The best recent vintages of St. Estèphe are widely considered to be 2020, 2019, 2016, 2010, and 2009. The 2020 vintage is hailed as a masterpiece for producers like Montrose. Other top-tier, historic vintages include 2018, 2017, 2015, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1996, 1990, and 1982.
The best vintages of Saint Estephe are: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1996, 1990, 1989 and 1982. The best vintages for the St. Estephe appellation do not date back quite as far as the other top Bordeaux appellations.
What are the best Pétrus vintages? Legendary Pétrus vintages are 1928, 1929, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1959, 1961, 1970, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020. All other years are good to very good. In really bad years, like 1956, 1965 and 1991, no Pétrus was made.
Saint-Estèphe, a large family of outstanding wines
And with good reason! Here, prestigious estates can be found alongside lesser-known ones, yet all share the same promise – to produce incredibly powerful and elegant red wines.
The Best Vintages of Chateauneuf du Pape 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1981, 1978, 1970 and 1961. Keep in mind, most wines from Chateauneuf du Pape are at their best during their first 8 to 12 years of life.
Andreas Larsson talks about 2016 vintage in Saint Estèphe
What is the most expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Unsurprisingly, the list of most expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines is topped by Château Rayas with a bottle of its 1978 vintage being bought for €4,507 after an auction battle. Two wines were auctioned for over €1,000 a bottle.
Meghan Markle's well-known favorite wine is Tignanello, a prestigious Italian "Super Tuscan" red wine that inspired the name of her former lifestyle blog, The Tig. She described it as her first "Tig moment"—when she understood wine's depth—and it's a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes. More recently, she launched her own California rosé, As Ever, made in partnership with Kunde Family Winery.
The 20-minute wine rule is a guideline for serving wines at their optimal temperature: take red wines out of the fridge for 20 minutes to slightly warm them up, and put white wines in the fridge for 20 minutes to cool them down, allowing the intended flavors and aromas to shine by avoiding extremes that muddle taste or suppress scent. It's about finding that perfect middle ground, making reds less "hot" and whites less "closed down," so you experience the winemaker's vision.
Gigondas was once referred to as the poor man's Châteauneuf-du-Pape but recent years proved to be in favor of Gigondas, whose quality certainly improved. Today, comparing the two siblings in a wine tasting often offers a fascinating experience and a real challenge to determine the prizewinner.
It was the famous blue clay terroir of Petrus that saved this vineyard from the drought conditions that undid most of the nearby Pomerols, which possess more gravel and sand in their soils. There are only 1,650 cases of the 2003 Petrus as opposed to 1,780 cases of the 2002 (production in abundant years is 4,000 cases).
The wine that Johnny Depp loves is Chateau Calon Segur. In an interview with Madame Figaro magazine, Johnny Depp said that Château Calon Ségur is his favorite wine, which is also featured on the website of British wine magazine Decanter.
Saint-Émilion 2019 offers immediate accessibility, elegance, and bright, seamless fruit, making it very drinkable, while 2020 provides more structure, depth, and power, with cooler fruit and chewiness, revealing focus and intensity as it matures, with the best 2020s potentially outshining 2019s but requiring more patience, though some 2019s are also superb. The choice depends on preference: 2019 for early enjoyment and classic charm, or 2020 for long-term cellar potential and cerebral complexity.
On the palate it is rich and sweet, with an appealing sense of freshness and weight. The palate continues with layer sof spiced black fruits, subtle cherry and raspberry flavours and a good coating of vanilla oak and spice. Rounded, elegant and almost sumptuous. Very good – especially for its lowly appellation!
What is the difference between St Julian and St Estephe wines?
Wines from Saint-Julien are generally lighter than those from Saint Estephe and Pauillac but tend to have more bodies than those from Margaux. They can be elegant and gracious and also powerful and tannic.
The "75 rule" for wine in the U.S. means that if a wine label names a specific grape (like Chardonnay or Merlot), at least 75% of the wine must be made from that grape, with the remaining 25% being other complementary varieties, a standard set by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) to ensure transparency, though some regions like Oregon require 100% for varietals. It's part of a broader labeling guideline, including 85% for American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and 95% for vintage years, often remembered as the 75/85/95 rules.
How many glasses of wine can you drink before getting drunk?
A bottle of wine will get the average person drunk. Most wine bottles contain about 5 standard glasses of wine. The limit before most people start feeling alcohol impairment is 2 glasses of wine for women and 3 glasses of wine for men. Keep in mind that it's about the size of those servings, too.
The 75/85/95 wine rule is a U.S. guideline for wine labels, stating minimum percentages: 75% for a specific grape variety (like Chardonnay), 85% for grapes from a named American Viticultural Area (AVA) (like Napa Valley), and 95% for a specific vintage year (like 2023) or a named vineyard. These rules help consumers understand the origin and composition of American wines, though stricter state laws, like Oregon's, can apply.
Beckham is an avowed fan of great French reds, especially Bordeaux. According to several media, he has a weakness for Château Margaux, Pétrus and Château Lafite Rothschild: elegant, complex and cult wines.
What wine was served at Harry and Meghan's wedding?
The Olivier Leflaive estate in Puligny-Montrachet said it had only learned that its Bourgogne Les Setilles was served to guests at the royal reception from media reports.
Meghan Markle revealed she was diagnosed with postpartum pre-eclampsia, a rare and serious condition involving high blood pressure after childbirth, calling it a "huge medical scare" she managed privately. She shared this on her "Confessions of a Female Founder" podcast, noting it occurred after giving birth to one of her children and highlighted the challenges of facing a life-threatening condition while managing new motherhood publicly.
What wine did Kate and William have at their wedding?
Pol Roger non-vintage Champagne was also served at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in 2011, and also the wedding of Harry and Meghan, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex earlier this year.
Did Meghan wear Diana's perfume when she met Harry?
According to royal biographer Angela Levin, Meghan strategically wore Princess Diana's favourite perfume during their initial meeting, an act that was said to leave a lasting impact on Harry's heart.
