Vintages - Major French Regions

Question 1

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2021

Answer 1

4/5
Fine vintage for dry whites, especially Riesling, though not much sweet wine produced

Question 2

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2020

Answer 2

4/5
Some of Alsace’s finest Pinot Noir to date
Solid year for dry whites across the board

Question 3

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2019

Answer 3

5/5
Mild growing season with perfect harvest conditions
Quality dry and sweet wines with great aging potential

Question 4

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2018

Answer 4

4/5
Generous vintage for sweet wines, lots of Vendage Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobiles produced
All around quality, standouts are Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

Question 5

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2017

Answer 5

4/5
Significant frost damage on Crémant production and very cold winter
Hot summer brought an early harvest
Low yields but strong overall quality

Question 6

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2016

Answer 6

4/5
Little to no borytis onset for sweet wines
Dry whites were classic, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris thrived

Question 7

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2015

Answer 7

5/5
Perfect growing season, considered the greatest vintage in Alsace since 1990

Question 8

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Alsace 2014

Answer 8

3/5
High disease pressure though Riesling and Pinot Gris was solid, past its peak

Question 9

Name 2 major vintages for quality production in Alsace prior to 2013

Answer 9

1990
1971

Question 10

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2021

Answer 10

3/5
Fresh and lively wines for short-term drinking despite uneven ripening cycle

Question 11

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2020

Answer 11

5/5
Outstanding quality for the best vineyards and the Beaujolais Crus, will be long-lived

Question 12

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2019

Answer 12

4/5
Quality vintage despite a rough growing season, Crus produced quality wines

Question 13

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2018

Answer 13

5/5
Fresh vivacious wines, Crus will age well despite slightly more restrained alcohol levels

Question 14

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2017

Answer 14

4/5
Hailstorms damaged many of the Cru vineyards, exuberant fruity wines at lower yields

Question 15

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2016

Answer 15

4/5
Hail damaged the Northern Crus while the Southern Crus trhived, wines are soft, ample, but lack some density and depth

Question 16

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2015

Answer 16

5/5
Fantastic vintage
Dark, generous, and fruity with balanced acid

Question 17

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2014

Answer 17

4/5
‘Classic’ style Beaujolais, though lacking the depth of 2015 vintage

Question 18

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Beaujolais 2013

Answer 18

3/5
Some good wines but quality variable overall

Question 19

Name 2 other notable vintages prior to 2013 in Beaujolais for high quality wines

Answer 19

2009
2005

Question 20

Rate the following vintage 1-5 and briefly comment on it:
Left Bank & Graves 2021

Answer 20

Reds 3/5
Whites 3/5
Many top Château relied on Cabernet which fared better than Merlot, wines vary in quality