Favorite Bordeaux non vintage of the century

[Howard_Cooper]

Last century - 1962, 1966, 1970, 1986, 1996

This century - 2001, 2014

Good stuff Howard!
1996 may well be a good vintage of the century “imposter” : love that vintage especially from many a Médoc estate.
Totally agree with 2001, across the region. Recently had a 2001 Rauzan-Ségla that was utterly gorgeous, proving the point that 2001 is not just about the Right Bank and Graves, even if those latter regions/appellations excelled more in 2001 on average. And let’s not forget how fine the whites dry and sweet were in 2001.

Oh. Did d’Yquem and Climens make decent wine in 2001?

[J_D_o_v_e]

1986 and 2004, with the caveat that I primarily drink left bank wines.

1986, on the Left Bank, is a great vintage, IMO.

[Ian_A]

A vote for 2012 because it reminds me so much of the 1985s at a similar age; both vintages have been accessible at a very early age. Prices are reasonable for the 2012s which makes it a very useful vintage.

I accept that 2014 may turn out to be the superior vintage in the fullness of time given the Indian summer in that year but you really can’t go wrong with 2012. I have a great fondness for 2008, based on the limited number of wines I have tried, which I rate above 2001.

In the so-called non-trophy vintages in the noughties my pecking order would be 2008, 2004, 2001, 2006, 2002, 2007, 2003…

The 2012s have not really moved me, but I’ve only popped some Crus and lower-tier GCs. I have some Trotanoy, Haut Bailly, Branaire, etc., but have not popped them. What stands out to you? Like 2008, I’m always open to revisit.

Robert there are quite a few that have really impressed me by their quality and accessibility.

Outstanding wines would include

Pichon Baron
Leoville Lascases (BWE woty in 2015)
Rauzan Segla
D’Issan
Haut-Bailly (Graves/Pessac was strong generally in 2012)
Canon
La Conseillante (just outstanding)

The 2012 vintage is strong and consistent across the board for reds.

Quality-wise I would put it close to 2008, my favourite non-trophy vintage of the noughties.

[Anton_D]

In my 6/10ths of a century…

1959

1970

1975

1983

[Jayson_Cohen]

20th Century, with caveat I don’t know ‘50s and earlier well enough to comment: 1970 and 1971. Then 1983 and 1985.

Others I love: 75, 79, 81, 86 (just now coming into its prime plateau expected to last decades).

For the future: 95 (to heck with the naysayers).

Absolute sleeper: 1978.

Edit: forgot 64 and 66. I find 64 underrated on the Left Bank.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

I love 2014 … moreso than some of the purported VsOTC.

[Marcu_Stanley]

it’s early yet, but 2014 might end up being the non-VOTC VOTC at least for the 21st century. Per Cellartracker people are loving it out of bottle, plus it was a relative bargain if you bought in early.

[Howard_Cooper]

In my 6/10ths of a century…

1959

1970

1975

1983

I would call 1959 clearly a VOTC. Try the Latour - one of the greatest Bordeauxs I have ever had.

[Jayson_Cohen]

In my 6/10ths of a century…

1959

1970

1975

1983

I would call 1959 clearly a VOTC. Try the Latour - one of the greatest Bordeauxs I have ever had.

Yes. I would call the conventional 20th Century “VOTCs” starting in the 20s: 1928-29, 1934, 1945, 1947, maybe 1949 and 1953 and 55 (or they could go in the excellent NVOTC tier per this thread), 59, 61, 82, 90, 00.

[Scott_E_Wade]

A very general gestalt of these vintages. I have always found the 2001s to be a bit angular and the other nit is a little too green.

The 2006s I’ve had have underwhelmed me. From 30,000 foot view, the CT scores for my wines are similar to the 2002s I bought.

The 2008s I’ve had are obviously young and I’ve only tried wines on the lower end.

The very easy answer for me is 2004. Just a bunch of pleasant surprises and every one has been good. Due to the pricing I was able to buy a lot of top labels and I suppose that helps. I bought a lot too as cellar defenders for my 2000s and and 2005s and so that is working out too.

My longer term great hope is the 2014s. I’ll get to those in about 10 years. I remember when I didn’t touch most of Bordeaux until 10 years and now it is more often I start at 15.

[Br1an_Th0rne]

For my tastes, I’ve always enjoyed the 1988 vintage; the '88 Pichon Lalande was a wine I purchased at auction whenever I could find it. I love the '86, '96 and '98 vintages too, but those have always been very highly regarded vintages, at least for particular appellations. I don’t think anyone would argue that '96 wasn’t legendary for much of the northern medoc, or '98 for the right bank and graves…

[Mark_Golodetz]

For my tastes, I’ve always enjoyed the 1988 vintage; the '88 Pichon Lalande was a wine I purchased at auction whenever I could find it. I love the '86, '96 and '98 vintages too, but those have always been very highly regarded vintages, at least for particular appellations. I don’t think anyone would argue that '96 wasn’t legendary for much of the northern medoc, or '98 for the right bank and graves…

The wines of Pessac in 1998 are superb, but the wines of Leognan are good but not outstanding.

[David_Glasser]

This century: 2014. Runner-up: 2008.

Last century: 1988. Runners-up: 1983, 1986. Not enough experience with pre-1980s to list any.

[Anton_D]

In my 6/10ths of a century…

1959

1970

1975

1983

I would call 1959 clearly a VOTC. Try the Latour - one of the greatest Bordeauxs I have ever had.

Yes. I would call the conventional 20th Century “VOTCs” starting in the 20s: 1928-29, 1934, 1945, 1947, maybe 1949 and 1953 and 55 (or they could go in the excellent NVOTC tier per this thread), 59, 61, 82, 90, 00.

I never realized 1959 was so well regarded.

I saw someone mention 1988, I agree with that, as well.

[Odd_Rydland]

I certainly have had a very fine Beychevelle 1934 some 15 years ago. The 88s have always pleased me, Cantemerle, Leoville-Barton etc, certainly exceeding the vintages initial reputation as I read it at the time. I’ve tasted reasonably broadly in 2014 (as in 15 wines) and liked many wines quite a lot. The Merlot dominated wines (eg Conseillante) were pure hedonism, I can live with that. And I guess they will drink well within the coming decade, an important consideration at my age.

[Jay_Miller]

All you people saying 1970 are dead wrong. It was a vintage of the century.

I’ll pick one per decade
1979
1986
1995 (1996 is a VOTC on the LB as is 1998 in RB and Graves)
2001

[Howard_Cooper]

All you people saying 1970 are dead wrong. It was a vintage of the century.

I’ll pick one per decade
1979
1986
1995 (1996 is a VOTC on the LB as is 1998 in RB and Graves)
2001

Jay, you are starting to become a real Bordeaux guy. Everything is a vintage of the century.

I would limit my vintages of the century to 1959 (have not had earlier wines), 1961, 1982, 2005 and maybe 2016. I may be wrong leaving out 1989, not sure.

And, I love wines from 1970.

[Jay_Miller]

All you people saying 1970 are dead wrong. It was a vintage of the century.

I’ll pick one per decade
1979
1986
1995 (1996 is a VOTC on the LB as is 1998 in RB and Graves)
2001

Jay, you are starting to become a real Bordeaux guy. Everything is a vintage of the century.

I would limit my vintages of the century to 1959 (have not had earlier wines), 1961, 1982, 2005 and maybe 2016. I may be wrong leaving out 1989, not sure.

And, I love wines from 1970.

Everyone knows you have at least one vintage of the century every decade. Isn’t that the definition of the term?

[Howard_Cooper]

All you people saying 1970 are dead wrong. It was a vintage of the century.

I’ll pick one per decade
1979
1986
1995 (1996 is a VOTC on the LB as is 1998 in RB and Graves)
2001

Jay, you are starting to become a real Bordeaux guy. Everything is a vintage of the century.

I would limit my vintages of the century to 1959 (have not had earlier wines), 1961, 1982, 2005 and maybe 2016. I may be wrong leaving out 1989, not sure.

And, I love wines from 1970.

Everyone knows you have at least one vintage of the century every decade. Isn’t that the definition of the term?

One??? Aren’t we now up to three or four per decade?

[Mark_Golodetz]

Going back in the last century to 1970.

1975 Right Bank: absolutely killer vintage.
1978 a few goodies, but needed a pretty cool cellar
1979 poster child for underrated esp. Pomerol and Margaux but just beginning to fade
1981 Graves seems pretty good, and L’Evangile is outstanding. Otherwise nothing rocked my boat.
1983 plenty of good wines, and seriously good in Margaux
1988 a lot of people like it, I find the wines gray and dusty, with almost no fruit.
1993 some surprisingly good wines, but never great.
1994 ok, after a run of some pretty dire vintages
1999 again Margaux seemed to thrive in an off vintage.