POLL: Top vintage for red Bordeaux 1980 - 1999

William_Kelley · January 22, 2021, 10:13pm

Wait a bit longer on the 1998 Figeac if you can bring yourself to, it will be even better in five or six years.

The last bottle I opened was served to a group that included someone who claimed to prefer the considerably inferior 1996 Cheval Blanc, saying that she had been “weaned on Cheval Blanc”. Still ranks quite highly among the irritating things I’ve heard said at a wine dinner.

Robert.A.Jr · January 22, 2021, 10:22pm

I use the “suckled on Petrus” line often at night clubs. Must be said in the right pitch and with a rather smug expression.

Thanks for the tip on the Figeac, As I only have one bottle. I just checked wine searcher, and the average price made me choke. And cry.

Doug_Hein · January 27, 2021, 8:46pm

I voted '89.

Difficult choice between 82, 89 and 90. '82s from top producers have been exceptional, but it seems to me that 89 and 90 both had perhaps greater breadth. However, my perception may be attributable to sampling bias. It seems that 89 and 90 wines have been very consistent and good across the board.

Next I would say 96 and 98.

William_Kelley · January 27, 2021, 10:53pm

Just imagine a vintage which had combined 1996 Médoc with 1998 right bank… now, that would have given 1982 a run for its money!

Steen_T_Olsen · January 28, 2021, 11:16am

Deleted.

Craig_G · January 28, 2021, 3:03pm

Must be the Burgundy drinkers.

Steen_T_Olsen · January 28, 2021, 3:07pm

Deleted.

Michael_D · February 21, 2021, 9:49pm

I am still working through the first growths. I’ve had all but Margaux as of last night. We had a 2000 Latour last night, and it was my first. I have to admit that the Latour was a bit disappointing. It did not wow me, and when considering the price…

I’d like to get a bottle of Margaux now, but not sure what vintage to look for? This is to simply drink after it rests for a month after shipping. I do not flip wines. I just buy and drink.

Br1an_Th0rne · February 21, 2021, 10:59pm

The 1990 and 1996 Ch. Margaux are absolutely off the charts, and far and away my favorites vintages of Ch. Margaux.

brodie_thomson · February 21, 2021, 11:53pm

The highs of 1982 are extraordinary, but I give the edge to 1989 and 1990 because there are several top chateaux that I think were making better wine by the end of the decade than were in 1982, such as Pichon Baron, Montrose, and Leoville-Poyferre. I’ve also had more excellent inexpensive 1989s and 1990s than 1982s.

The problem with this line of argument is that there are also plenty of important properties than didn’t match what they achieved in 1982 in either 1989 or 1990. For a start, none of the Pauillac first growths matched their 1982s in either 1989 or 1990, and in some cases notably underperformed in those years. Nor did Ducru Beaucaillou (even allowing for the TCA issues), nor did Gruaud Larose, nor did Pichon Lalande, nor did Talbot, nor did Beychevelle… There are other more contentious calls: how one comes down on 1982 vs 1990 Léoville-Las Cases (I prefer the '90) will depend a lot on one’s palate, as will 1982 vs 1989 La Mission Haut Brion (I prefer the '82). But all this is to say that I am not sure the admittedly superb performances of Pichon Baron, Montrose and Léoville-Poyferré in 1989 and 1990 cancel out the sub-par—or sometimes just less stellar—performances of some estates that produced stunning 1982s.

I think there would also be a very strong case to be made for 1982 just based on the heights of the highs. If you put a left bank top-five of La Mission Haut Brion, Latour, Pichon Lalande, Mouton and La Tour Haut Brion up against a top-five from 1989 (which I suppose might be Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron and Montrose), or a top-five from 1990 (which I guess the consensus would say would include Margaux (even if I have not loved this wine lately), Montrose, Haut Brion, Pichon Baron and perhaps Lafite), I would not have a hard time choosing the 1982s (though I would love to put this to the test over lunch some day if anyone is tempted). And then, when one includes the right bank, there is the phenomenon that is 1982 Lafleur, for me one of the best wines made in Bordeaux since 1945, and which alone could almost carry the vintage…

Thanks William for articulating this so well.

Another vote for 1982 here. Have had the good fortune to have been served the 1982 Latour a couple of times about 6 year ago. I do not score wines but this was perfect and was everything I could ever dream of in a Bordeaux. Have had many lovely 1982s and I am not concerned about them being over the hill as others here seem to be (each to his own)

O.G_Nikolai · February 22, 2021, 6:28pm

Pity that 96 did so badly. Some strong wines left bank.

William_Kelley · February 23, 2021, 4:47pm

What would be fun would be to do a poll for most underrated vintage in the same period. Would be inclined to go with '81, '98 or '99 I think.