Ein Mann steht vor einem Weinregal in einer Weinhandlung mit viel Flaschen Bordeaux-Wein und verschiedenen Jahrgängen

Bordeaux wines: which is the best vintage?

February 22, 2025

A Wine Collector's Guide to Bordeaux Wine

One of the world's most prestigious wine regions, Bordeaux is known for its exquisite reds, whites and dessert wines. The question of the best vintage for Bordeaux wines is a common topic among wine collectors. Vintages are not only an indicator of a wine's quality, but also a reflection of the climatic conditions that prevailed during the growing year. In this blog post, we will explore the various factors that affect the quality of a Bordeaux vintage, highlight some outstanding vintages and offer tips on how to choose the best Bordeaux wine for your collection.

What makes a Bordeaux vintage good?

The quality of a Bordeaux wine is influenced by a variety of factors:

Climate: The weather during the growing season is crucial. An ideal climate with sufficient sun, rain and mild temperatures promotes the growth of healthy grapes. Extreme weather conditions such as frost or hail can significantly affect the harvest.

Soil composition: Bordeaux has a variety of soils, including gravel, clay and limestone. These different soil types bring different flavors and characteristics to the wine. Winemakers often choose specific grape varieties based on the characteristics of their soil.

Grape varieties: Five grape varieties dominate in Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec for red wines and Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle for white wines or dessert wines. The choice of grape variety can vary greatly depending on the vintage and region within Bordeaux.

Winemaking techniques: The skills and techniques of the winemaker are also crucial. Even in a good vintage, an inexperienced winemaker can produce a poor quality wine.

Regional differences: Bordeaux is made up of several wine-growing regions such as Médoc, Libournais and Graves, each with its own climatic conditions and terroirs. These differences can have a significant impact on the quality of the wines, even within one wine-growing region.

Outstanding vintages in Bordeaux

There are many great vintages in the history of Bordeaux wine, but some stand out:

Bordeaux 2010: This vintage is considered one of the best in recent decades. The combination of ideal weather - warm days and cool nights - resulted in full-bodied red wines with excellent structure and storage capacity. The wines are powerful with ripe tannins and complex aromas.

A bird's eye view of a wine-growing region in Bordeaux and vineyards shrouded in fog

Bordeaux 2009: Another outstanding vintage marked by exceptional weather conditions. The grapes were perfectly ripe, resulting in opulent wines with intense fruit aromas. Many wines from this year are already accessible and offer great enjoyment.

Bordeaux 2016: This vintage has been highly praised by many experts for its balance between fruit intensity and acid structure. The wines show remarkable elegance and complexity - ideal both for drinking and for storage.

Bordeaux 2015: A warm summer produced ripe grapes with concentrated aromas. The wines are fruity and approachable with soft tannins - perfect for those looking for immediate enjoyment.

Bordeaux 2005: A classic among the great vintages! This vintage produced some of the best wines ever produced - powerful with excellent aging potential.

How to choose the best Bordeaux vintage?

Choosing the best vintage depends largely on personal preference; here are some tips for choosing:

Find out about regional trends: Each wine region has its own trends regarding good vintages. Find out about specific sub-regions within a wine region (e.g. Saint-Émilion, Pauillac, Sauternes, etc.) to find out which years are particularly appreciated there.

Try different vintages: One of the best ways to find out which vintage you like best is to try it! Attend wine tastings or events in your area, or buy different bottles from different years.

A man holds a glass of red wine in his hand during a wine tasting with Bordeaux wine of different vintages on the wine rack

Consider your winery preferences: Do you prefer more prestigious wineries or hidden diamonds? Do you prefer young wines or those with some ageing? Your personal preferences should play a big role in choosing the vintage.

The Importance of Storage for Bordeaux Wines

Another important aspect when choosing a wine is storage:

Temperature control: Store your wine in a cool place (ideally between 10-15 °C) without temperature fluctuations.

Humidity: A humidity of about 75 - 85% helps keep corks moist.

Darkness: UV light can damage the wine, so store it in a dark place or use light-tight bottles.

Storage position: Store bottles lying down (if they have a cork closure) so that the cork remains moist; this is not necessary for screw caps.

Conclusion

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of the best vintage for Bordeaux wines - it depends on many factors: region, grape variety and personal preferences play a decisive role in evaluating a wine from a particular vintage. While some years may be considered outstanding, there are always new discoveries to be made - both in terms of old classics and exciting new bottlings.

Ultimately, collecting Bordeaux wine is about finding joy in it - whether that's discovering new wineries or comparing multiple vintages from one winery! Use your knowledge of good vintages as a tool to build a solid wine collection. But remember: the best wine is often the one you don't have yet!