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Bordeaux 1990s: the complete guide

An in-depth Decanter guide to the Bordeaux 1990s, a somewhat turbulent decade for conditions and outcomes – assessing each year and recommending wines to drink now (if you can find them...)

We are no longer used to decades in Bordeaux that contain more misses than hits, but the 1990s had its fair share of difficult harvests.

We can pretty much count a full six of the 10 years as having complicated growing seasons – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997 and 1999 – although some were more difficult than others.

That leaves just four standout years – and it was the first, 1990, that won the most universal plaudits.


Scroll down for Jane Anson’s Bordeaux 1990s tasting notes and scores


In the vineyards, change was everywhere. Baron Philippe de Rothschild had died in 1988 and his daughter Baroness Philippine was making serious changes at Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac – a new second wine, introduced with the 1993 vintage, was given its name Le Petit Mouton from the following year, and new dry white Aile d’Argent was introduced in 1991.

This Bordeaux 1990s article was published in Decanter’s Bordeaux Supplement 2021. All prices were correct at the time of publication (June 2021). 


Jane Anson’s Bordeaux 1990s tasting notes and scores


See also

Lafite Rothschild 2020 release: ‘This should soar’

Bordeaux 2020: En primeur

Château Mouton Rothschild en primeur history: 2016 – 2020

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