Does Bordeaux vintage actually matter, or is it just a clever way for chateaus to hike prices? 🍷
In today’s episode, I’m putting the “Vintage Myth” to the ultimate test. As a Certified Sommelier, I’m blind tasting the same producer—Chateau Fonplegade (St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé)—from two drastically different years: the “difficult” 2021 and the “legendary” 2022.
Is the $47 bottle of 2021 a hidden value gem, or is the $60 bottle of 2022 truly worth the premium?
Most wine reviewers give you a “snort, taste, and spit” score. At Magical Wine Experiences, we do things differently. I’m performing my proprietary Whole Bottle Review, tracking how these wines evolve from the first sip to the final glass to see which vintage delivers the best overall experience.
In this video, you’ll learn:
Bordeaux Vintage Comparison: Why 2021 was defined by cold and frost while 2022 was shaped by record-breaking heat.
St. Emilion Terroir: The role of the famous Limestone Plateau in saving these vines.
Blind Tasting Techniques: How to identify a “hot” vs. “cool” vintage by sight and nose alone.
The Verdict: Does the “bad” vintage actually offer a better Old World experience?
Mentioned in this video:
Chateau Fonplegade (Right Bank Bordeaux)
2021 vs 2022 Bordeaux Vintages
Merlot & Cabernet Franc Blends
Are you a fan of the “Old World” austerity of a cool vintage, or do you prefer the “New World” plushness of a hot year? Let me know in the comments!
Video Chapters:
0:00 – Does Bordeaux Vintage Really Matter?
1:15 – The Whole Bottle Review Methodology
2:15 – Chateau Fonplegade & St. Emilion Terroir
2:40 – Why 2021 is Called a “Bad” Vintage (The Cold)
3:00 – 2022: The Next “Vintage of the Century”?
4:00 – My History with Right Bank Bordeaux
4:50 – Blind Tasting: Sight Comparison (Color & Extraction)
6:45 – The Nose: Red Fruit vs. Black Fruit Profiles
8:20 – The Palate: Identifying Underripe vs. Overripe Grapes
9:20 – The Big Reveal: Did the Sommelier Get it Right?
10:15 – Wine Nostradamus: My Bold Score Predictions
11:45 – Whole Bottle Review: How 2021 Evolved (Earth & Mineral)
16:35 – Whole Bottle Review: How 2022 Evolved (Plush & Fruit)
19:50 – The Final Verdict: Which Vintage Wins?
#Bordeaux #WineReview #Sommelier #StEmilion #ChateauFonplegade #WineTasting #RightBankBordeaux #2021Bordeaux #2022Bordeaux #WineEducation #winecollecting
The John Alanis Magical Wine Whole Bottle Review Scale
100 Perfection, find a bottle once every 5 years, indescribably Magical, never forget it, impossible to convey in mere words.
99 Almost perfect, find a bottle every one to two years, Magical, makes you feel emotions/feelings you’ve never felt before, takes you forward and back in time, swirling memories
98 Magical wine, find a bottle two to three times a year, takes you places, evokes emotions, and brings ups old memories
97- Almost Magical, hints at places and memories, evokes emotion, but not quite magical. Fantastic evolution of the wine, finishes at a different place than where it started, flavors outshine emotions.
96- Fantastic flavor experience, bottle evolves and changes, evokes some emotion, but experience is all about the wine. We want this to be our “floor” every time we drink a bottle, but we must choose a bottle with the potential to meet these expectations.
95 Great flavor, mouthfeel, some evolution and change, focus is completely on the wine, doesn’t evoke emotion.
94 and below- enjoyable bottle of wine, goes great with food and friends, first sip and last sip are pretty much identical. Doesn’t evoked any emotion or trigger any memories, but was thoroughly enjoyable from a taste experience. Good to drink when you just want a glass
4 Comments
Great topic and well executed comparison. Thanks!
I have my eye on 3 st Emilions from 2021. They are all for the purpose of learning about the Bordeaux qualities on a “cold” vintage. So this video was very very helpful to understand what I’m walking into in the next few months 😁😁😁. Thanks so much!
I'm glad you reviewed Chateau Fonplegade. It is definitely one of my favorites. I opened a 2019 a few months ago and it was fantastic. From the moment I opened the bottle the aroma filled the room. Rich Dark fruits and vanilla spice. with undertone of Graphite. Tone of character and nuance for a 50-60 dollar bottle
While I generally prefer fruit to lead in my Bordeaux's, occasionally I do get in the mood for a more austere, earthy expression, and it's always interesting to see how so-called "bad vintages" evolve with age. What's your Bordeaux preference, more fruit, more earth/graphite or a nice mixture of both? I generally prefer 60% fruit, 40% non-fruit.