Red Bordeaux - Which vintages to drink now?

After that very nice 1978 Ducru Beaucaillou the other night, I was thinking about what Bordeaux vintages have been drinking great recently and which have not. And I got to realize that this judgment depends heavily on how you like your wines. I like mine aged to the point where tertiary aromas and flavors emerge, but I also don't want to lose all the fruit.

With that intro, here's my attempt at a personal vintage chart of sorts starting with 1978 (the first vintage I have tasted a handful of wines from):

1978: Good year in the Medoc. Medoc wines are still kicking and at plateau or on slight decline. No need to hold off on. Right bankers more advanced than Medocs.

1979: Not as good as 1978, and Medoc again better than right bank. These should be consumed soon. Recent bottles of right bankers have been very, very soft.

1980-81: No experience. Judgment withheld.

1982: Drinking at peak to me. Can be held longer, but why wait (with exception of FGs). Have been wowed by both left and right bank.

1983: Drinking at peak, but softer than 1982s IMO. Margaux is the superstar for me in this vintage (although I have thoroughly enjoyed others, most notably PLL).

1984-1985: No experience. Judgment withheld.

1986: Some wines till very tannic. May never come around. To me, this is drink now territory.

1987-88: Very limited experience. Judgment withheld.

1989: Structured wines on both banks with great delineation, focus, and purity. Drinking just short of peak, but can be held easily. My favorite wine from this vintage so far is Tertre Roteboeuf. Rock star wine. To me, 1989 is drinking great right now in general.

1990: Massively fruited wines and although some may not be ready, others are more than good to go. Favorite 1990s for me have been Montrose, Haut Brion and Magdelaine.

1991-1993: No experience, judgment withheld.

1994: Wines are ready to drink now. No need to wait. For me, this is in the perfect window. Have not any 1994s that have wowed me.

1995: To me, these are still too young to drink. My favorite was Haut Brion so far.

1996: Too young as well, and more tannic than 95s IMO. Best left alone for some time. My favorite has been Pichon Lalande.

1997: Ready to drink. No need to wait. My favorite sleeper of the vintage is Gruaud Larose.

1998: Still too tannic and young. Leave alone for some time. Love Chateau Belair (Dubois Challon) in this vintage.

1999: Last vintage that's ready to drink. Soft wines that are fairly evolved.

2000: Way too young, but wines are the real deal on left and right bank.

2001: Much softer than 2000, but not close to ready. Still shows some primary fruit. I've liked both left and right bank.

2002: Excruciatingly tannic and backward without significant extraction overall. Considered classic, and to me, these are painful even with lots of air. May turn out like 1986, but I have high hopes.

2003: Hot year, some wines ready to drink and not shut down. More fruit than any of the prior vintages dating back to 1990. With air, some of these can be drunk now, while others may be hard as nails. I've gotten roasted aromas and flavors on some right bank wines...left bank has been green at times. Minefield vintage.

2004: Softer vintage, especially on the right bank. Clearly not near tertiary territory. Will come around faster than 2002.

2005: No need to say anything here. I've tasted a few in bottle and many from cask during our 2006 Bordeaux visit and they were fabulous wines. Leoville Poyferre one of my favorites from cask.

2006: Tasted none from cask, judgment withheld.

2007: Tasted none from cask, judgment withheld.

2008: Tasted none from cask, judgment withheld.