Vintages since 1900
Barrière Frères    
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Year Start of Harvest Volume Quality Comments
1900 24-sept Very large Exceptionnal Great vintage of the century !
1901 15-sept Very large Mediocre Thin wines and meager prices. Some turned out to be pleasant.
1902 27-sept Abundant Poor  
1903 28-sept Abundant Poor Insignificant
1904 19-sept Abundant Good Disappointing with age
1905 18-sept Abundant Average Light but very pleasing. Elegant
1906 17-sept 1/2 harvest Good Exceptionally strong wines
1907 25-sept Abundant Average Light & elegant, like 1905
1908 21-sept Average Mediocre Rather hard with no charm
1909 26-sept Average Mediocre Disappointing, thought to be better when young
1910 10-oct 1/4 harvest Poor  
1911 20-sept Average Good Very hot year
1912 26-sept Abundant Poor Affected by mildew
1913 25-sept Abundant Poor Affected by mildew
1914 20-sept Average Mediocre Disappointing, thought to be better when young
1915 22-sept 1/2 harvest Poor  
1916 26-sept Average Good Strong, solid wines, lacking perhaps charm
1917 19-sept Average Mediocre Light and aromatic
1918 24-sept Average Average Clean wines lacking charm or weight
1919 24-sept Abundant Average Light, not of great quality
1920 22-sept Average Good Some excellent wines remain
1921 15-sept Average Excellent Extremely hot year, difficult to vinify and age.  Some excellent wines remain
1922 19-sept Very large Mediocre Light and bland wines
1923 01-oct Average Average Lack of color
1924 19-sept Abundant Excellent Some exceptional wines remain
1925 03-oct Abundant Mediocre Green, lacking maturity
1926 04-oct 1/2 harvest Excellent Some are still remarkable
1927 27-sept Average Poor  
1928 25-sept Average Exceptionnal Remarkable wines, some a bit muscular
1929 26-sept Average Exceptionnal Vintage of the century.  Superbe sweet wines
1930 01-oct 1/2 harvest Poor  
1931 25-sept Average Mediocre  
1932 15-oct 1/2 harvest Poor  
1933 22-sept Average Average Light and aromatic
1934 14-sept Abundant Excellent A few excellent bottles still remain
1935 30-sept Abundant Mediocre Green, lacking maturity
1936 1/4 oct Average Mediocre Green, lacking maturity
1937 20-sept Average Excellent Many excellent bottles still remain.  Great sucess for the sweet wines
1938 28-sept Average Average Declining
1939 02-oct Very large Average Declining. Aromatic wines
1940 26-oct Average Good Declining
1941 03-oct Average Poor Declining
1942 19-sept Average Average Along with 1943, the best wines of this period
1943 19-sept Average Excellent A few excellent wines
1944 27-sept Average Average Declining
1945 13-sept 1/2 harvest Exceptionnal Catastrophic frost on May 2nd.  Very concentrated and remain remarkably "young"
1946 30-sept Average Average Declining.  Green, lacking maturity
1947 19-sept Average Excellent A few legendary bottles which attain perfection: full of charm.  Drink
1948 27/30 sept Average Good A few exceptional wines
1949 27-sept Average Excellent Magnificient wines: can still age some more.  Ressembles the 1947
1950 23-sept Abundant Good Light and pleasant.  A few excellent wines
1951 09-oct Average Mediocre Declining
1952 17-sept Average Excellent Firm tannic wines slow to attain maturity:  a few great bottles
1953 01-oct Average Excellent Grand classique ! Balanced, richness, finesse and length
1954 10-oct Average Mediocre Declining.  Lacking maturity
1955 29-sept Average Excellent Closed, concentrated, slow to attain maturity:  a few exceptional bottles
1956 14-oct 1/4 harvest Mediocre Catastrophic frost in February. Virtually no production
1957 04-oct Small Average Declining, with a few exceptions
1958 10-oct 1/2 harvest Average Declining
1959 20-sept 1/2 harvest Exceptionnal Hot and dry year:  difficult vinifications
1960 15-sept Average Average Declining
1961 22-sept Very small Exceptionnal Vintage of the century
1962 01-oct Abundant Excellent Absolutely charming wines. Wonderful. Similar to 1924
1963 07-oct Abundant Mediocre  
1964 28-sept Abundant Excellent Irregular sucesses : a few exceptional wines
1965 30-sept Abundant Mediocre  
1966 20-sept Average Excellent Classic vintage, fanatastic elegance.  The best of the decade after 1961
1967 25-sept Average Good Exceptional sweet wines
1968 22-sept Average Mediocre  
1969 23-sept Small Average Declining
1970 27-sept Very large Excellent Tannic and hard wines. The best will age well into the 21st century
1971 27-sept Small Very Good Elegant and tender wines, already at their peak for the best
1972 09-oct Average Average Declining
1973 24-sept Very large Average Declining
1974 26-sept Abundant Average Declining
1975 22-sept Average Excellent Tannic wines.  Irregular quality with some great sucesses.
1976 13-sept Abundant Good Wines quickly reaching maturity.  Great sweet wines.
1977 05-oct Small Average Frosts on March 31st and April 9th.  Hard wines with little future.
1978 08-oct Average Excellent Classic wines, elegant, at their peak.
1979 05-oct Very large Good The best are harmonious and balanced.
1980 08-oct Average Good Soft and fruity.  The majority are now declining.
1981 28-sept Average Good Reached maturity.  Drink.
1982 13-sept Very large Exceptionnal Magnificient, opulent and rich wines.  Will age for another half-century.
1983 26-sept Abundant Excellent Fully open and delightful now.  Some may be tough.
1984 01-oct 3/4 harvest Average Rather disappointing. Hard (unripe) Cabernet vintage.  Drink
1985 30-sept Abundant Excellent Wines already remarkable especially in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion
1986 26-sept Very large Excellent Phenomenal keeping wines (vin de garde) especially in the Médoc.
1987 01-oct Average Good Soft, fruity and elegant :  drink now.
1988 28-sept Very large Excellent Classic wines which need more age.
1989 04-sept Abundant Exceptionnal Great and hot year (low acidity, rich and fleshy).  Vin de garde.
1990 12-sept Very large Exceptionnal Great and hot year.  Huge potential for the red and sweet wines.
1991 30-sept 1/2 harvest Good Frost of April 21st.  Reds are already perfectly consumable. Drink.
1992 29-sept Very large Average Reds are perfectly consumable.  Good dry whites. Drink.
1993 20-sept Very large Good Will age rapidly.  Perfumed, soft and fruity.  Some are very good. Excellent whites. Drink.
1994 16-sept Abundant Very Good Classic (tannic) red wines. Very good dry whites. Begin to drink.
1995 18-sept Abundant Excellent Homogenous year. Exceptional reds: harmonious, rich and opulent.
1996 18-sept Abundant Excellent Great cabernet (Médoc) vintage: harmonious and concentrated.  Need time !
1997 07-sept Abundant Good Soft, charming wines. Best for current drinking.
1998 23-sept Abundant Very Good Classic wines, robust.  Great Merlot vintage.
1999 15-sept Abundant Very Good Delightful charming wines.  Softer than 1998. Excellent Margaux's.
2000 20-sept Abundant Exceptionnal Great reds from top to bottom: harmonious and rich.  Vintage of the century (?)
2001 01-oct Abundant Excellent Better structure than the 1999's and 2002's.  Exceptional sweet wines
2002 27-sept Average Very Good Definite Cabernet (Médoc) year. Powerful, structured, wines. Lighter Pomerols.
2003 15-sept Average Excellent Very hot year, heterogenous, with better success on the left bank.
2004 27-sept Very large Very Good Similarities to 2002 with much greater mid-palate depth.
2005 22-sept Average Exceptionnal Historic quality, very homogenous. Remakable "petits" châteaux as well.
(Information on older vintages supplied by Tastet & Lawton, Courtiers Assermentés)