Vintage Charts

Vintage Score Drink Window Description
Vintage
2022
Score
95–98
Drink Window
NYR
Description
A 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)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):

Description
A 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)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):

Vintage
2021
Score
84
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
As 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):

Description
As 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):

Vintage
2020
Score
92
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Another 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):

Description
Another 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):

Vintage
2019
Score
92
Drink Window
Hold
Description
A 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):

Description
A 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):

Vintage
2018
Score
94
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Rainy 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):

Description
Rainy 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):

Vintage
2017
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Warm, 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):

Description
Warm, 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)

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Vintage
2016
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Same 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):

Description
Same 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):

Vintage
2015
Score
97
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Extremely 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):

Description
Extremely 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):

Vintage
2014
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A 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):

Description
A 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):

Vintage
2013
Score
86
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Merlot 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)
Description
Merlot 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)
Vintage
2012
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Early-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)
Description
Early-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)
Vintage
2011
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Pomerols 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)
Description
Pomerols 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)
Vintage
2010
Score
98
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Dry 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)
Description
Dry 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)
Vintage
2009
Score
96
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Rich 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)
Description
Rich 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)
Vintage
2008
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
After a difficult growing season, late September weather allowed early-ripening Merlot to catch up. Right Bank wines fleshier than Left Bank (See all ratings)
Description
After a difficult growing season, late September weather allowed early-ripening Merlot to catch up. Right Bank wines fleshier than Left Bank (See all ratings)
Vintage
2007
Score
86
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Aromatic and lightly fruity, with fine tannins. Some wines overextracted (See all ratings)
Description
Aromatic and lightly fruity, with fine tannins. Some wines overextracted (See all ratings)
Vintage
2006
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Top vineyards made balanced reds; others slightly austere (See all ratings)
Description
Top vineyards made balanced reds; others slightly austere (See all ratings)
Vintage
2005
Score
97
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Opulent and powerful, with solid backbones of tannins and acidity. Amazing Pomerols (See all ratings)
Description
Opulent and powerful, with solid backbones of tannins and acidity. Amazing Pomerols (See all ratings)
Vintage
2004
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Mostly balanced, firm and delicate; some Cabernet Franc-based wines excellent (See all ratings)
Description
Mostly balanced, firm and delicate; some Cabernet Franc-based wines excellent (See all ratings)
Vintage
2003
Score
94
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Extremely ripe and rich; some wines too jammy (See all ratings)
Description
Extremely ripe and rich; some wines too jammy (See all ratings)
Vintage
2002
Score
87
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Balanced and fruity, but lacking some tannin backbone (See all ratings)
Description
Balanced and fruity, but lacking some tannin backbone (See all ratings)
Vintage
2001
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Very good quality; ripe tannins, refined style (See all ratings)
Description
Very good quality; ripe tannins, refined style (See all ratings)
Vintage
2000
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Rich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Wines starting to open up now (See all ratings)
Description
Rich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Wines starting to open up now (See all ratings)
Vintage
1999
Score
85
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Aromatic and delicate; for early drinking (See all ratings)
Description
Aromatic and delicate; for early drinking (See all ratings)
Vintage
1998
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Muscular and rich; much better than Left Bank (See all ratings)
Description
Muscular and rich; much better than Left Bank (See all ratings)
Vintage
1997
Score
86
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Soft and friendly wines; fresh style (See all ratings)
Description
Soft and friendly wines; fresh style (See all ratings)
Vintage
1996
Score
87
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Medium-bodied wines; slightly diluted (See all ratings)
Description
Medium-bodied wines; slightly diluted (See all ratings)
Vintage
1995
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Harmonious yet structured; lovely fruit (See all ratings)
Description
Harmonious yet structured; lovely fruit (See all ratings)


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