Vintages Flashcards
Napa Vintages, last 10 years
Ranked: 2013 & 2007 then 2016,2010,2009, 2008,2012,2014, then 2015,then 2017,2011
2007: EXCELLENT: ideal ripening, small crop,complexity and plush tannins
2008: GREAT low yields but high quality, dense, concentrated
2009: GREAT late, cool year, but pure, opulent wines
2010: GREAT cool, steady year, high quality, tight but dense, layered
2011: VARIABLE very rainy
2012: VERY GOOD 1st of the drought years, good, steady weather, high yields, fruit driven, diminished acidity
2013: EXCELLENT ideal weather, large and early, harvest, powerful, structured wines
2014: VERY GOOD. good weather, very dry, large early harvest, concentrated but balanced acidity, aromatic
2015: VARIABLE cold flowering, poor fruitset, heat spike during harvest, low yields. some wines overripe, high abv
2016: GREAT. good weather, last year of the 5yr drought. Aromatic, natural acidity, elegant tannins
2017: VARIABLE. difficult, heat spikes near harvest, followed by fires in October, tendency toward overripe-ness
Napa best and worst vintages of the 2000’s
Best: 2007. Worst: 2003 and 2000. Everything else was very good to great
Napa best and worst vintages of the 1990’s
Best ranked: 1997. then 1995, 1994, 1999, then 1996. Worst: 1998
Oregon best and worst through 2000
Best: 2016, 2012, then 2014, 2008. Worst: 2007, 2011, then 2003, 2013
California PN best and worst
Best: 2009, 2016, 2004. Worst: 2011, 2006
Declared Port vintages of the 2000’s
2000, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2016
Declared Port Vintages of the 90’s
1991, 1992, 1994, 1997
Declared Port Vintages of the 80’s
1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989
Declared Port Vintages of the 70’s
1970, 1975, 1977, 1978
Declared Port Vintages of the 60’s
1960, 1963, 1966, 1967
Best Port Vintages of the last century
1912, 1927 (arguably the best, 1945, 1948, 1963, 1970, 1985, 1994
Rioja Best and Worst of the 2000’s
Best: 2010, then 2001, 2004, 2005, 2016 (promising). Worst: 2006, 2007, 2002
Rioja Best and Worst of the mid-late 90’s
Best: 1995 Worst: 1997, 1998
Champagne vintages through 1996
2009: VERY GOOD. warm season. generous, approachable
2008: VERY GOOD. growers overcame disease. structured, classic, age-worthy
2007: POOR. few declarations, challenging growing season
2006: VERY GOOD
2005: OK. Chard fared best
2004: VERY GOOD. Sleek, bright, great for Chard
2003: POOR. few declarations, April frosts, little Chard
2002: EXCELLENT. Best of the decade. complexity, richness, structure, age-worthy
2001: TERRIBLE. no
2000: GOOD
1999: GOOD
1998: VERY GOOD
1997: OK
1996: EXCELLENT
Champagne Best and Worst of the 2000’s
BEST: 2002, then 2008, 2009, 2004; then 2006, 2000 WORST: 2001, then 2003, 2007