Vintages Flashcards
1
Q
2013
Red Bordeaux
A
Fair
Youthful, Light & accessible
Cold & wet, most difficult in 30yr
2
Q
2012
Red Bordeaux
A
Fair
Dry tannin, low fruit intensity, moderate alc. & acid. Fragrant, accessible, prettier on nose & more purity than 2011. Almost RTD. Merlot & FB year.
3
Q
2011
Red Bordeaux
A
Good
Variable. Fresh, lively, high acid vs. 2012 but puckering. Tannins. Ripe but red fruit vs. jammy, 09/10. RB year.
4
Q
2010
Red Bordeaux
A
Excellent
Ripe, fleshy, high ABV. More tannin, freshness and acidity with less overt fruit vs. 09
5
Q
2009
Red Bordeaux
A
Excellent
Ripe, lush, big, jammy, baked fruits, very high ABV. Softer tannins, less freshness and faster maturing than 2010.
6
Q
2008
Red Bordeaux
A
Very Good
Not the power of 09/10, but more vibrant and intense vs. 2007. Balanced, ripe, fresh acid, perfumed. RB year.
7
Q
2007
Red Bordeaux
A
Fair
Dilute, high tannin, accessible early and better than expected
8
Q
2006
Red Bordeaux
A
Good
High acid, lower extract, rasping tannin. Balanced, classic, elegant, fresh.
9
Q
2005
Red Bordeaux
A
Excellent
Style between 2009/2010 - ripe, fresh, balanced tannin. Integrated, showing bottle evolution but maturing slowly
10
Q
2004
Red Bordeaux
A
Good
Cool but classic and precise vintage, large crop, more RTD than 2005/6
11
Q
2004
CALIFORNIA
A
Good.
Mixed quality. Early vintage, with higher alcohols, Ripe vintage
12
Q
2004
CHAMPAGNE
A
Good
Green flavors, spearmint, tarragon, verbena, lime-zest. Well-balanced and fresh.
13
Q
2004
GERMANY
A
Good
Crisp acid. a little lean
14
Q
2004
PIEDMONT
A
Very Good
Well-balanced and ripe style
more classic than 2003.
15
Q
2004
RED BURGUNDY
A
Fair
Light and crisp, for early drinking
16
Q
2004
RIOJA
A
Excellent
Cool nights, some rain. High alcohols, concentrated color and aromatics. Good ageability.
17
Q
2004
TUSCANY
A
Very good.
Classic vintage, high quality.
18
Q
2005
CALIFORNIA
A
Good.
Cool/late vintage. More structured and restrained. Good acidity levels. Lighter
19
Q
2005
CHAMPAGNE
A
Fair/good
Hit/miss. Relatively low acid, and not uniform results. Weaker.
20
Q
2005
GERMANY
A
Excellent
Ripe, and exceptional vintage.
21
Q
2005
NORTHERN RHONE
A
Excellent
powerful wines with lots of tannins and concentration
22
Q
2005
PIEDMONT
A
Fair Younger drinking (thus unlikely in exam) _ softer, less concentrated.
23
Q
2005
RED BURGUNDY
A
Excellent
Style between 2009/2010 - ripe, fresh, balanced tannin. Integrated, showing bottle evolution but maturing slowly
24
Q
2005
RIOJA
A
Excellent
(mirrors Bordeaux) some going thru chewy, tannic, adolescence
25
2005
| SAUTERNES
Excellent
| Dry summer, even & full ripening. Conc. wines for aging.
26
2005
| SOUTHERN RHONE
Excellent
| Hot, dry (drought) year. Almost as rich as 2003. Freshness, balanced with complexity.
27
2008
| CALIFORNIA
Good.
| Highly variable weather, low yields due to frost created fairly concentrated wines. Napa better than central coast.
28
2006
| CALIFORNIA
Good. | Later/cooler vintage, excellent whites. Some rot. Elegant vs. intense styles
29
2006
| CHAMPAGNE
Good | Hot vintage = rich fruit, but retains minerality, clean still balanced
30
2006
| GERMANY
Fair | some rot resulting in leaner wines with high acid
31
2006
| NORTHERN RHONE
Good | lacking dense concentration but showing good aromatics, acid and tannins for aging
32
2006
| PIEDMONT
Excellent | Classic, powerful, and structured. Excellent concentration.
33
2006
| RED BURGUNDY
Fair | austere, firm acids, though the best show great purity
34
2006
| RIOJA
Good | Hot summer with some drought. Low yields. Fresh and supple wines with good acidity.
35
2006
| SAUTERNES
Good | Limited botrytis influence. Fresh, vibrant aromatic wines with racy acidity and good length. Early maturing
36
2006
| SOUTHERN RHONE
Good | Luscious, yet fresh. Quick maturing.
37
2006
| TUSCANY
Excellent | Exceptional year, dense, rich, structured.
38
2013
| ALSACE
Fair | Small crop and rainy at the end. Those who pulled early fared well, sharp acids
39
2013
| CALIFORNIA
Excellent | Optimum conditions. Rich, intense and structured (like 2010 Bordeaux)
40
2013
| GERMANY
Fair | Variable.
41
2013
| LOIRE WHITE
Fair | Hail. Wines that were made, sound w/good acidity elegant, mineral, light. Little sweet wine successful.
42
2013
| RED BURGUNDY
Fair | small crop of balanced fruit with good potential
43
2013
| RIOJA
Good | Wet cold spring, uneven ripening. ???
44
2013
| SAUTERNES
Good | Not as concentrated as 2009 or possibly 2011. Cross between racy 2011 and flattering 2007 but with less zip. Botrytis spread quickly.
45
2013
| SOUTHERN RHONE
Good | Overall good but Grenache effected by Couloure - may be dominated by other varieties
46
2013
| TUSCANY
Good | More acid, lower alc. fresher style
47
2013
| WHITE BURGUNDY
Fair | Overall, wines show more character than 2011, and better balance than 2010 or 2012. Chablis not good.
48
2011
| ALSACE
Fair | Early, ripe, short, warm RTD
49
2011
| CALIFORNIA
Poor. | Rain, rot. Cool. Lower alcohol, less concentrated. Green/ herbaceous
50
2011
| CHAMPAGNE
Poor | Erratic season. Hit/miss. Not likely Vintage.
51
2011
| GERMANY
Excellent | fantastic vintage
52
2011
| LOIRE WHITE
Fair to Good | Rain. Chenin good, particularly Saumur, Anjou & Coteaux du Layon- they are still strong.
53
2011
| NORTHERN RHONE
Good | moderate acid and tannins but diluted concentration by rain
54
2011
| PORT
Outstanding
| Perfect vintage conditions. Inky and opaque. Concentrated to the point of muteness
55
2011
| RED BURGUNDY
Fair | fresh, cool, zesty vintage, plenty of acidity and appeal
56
2011
| RIOJA
Good | Heat-stressed. Good conc. but soft acidity, less ageability.
57
2011
| SAUTERNES
Excellent | Rich opulent wines with freshness. Unusually rapid onset of botrytis (like 2009) and then weather cooled maintaining acidity.
58
2011
| SOUTHERN RHONE
Fair | Fair but not brilliant, uneven ripening lighter bodied.
59
2011
| TUSCANY
Good | Heat forced early harvest, riper, richer, high alc. less elegance
60
2012
| CALIFORNIA
Excellent | Bumper crop, excellent quality, plush (like 2009 Bordeaux)
61
2012
| CHAMPAGNE
Excellent | Powerful, Intense, probably a Vintage year
62
2012
| GERMANY
Good | better than 2013
63
2012
| LOIRE WHITE
Good | PF/Sancerre good, full-bodied with ripe acidity and profound minerality. Dry wines nervy, edgy with aging potential. Few botrytised Chenins. Top Muscadet.
64
2012
| NORTHERN RHONE
Good | low alcohol but also lower acid with structured tannins
65
2012
| RED BORDEAUX
Fair | Dry tannin, low fruit intensity, moderate alc. & acid. Fragrant, accessible, prettier on nose & more purity than 2011. Almost RTD. Merlot & FB year.
66
2012
| RED BURGUNDY
Good | variable, soft tannins, stronger for reds than whites,
67
2012
| RIOJA
Very good | Dry weather, low yields, small berries. Concentrated wines with high color and tannin.
68
2012
| SAUTERNES
Poor | Vegetal notes. Few grand vin made, mostly friendly, loosely knit lacking depth. Many ready now.
69
2012
| SOUTHERN RHONE
Good | Better than 2011, ripe yet elegant and fresh average alcohols.
70
2012
| TUSCANY
Good | Dry early, wet late, uneven ripeness, but tends toward riper style, mixed quality
71
2012
| WHITE BURGUNDY
Good | Small crops but good wines. Chablis generally fruitier. Esp. good for Macon, Cote de Beaune hit or miss but the best wines show beautiful concentration.
72
1977
| PORT
Outstanding
| Tawny rose colored, Fine velvet tannins, very savory
73
1983
| PORT
Good
| Widely declared, maturing fast
74
1985
| PORT
Good
| Luscious and fragrant. Perhaps peaking
75
1991
| PORT
Good
| Rich and structured
76
1992
| PORT
Good
| Concentrated, tannic and fruity. Taylor & Foneseca chose to declare instead of '91
77
1994
| PORT
Outstanding
| Hot vintage, Green herbs, like garrigue, very complex but seemingly youthful acid
78
1997
| PORT
Excellent
| Cool wet summer, more elegance than '94 or '00, just starting to show color change
79
2000
| PORT
Outstanding
| Hot vintage, Powerful, fine grained tannins, with tertiary aroma of tea, graphite and mushrooms
80
2003
| PORT
Outstanding
| Hot vintage, Less tannic than 2000, plush and broad, slightly raisinated
81
2007
| PORT
Excellent
| Cool season, not raisinated. Not savory like 00/03 but extracted, sl. unapproachable as alcohol protrudes.
82
2009
| PORT
Good | Similarly ripe to 2003 but younger and less expressive
83
Port
| Summary
Range: 2011-1992
Opaque: 2000 + (
84
Port
| Outstanding Vintages
11, 07, 94, 85, 70, 66
85
Port
2011-1963
General Declaration
```
11, 09, 08*, 07, 03, 00,
97, 94, 92*, 91,
85, 83, 82*,
77, 75, 70,
67*, 66, 63.
*not widely declared
```
86
2005
| TUSCANY
Fair.
| Heavy rains, uneven vintage, lighter and high in acid, somewhat dilute.
87
2007
| ALSACE
Very Good
| Classic. Long growing season, ripe, concentrated, healthy, firm acids, great for dry whites
88
2007
| CALIFORNIA
Very Good
| Intense flavors, rich/softish tannins. Moderate alcohol. Earlier maturing
89
2007
| CHAMPAGNE
Good
| Refined delicate not a lot of impact, but pretty, bright
90
2007
| GERMANY
Excellent
| ripe, late harvest
91
2007
| LOIRE WHITE
Fair
| Rot a problem. Dry whites all varieties showed surprisingly well despite that. Sweet wines struggled.
92
2007
| NORTHERN RHONE
Fair
| cool summer, lacks intensity
93
2007
| PIEDMONT
Very Good
| Lengthy ripening season well-structured, aromatic wines with plentiful but ripe, velvety tannins.
94
2007
| RED BURGUNDY
Fair
| more austere in style, high acidity
95
2007
| RIOJA
Good
| Long, slow ripening season. Crisp and elegant.
96
2007
| SAUTERNES
Good
| Balance, concentration and acidity vs. “rich globs of botrytis fruit” Peachy, honeyed palate with vibrant finishes.
97
2007
| SOUTHERN RHONE
Excellent
| Drier summer than rest of France. Ripe flavours & tannins, some over the top
98
2007
| TUSCANY
Very good.
| High quality but less so than 06 which has more concentration/strucuture
99
2007
| WHITE BURGUNDY
Good
| A classic vintage with searingly fresh acidity, terroir-driven fruit and good potential to age.
100
2008
| ALSACE
Fair
| Good Best can be very good, mid-level wines are slightly thin/dilute. Not as good as 2007.
101
2008 CHAMPAGNE
Good Good concentration of acid+fruit. Commercially pleasing.
102
2008 GERMANY
Fair cooler, light, high acid, low bot.
103
2008 LOIRE WHITE
Fair Sauvignons have good varietal typicity. Sweet wines average vintage.
104
2008 NORTHERN RHONE
Poor diluted vintage with some top wines not even made
105
2008 PIEDMONT
Good Intense flavours but more elegant structure than vs. 2007.
106
2008 RED BURGUNDY
Fair Similar to 2011 – high acidity
107
2008 RIOJA
Very good Low yields and some uneven ripening. Ripe with bright acidity.
108
2008 SAUTERNES
Fair High tangy acidity but lack distinction and concentration - light.
109
2008 SOUTHERN RHONE
Poor Gutless reds, rain
110
2008 TUSCANY
Fair. Rainy, medium quality, softer tannins
111
2008 WHITE BURGUNDY
Fair Difficult, low-yielding vintage of varied quality. Intriguing combination of richness and fresh acidity due to late sunshine and cold breezes.
112
2009 ALSACE
Very good Classic, warm, even, ripe, very good quality
113
2009 CALIFORNIA
Good. Fairly mild vintage. Wines are typical and show better balance vs. 2010/08.
114
2009 CHAMPAGNE
Good Yellow-fruit, plump, approachable, some say “fat” not marked acidity
115
2009 GERMANY
Excellent warm and ripe
116
2009 LOIRE WHITE
Excellent Everything great. Ripe, healthy fruit with dry harvest. Chenin good but botrytis scarce.
117
2009 NORTHERN RHONE
Very Good slightly riper than 2010. Some wine starting to show age due to lower acidity
118
2009 PIEDMONT
Very Good Warm with plenty of fruit. Higher alcohols, plusher fruit.
119
2009 RED BURGUNDY
Good showy, upfront wines, high alcohol, youthful drinking, ‘slutty’
120
2009 RIOJA
Very good Warm weather with rain. Fully ripe grapes, a high quality though early maturing vintage.
121
2009 SAUTERNES
Exceptional Enormously rich, opulent, complex – powerful botrytis character. Concentrated and balanced with harmonious structure.
122
2009 SOUTHERN RHONE
Excellent Hot & dry. Pure fruit, polished tannins, high ABV w retained acidity
123
2009 TUSCANY
Good. Drought/heat. Concentration, ripe fruit, higher alc.
124
2009 WHITE BURGUNDY
Very Good Ripe fleshy vintage, with nice mineral amidst ripe fruit in the best wines. Not a long term because of lower acid.
125
2010 ALSACE
Very good Classic, 20% less crop than 2009. Ripe, balanced. Potentially better structured acids than 2009
126
2010 CALIFORNIA
Fair. Generally cool, with lower alcohol and higher acids. Restrained for Napa
127
2010 CHAMPAGNE
Fair Lots of rot. Variable quality. Leaner wines
128
2010 GERMANY
Fair High acid. Tricky to go straight to 2010 as there is much variability
129
2010 LOIRE WHITE
Excellent Sauvignons: good concentration and freshness. Chenin better in Coteaux du Layon vs. Vouvray - range of sweetness, rich with good botrytis.
130
2010 NORTHERN RHONE
Excellent lots of concentration, balanced alcohol and tannins
131
2010 PIEDMONT
Excellent More elegant than powerful. Well-structured, plenty of fruit, but not ripe like 2009. Very well-balanced.
132
2010 RED BURGUNDY
Excellent Ripe & structured, more alcohol and weight than 2011, good acid (>2009), long ageing potential
133
2010 RIOJA
Very good Mod. weather, uniform ripeness & quality; better vs 2009.
134
2010 SAUTERNES
Very Good Elegant, delicate, restrained due to lower RS and higher acid. Not as opulent or complex as 2009. Perfumed, candied fruit, linear.
135
2010 SOUTHERN RHONE
Excellent Expressive of terroir, ripe & racy.
136
2010 TUSCANY
Fair-Good Mix of heat and cool/rain. Mixed quality, green unresolved tannins. Not ageworthy. Elegant Brunello’s
137
2010 WHITE BURGUNDY
Excellent Dense and fleshy with bright acidity - Some noble rot = exotic fruit aromas. Great Chablis and Meursault.
138
2011 WHITE BURGUNDY
Fair Very fresh, high acid wines for short term aging.
139
2012 ALSACE
good Good Riesling year, similar to '10. Low yields, good alc. & acid
