bank's clay and limestone soils. St.-Emilion the sweet spot; Pomerols are rich and layered. Values abound in Castillon and Fronsac (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2014 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA good spring was followed by a grey, humid summer, with slightly more rainfall than on the Left Bank. Merlot solid, but wines with Cabernet Franc the sweet spot as well-drained gravel soils were favored over clay (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionA good spring was followed by a grey, humid summer, with slightly more rainfall than on the Left Bank. Merlot solid, but wines with Cabernet Franc the sweet spot as well-drained gravel soils were favored over clay (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2013 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMerlot generally soft and forward but prime spots on limestone and gravel handled late rains better. Cabernet Franc also performed well, bolstering Pomerol and St.-Emilion. Generally more consistent than on Left Bank but still for early consumption (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionMerlot generally soft and forward but prime spots on limestone and gravel handled late rains better. Cabernet Franc also performed well, bolstering Pomerol and St.-Emilion. Generally more consistent than on Left Bank but still for early consumption (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2012 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionEarly-ripening Merlot favored in general over Left Bank Cabernet. Clay soils with good water retention kept vines going during August drought, while gravel easily drained off the later rains. Pomerol very solid; St.-Emilion more inconsistent with some wines prone to overextraction (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionEarly-ripening Merlot favored in general over Left Bank Cabernet. Clay soils with good water retention kept vines going during August drought, while gravel easily drained off the later rains. Pomerol very solid; St.-Emilion more inconsistent with some wines prone to overextraction (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2011 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionPomerols generally fresh and ripe; St.-Emilion Cabernet Franc excelled, buttressing the Merlot. Solid vintage that should age nicely, like 2001 and 2004 (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionPomerols generally fresh and ripe; St.-Emilion Cabernet Franc excelled, buttressing the Merlot. Solid vintage that should age nicely, like 2001 and 2004 (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2010 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionDry but not warm season led to powerful wines. Merlot sports slightly higher alcohols; Cabernet Franc excelled. Pomerol and St.-Emilion superb; terrific values through Castillon and Fronsac (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionDry but not warm season led to powerful wines. Merlot sports slightly higher alcohols; Cabernet Franc excelled. Pomerol and St.-Emilion superb; terrific values through Castillon and Fronsac (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2009 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRich and powerful, yet round and friendly, with velvety texture and loads of fruit. Pomerol excelled with St.-Emilion more variable. Don't overlook Fronsac and Castillon (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionRich and powerful, yet round and friendly, with velvety texture and loads of fruit. Pomerol excelled with St.-Emilion more variable. Don't overlook Fronsac and Castillon (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2008 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAfter a difficult growing season, late September weather allowed early-ripening Merlot to catch up. Right Bank wines fleshier than Left Bank (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionAfter a difficult growing season, late September weather allowed early-ripening Merlot to catch up. Right Bank wines fleshier than Left Bank (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2007 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAromatic and lightly fruity, with fine tannins. Some wines overextracted (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionAromatic and lightly fruity, with fine tannins. Some wines overextracted (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2006 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionTop vineyards made balanced reds; others slightly austere (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionTop vineyards made balanced reds; others slightly austere (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2005 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionOpulent and powerful, with solid backbones of tannins and acidity. Amazing Pomerols (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionOpulent and powerful, with solid backbones of tannins and acidity. Amazing Pomerols (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2004 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionMostly balanced, firm and delicate; some Cabernet Franc-based wines excellent (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionMostly balanced, firm and delicate; some Cabernet Franc-based wines excellent (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2003 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionExtremely ripe and rich; some wines too jammy (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionExtremely ripe and rich; some wines too jammy (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2002 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionBalanced and fruity, but lacking some tannin backbone (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionBalanced and fruity, but lacking some tannin backbone (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2001 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good quality; ripe tannins, refined style (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionVery good quality; ripe tannins, refined style (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2000 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Wines starting to open up now (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionRich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Wines starting to open up now (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1999 |
Score85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAromatic and delicate; for early drinking (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionAromatic and delicate; for early drinking (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1998 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionMuscular and rich; much better than Left Bank (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionMuscular and rich; much better than Left Bank (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1997 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSoft and friendly wines; fresh style (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionSoft and friendly wines; fresh style (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1996 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMedium-bodied wines; slightly diluted (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionMedium-bodied wines; slightly diluted (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1995 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionHarmonious yet structured; lovely fruit (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionHarmonious yet structured; lovely fruit (See all ratings) |
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Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
