1990

Rating: 10/10 - Drink or Keep.

The third in a trio of superlative Bordeaux vintages, and now widely regarded as one of the finest post-war vintages. July and August were the driest since 1961, with July being the hottest ever since records began, and August being the hottest since 1928. Heavy rain at the end of August was just what was required and September was relatively cool but dry, resulting in perfect harvesting conditions.
What marks the 1990s out are their ripeness, balance, harmony and grip. Sensational wines have been produced across the board, with wines from St-Estèphe, Pauillac, Pomerol and St-Emilion being particularly successful. The lesser wines are beginning to drink now and are extremely impressive; when the top wines mature in another 3-5 years they will be sublime. Arguably the best vintage since 1961.