Piedmont Vintage

Question 1

Piedmont: 1970 & 1971

Answer 1

Both excellent; 1971 slightly edges out 1970.

Question 2

Piedmont: 1972

Answer 2

Disaster - declassified by the chamber of commerce (under pressure from the mediatori).

Question 3

Piedmont: 1973

Answer 3

Poor to average quality, varies by cru.

Question 4

Piedmont: 1974

Answer 4

Good but not great vintage; high quantity.

Question 5

Piedmont: 1975-1977

Answer 5

Low quality, very difficult due to rain in the spring and at harvest.

Question 6

Piedmont: 1978

Answer 6

Exceptional - powerfully structured, very slow maturing wines.

Question 7

Piedmont: 1979

Answer 7

Good, troubled by rain at harvest (October).

Question 8

Piedmont: Exceptional vintages of the 1970’s

Answer 8

1970
1971
1978

Question 9

Piedmont: Disaster vintages of the 1970’s

Answer 9

1972
1973
1975
1976
1977

Question 10

Piedmont: 1980 & 1981

Answer 10

Damp and difficult.

Question 11

Piedmont: 1982

Answer 11

Rich, weighty, well-balanced. Similar to BDX.

Question 12

Piedmont: 1983

Answer 12

Big crop, no concentration, major fungal disease.

Question 13

Piedmont: 1984

Answer 13

Disaster, especially for Barbaresco.

Question 14

Piedmont: 1985

Answer 14

Excellent; similar in some ways to 1978, but a larger crop.

Question 15

Piedmont: 1986

Answer 15

Variable - major hail in Barolo (none in Barbaresco).

Question 16

Piedmont: 1987

Answer 16

Very difficult - heavy rain at harvest. Generally poor.

Question 17

Piedmont: 1988

Answer 17

Solidly good, especially in Barbaresco (some issues with rain at harvest time in Barolo). Soft, attractive, and full.

Question 18

Piedmont: 1989

Answer 18

Exceptional; overshadowed by 1990 which means the pricing is often better.

Question 19

Piedmont: Excellent vintages of the 1980’s

Answer 19

1982
1985
1988
1989

Question 20

Piedmont: Poor vintages of the 1980’s

Answer 20

1980
1981
1983
1984
1987

Question 21

Piedmont: 1990

Answer 21

Big power, big aromatics; one of the most highly reviewed vintages of the century.

Question 22

Piedmont: 1991

Answer 22

Wet summer and autumn; wines are light and washed out.

Question 23

Piedmont: 1992

Answer 23

Massive rains in autumn resulted in an almost total washout.

Question 24

Piedmont: 1993

Answer 24

Irregular; generally poor, but not as bad as 1991 or 1992.

Question 25

Piedmont: 1994

Answer 25

Again, wet and cool in the fall. Very difficult.

Question 26

Piedmont: 1995

Answer 26

Small crop due to hail. Good; certainly the best of the last five, but not as good as what came after.

Question 27

Piedmont: 1996

Answer 27

Difficult spring, but the results were very good. First of a string of excellent vintages.

Question 28

Piedmont: 1997

Answer 28

Warm vintage with a prolonged hot spell; high sugar levels, lowered acidities, some stuck fermentations. Wines are very approachable young; a much-heralded vintage in the American press.

Question 29

Piedmont: 1998

Answer 29

Fine and elegant; likely much more ageworthy than 1997.

Question 30

Piedmont: 1999

Answer 30

Very good - rich, and voluptuous. Recalls 1997.

Question 31

Piedmont: Excellent vintages of the 1990’s

Answer 31

1990

1995-1999

Question 32

Piedmont: Poor vintages of the 1990’s

Answer 32

1991-1994

Question 33

Piedmont: 2000

Answer 33

Very good vintage; smaller crop. Softer and full-bodied.

Question 34

Piedmont: 2001

Answer 34

High quality and quantity; relatively early harvest. Some lowered acidities; softer in structure.

Question 35

Piedmont: 2002

Answer 35

Very, very difficut; hail, rot, unripeness. Some great wines by producer.

Question 36

Piedmont: 2003

Answer 36

Overripe, somewhat raisinated. Better wines from older vines. Good but may be overblown.

Question 37

Piedmont: 2004

Answer 37

Lovely, well-balanced. “Like 1964.”

Question 38

Piedmont: 2005

Answer 38

Solid but not outstanding; some difficulties from drought.

Question 39

Piedmont: 2006

Answer 39

Challenging season, but results are classic wines with fine structure and power.

Question 40

Piedmont: 2007

Answer 40

Hot summer, hail, low yields, ripe wines. Small crop of good quality.

Question 41

Piedmont: 2008

Answer 41

Austere and strict in comparison to 2007’s plushness; potential for great staying power.

Question 42

Piedmont: 2009

Answer 42

Very warm vintage, with severe dryness and water stress. Lowered acidity and some rough tannin due to vine shutdown. Quality varies by producer.

Question 43

Piedmont: 2010

Answer 43

Irregular fruit set; some strict selection necessary. Results are an outstanding, classic vintage with high acid, firm and ripe tannins and great balance.

Question 44

Piedmont: 2011

Answer 44

Very hot vintage, early harvest. Wines are ripe, supple, and occasionally very high alcohol.

Question 45

Piedmont: 2012

Answer 45

Heat wave in August caused shutdown; subsequent rain restarted the growing cycle and autumn was long and dry. Lighter-styled vintage, with good acidity and freshness.

Question 46

Piedmont: 2013

Answer 46

Difficult spring led to a hot, sunny, dry summer. Currently looks to be moving on par with 2010.

Question 47

Piedmont: 2014

Answer 47

Wet winter, wet spring, disastrous hailstorms in July, especially in Barolo. Will be a small crop, likely very lightly styled.

Question 48

Piedmont: 2015

Answer 48

Hottest July on record; mitigated by high water tables from rain in the spring. Looking good, if lower in acidity than ideal.

Question 49

Piedmont: Exceptional older vintages:

Answer 49

1958
1961
1962 (overshadowed by 1961)
1964