Cards for Practical Flashcards
Napa Cabernet vintages 2000-2022: worst vintages? Why?
2000- cold october rain, small harvest
2003- uneven ripeness, austere and tannic
2011- rainy harvest, variable quality
2020- fires in Napa, very small red wine harvest. warm dry season, so whites were good. also covid
Napa Cabernet vintages 2000-2022: best vintages? Why?
Aside from 2000, 2003, and 2011, all great vintages
2019 was excellent, long growing season
2021 Napa Vintage?
Moderate summer temperatures, minimal fires, but drought in the growing season reduced yields. no extreme heat so wines may be lighter. the fruit quality was great though
CA Pinot Noir vintages 2010 - 2021- worst vintages?
2020* - central and southern california had good years, fires up north
2017: SLH fine, Spring rains, warm summer, September heat wave yielded wines that are showy up front, but mostly lack structure
2015: large crop, tannic wines
2012: large crop, tannic wines
2011*: rain at harvest, lighter body, uneven quality. SLH ok
- worst
CA Pinot Noir vintages 2010-2021 - best?
2021: 91-94: Windy weather at bloom led to a small crop set, then another warm, drought-influenced season produced small berries with thick skins; the early buzz on the vintage is one of concentration and structure
2019: 95 A benchmark vintage for California Pinot, with wines showing power, finesse and the structure for cellaring; moderate temperatures and an even-keeled season led to a leisurely harvest, while crop size was on the lower side
Best Vintages of RB Bordeaux 2000-2020
2005
2009
2010
2015
2016
2018
2010 Bordeaux Vintage
99 - best in last 20 years at least
Wet spring, but hot and dry summer. Heat concentrated the grapes, cool nights and autumn rains kept the wines balanced. Tannic and fresh
Worst Bordeaux vintages 2003 to present
2004 - large crop. round, but nice tannin
2007 - difficult- lots of rain, not enough sun, mildew
2008 - similar to 07, but late warm temps helped. top wines ok
2011 - nothing special (after 09 and 10 were great), higher alcohol.
2012 - challenging, wet, late year with mid summer heat. short window for harvest between autumn rains. Merlot did best
2013 - “universally poor” cool start, wet finish. some late summer heat helped. lots of disease pressure
Red Burgundy - worst vintages 2003 to 2023?
2003 - spring frost, then very heatwave, and ripe. some great wines from top producers
2004 - just average. large crop
2007 - lots of rot, intense sorting needed. Gevrey was good
2008 - tough. coulure, mildew, hail. some good wines. high acidity
2011 - summer rains, expected to be poor, but wines are perfumed with fresh acidity
Red burgundy - best vintages 2003 - 2023
2020- decent / tbd
2019- intense heat, but good quality
2016- hail, frost, mildew, low yields, good wines
2015* warm, low yields, great
2014
2012- challenging, but good
2009- classic
2005* exceptional
White burgundy - worst vintages 2003 - 2023
2003 - hot, ripe, flabby
2009 - warm, high yields, but decent wines
White burgundy - best vintages 2003 - 2023
2015
2014* cool damp summer slowed ripening. good acid at harvest
Chablis - worst vintages 2013 to 2023
2017 - frost and reduced yields
2016 - hail and reduced yields
2015 - hail, rich and balanced wines
2013 - damp spring, shatter, very challenging, reduced yields. ripe vintage with moderate acidity
Chablis - best vintages 2013 to 2023
2020 - hot dry summer, classic wines
2019 - cold, then hot. lots of acidity
2018 - high volume and quality. balanced wines
2014 - hot and dry late in season, excellent quality
2012 - high acidity, very age-able
Rhone - best vintages 2000-2020
Northern: 2010, 2015, 2019
Southern: 2000, 2005, 2016, 2019
Also good: 2009, 2007
Rhone - worst vintages since 2000?
2021- bad in both. cool, storms at harvest, had to chaptalize
Also bad in both:
2014
2013
2008
2004
2002
North: 2000
Piedmont - best vintages 1996 - 2021
1996
1998
1999
2001
2006
2008
2010*
2013*
2016*
2019
2021
Piedmont- worst vintages 1996-2021
2002*
2003
2005
2018
Chianti / Brunello- best vintages 1996-2020
1997
2004*
2006
2007
2009
2010*
2015*
2016*
2019
Chianti / Brunello - worst vintages 1996 - 2020
2000
2002* wet summer, rotten and unripe grapes
2003
2014
2017-frost, drought, heat
Bolgheri- best vintages 2000 - 2020
2001
2010
2015
2016
2019
Bolgheri - worst vintages 2000 to 2020
2000
2014
2017
2018
Port - best vintages 2000 to present
2003
2009
2011*
2015
2016*
2017
Great older vintages LB Bordeaux
1959
1961
1966
1970
1978
1982
1986
Great older vintages red burgundy
1959
1969
1971
1976
1978
1985
Great older vintages Piedmont
1971
1978
1982
1985
1989
1990
Great older vintages Napa Cabernet
1968
1974
1978
1984
1987
1994
1995
Champagne- best vintages since 1990
1990
1996
2008
2012
(2015 & 2016 not yet rated, but look good)
Champagne- worst vintages since 1990
2011
2010
2007
2003
2000
1999
1997
Champagne- notable older vintages
1988, 1985, 1982, 1973, 1971, 1964, 1961, 1959, 1953, 1949
