Mature wines

Subcategories

• 

  1990

  In bordeaux the reds wines have a very good tannic structure, lovely sugar/acid balance and high natural degrees. The dry whites are armomatic, fat and persistent. The Sweet wines are made from extraordinarily rich musts, they reveal complex aromas of citrus fruit as well as the roasted character that distinguishes those vintages worthy of the Gods.

  In Burgundy, homogeneous high

  Best wines from the vintage 1990:

  Extraordinary wines: Château Beauséjour 1990, Ermitage le Pavillon 1990 Chapoutier, Château Margaux 1990, Château Petrus 1990, Château Montrose 1990, Côte Rotie la Landonne 1990 Guigal, Hermitage Chave cuvée Cathelin, Hermitage la Chapelle 1990 Jaboulet, Château Angélus 1990, Lynch Bages 1990, Château d’Yquem 1990, La Mission Haut Brion 1990, Le pin 1990, Romanée Conti 1990, Dom Pérignon 1990.

• 

  1996

  In Bordeaux, another great vintage thanks to an exceptionally good weather. Overall, the Merlots and Cabernets presented extraordinary potentiel. The wines are dense, but balanced, with the required qualities for long-term cellaring.

  In Australia, the vintage 1996 is a fine year in which the wines are beginning to peak.

  Best wines from the vintage 1996:

  Extraordinary wines: Château Latour 1996, Château Lafite 1996, Krug Clos du Mesnil 1996, Clos de la Roche 1996 – Leroy, Amarone Dal Forno 1996, Château Margaux 1996

  Outsanding wines:Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 1996 (Red Label Riserva), Krug 1996.

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  2003

  In Bordeaux, the vintage 2003 is one of the most irregular vintage. Indeed, there are several dozen of remarquably great wines that will be considered legendary for the next 50 to 60 years, but inconsistency is the rule. The less sucessuful wines are in Pomerol and they need to be consumed in their first 15 years. Sauternes enjoyed another fine vintage but below the vintage 2001.

  Best wines from the vintage 2003 :

  Extraordinary wines: Hermitage Chave 2003, Château Latour 2003, Château Lafite-Rothschild 2003, Château Ausone 2003, Domaine de la Romanée Conti la Tache 2003, Château Montrose 2003.

  Outstanding wines: Chambertin 2003 domaine Dugat-Py, Clos Fourtet 2003, Château Angélus 2003, Château Pavie-Decesse 2003, Musigny 2003 Louis Jadot.

• 

  2001

  In Bordeaux, some consider the vintage 2001, as the produce of a cold vintage, and, therefore, slow to mature and classical in style but some other compare the left bank with their very good 1986 counterparts.

  In the sweet wine-producing areas, the light September and October rains favoured the onset of noble rot on ripe grapes, which hence produced pure and fruity wines, endowed with optimal acidity.

  Best wines from the vintage 2001:

  Extraordinary wines: Harlan Estate 2001, Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve 2001, Château d'Yquem 2001, Monte Bello Ridge 2001, Verite La Muse 2001.

  Outstanding wines: D'Arenberg the Dead Arm Shiraz 2001, Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2001, Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf du Pape Rerserve des Celestins 2001.

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  2006

  In Bordeaux, 2006 is a tannic, structured vintage that will require considerable aging. However, unlike the vintages 1986 and 1996, the 2006 Médocs will be more approchable in  their youth.

  The Pomerol and the Graves are the best regions in Bordeaux in 2006.

  2006 is a superb vintage for the northern Rhone's white wines (Hermitage).

  Best wines from the vintage 2006:

  Extraordinary wines: Masseto 2006, Ermitage les Griffieux Chapoutier 2006, Ermitage l’Ermite (blanc) 2006, Astralis Clarendon Hills 2006, Chateauneuf du Pape reserve Domaine Chapoutier 2006.

  Outsanding wines: Penfolds grange 2006, Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des deux frères 2006, Pingus 2006, Barolo riserva 2006 Giacomo Conterno, Ausone 2006.

• 

  2000

  In Bordeaux, the red wines present immense potential and should be included in the list of greatest Bordeaux vintages. They are all at one dark-coloured, powerful, generous, robust and remarkably balanced.

  Best wines from the vintage 2000:

  Extraordinary wines: Château Lafleur 2000, CNP cuvée Da Capo 2000 – Pegau, Mission Haut Brion 2000, Tua Rita Redigaffi 2000, Petrus 2000, Margaux 2000, Pavie 2000, Angélus 2000, Cheval Blanc 2000, Ermitage L’Ermite 2000, Latour 2000, Haut Brion 2000.

  Outsanding wines: L’Evangile 2000, Leoville Las Cases 2000, Ausone 2000, La Mondotte 2000, Lafite 2000.

• 

  2008

  Best wines from the vintage 2008:

  Extraordinary wines: Penfolds grange 2008, Dominus 2008, Verite La Muse 2008

  Outsanding wines: Ausone 2008, Lafite Rothschild 2008, Chambertin 2008 domaine Leroy, Masseto 2008, Pingus 2008

• 

  2012

  The 2012 vintage was highly praised in many of the world's top wine regions. With favorable weather conditions for most, it produced some exceptional wines that are still showing excellent aging potential. Here’s a detailed overview of the 2012 vintage, including the best wines to buy for your collection.

  Bordeaux 2012:

  In Bordeaux, 2012 was a vintage of balance and quality despite some challenges from the weather, including a cool summer and some late-season rain. The red wines of Bordeaux from this vintage have a classic profile, with good structure, ripe tannins, and aromas of dark fruits such as blackcurrant and blackberry. The wines are often described as being slightly less concentrated than other vintages but have great finesse and balance. The white wines from Graves and Pessac-Léognan were particularly successful, with bright acidity and freshness, showing citrus and floral notes. The best grand crus from Bordeaux, such as those from Saint-Émilion and Pauillac, have aging potential of 10 to 20 years.

  Burgundy 2012:

  The 2012 vintage in Burgundy was exceptional, producing wines of great finesse and concentration. The reds from this year are showing wonderful aromas of ripe red fruits, such as cherry and strawberry, with fine tannins and a refreshing acidity. Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune both excelled, with Pinot Noir wines offering a good balance of power and elegance. The white wines of Burgundy from this vintage were equally successful, particularly in the Côte de Beaune where the Chardonnay wines have a beautiful minerality and a refreshing citrus character. The best wines of this vintage have a significant aging potential, ranging from 10 to 25 years, with Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet standing out.

  Rhône Valley 2012:

  In the Rhône Valley, 2012 was a vintage of rich, intense wines. The red wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape were particularly impressive, offering a deep concentration of black fruit, spices, and earthy flavors, while the Côte-Rôtie wines were complex, with aromas of licorice, blackberry, and subtle floral notes. The white wines from the Rhône Valley, particularly from Condrieu, are elegant and well-balanced, with a rich texture and aromatic complexity. These wines have an aging potential of around 10 to 20 years, with the reds evolving beautifully over time.

  California 2012:

  The 2012 Napa Valley vintage produced wines of remarkable depth and concentration. The Cabernet Sauvignon wines were full-bodied, with rich aromas of black fruit, chocolate, and tobacco. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from the Sonoma Coast were also of high quality, showcasing balance, complexity, and elegance. Napa Valley's wines from 2012 are often described as well-structured and are perfect for aging, with the best examples having a 15 to 25 years aging potential.

  Tuscany 2012:

  In Tuscany, the 2012 vintage was a success, particularly for Brunello di Montalcino, where the wines show a beautiful balance of fruit and acidity. The wines are concentrated with aromas of cherry, plum, and spices, offering great aging potential. Chianti Classico wines from the 2012 vintage are also very successful, showing ripe red fruit flavors, good acidity, and a smooth texture. Both the Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti wines have an aging potential of 10 to 20 years.

  Australia 2012:

  The 2012 vintage in Australia was strong, especially for Shiraz from the Barossa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River and Coonawarra. The Shiraz wines were powerful, with black fruit and spice flavors, while the Cabernet Sauvignon wines were elegant, with aromas of blackberry and mint. These wines are structured for aging, with a potential of 10 to 25 years.

  Best Wines to Buy from 2012:

  1. Bordeaux:
     • Château Margaux, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion
  2. Burgundy:
     • Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leflaive, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé
  3. Rhône Valley:
     • Château de Beaucastel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape), Domaine Jean-Luc Colombo (Côte-Rôtie)
  4. California:
     • Opus One, Silver Oak (Cabernet Sauvignon), Kistler (Chardonnay)
  5. Tuscany:
     • Brunello di Montalcino by Casanova di Neri, Chianti Classico by Castello di Ama
  6. Australia:
     • Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace

  These wines from the 2012 vintage will continue to evolve with age and improve in complexity. The grand cru wines from this vintage are excellent additions to your cellar and will provide enjoyment for years to come.