Vintages

Question 1

What recent vintages in Alsace were the best for SGN and VT?

Answer 1

2017
2020

Question 2

Why did red grapes suffer in Alsace in 2014?

Answer 2

drosophilia suzukii infestation

Question 3

What recent vintage in Alsace is considered near legendary?

Answer 3

2015

Question 4

What Barolo vintage was considered the best in the 1990s?

Answer 4

1990

Question 5

What is unique about Barolo vintages from 1991-1994?

Answer 5

• some of the rainiest vintages and harvests
• 1992 saw disease and declassification
• 1994 was a high record rainfall since 1981

Question 6

What Barolo vintage is considered most classic from 1995-1999 and why?

Answer 6

1999
- tension in fruit that hadn’t been seen in riper, more powerful previous vintages

Question 7

What recent Barolo and Barbaresco vintages are considered most classic and ageworthy?

Answer 7

2013
2016

Question 8

In what recent vintages did Barbaresco fare better than Barolo due to hail?

Answer 8

2012
2014
2018

Question 9

What recent Barolo and Barbaresco vintage is the most ripe and high alcohol?

Answer 9

2011

Question 10

What recent Champagne vintage has the record for early harvest?

Answer 10

2020

Question 11

What recent Champagne vintage had a record hot summer?

Answer 11

2015

Question 12

What recent Champagne vintage is considered most ageworthy?

Answer 12

2012

Question 13

What recent Champagne vintages are the least successful?

Answer 13

2011
2016
2017

Question 14

What recent vintage was the warmest in Cote d’Or?

Answer 14

2018

Question 15

What recent vintage in the Cote d’Or was inconsistent, under ripe, and challenging?

Answer 15

2011

Question 16

In what recent Cote d’Or vintage did many white crus not get made due to frost damage and disease pressure?

Answer 16

2016

Question 17

What current vintages in the Loire were worst for sweet wine?

Answer 17

2013
2019

Question 18

In what recent Loire vintages did hail decimate Savannieres?

Answer 18

2017

Question 19

In what recent Loire vintage did hail destroy 2/3 of the crop in Vouvray?

Answer 19

2013

Question 20

What was the coldest Medoc vintage of the 1990s?

Answer 20

1991

Question 21

What Medoc vintage of the 1990s was best for merlot and why?

Answer 21

1998
- cool spring and warm, dry August
- Merlot ripens earlier

Question 22

What current Medoc vintages are the most dense and powerful?

Answer 22

2018
2019
2020

Question 23

In what recent Bordeaux vintage did hail damage result in a loss of 40% of crop?

Answer 23

2017

Question 24

What recent vintage in the Medoc produced the most lean and light wines due to mildew and early picking?

Answer 24

2013

Question 25

What recent vintages in Mendoza are considered the most age-worthy?

Answer 25

2012 2018

Question 26

What recent vintages in Mendoza were part of a 3 year El Nino cycle marked by wet, cold, snow, hail, and rot?

Answer 26

2014 2015 2016

Question 27

What current vintages in the Mosel were the most challenging and variable?

Answer 27

2013 2014 2016

Question 28

What current Mosel vintages are the most age-worthy?

Answer 28

2012 2015

Question 29

What current Mosel vintage was hottest and driest?

Answer 29

2018

Question 30

What vintage of the 1990s saw noticeable price increases due to low yields in Napa?

Answer 30

1995

Question 31

What vintage in Napa was considered the standout of the 1990s?

Answer 31

1997

Question 32

What recent Napa vintages saw an abrupt end to the growing season due to wildfires?

Answer 32

2017 2020

Question 33

What recent Napa vintage saw heat spikes and high yields, resulting in low acid?

Answer 33

2012

Question 34

What recent vintage in Napa saw low yields (poor fruit set) and record early harvests (dehydration)?

Answer 34

2015

Question 35

What recent Napa vintages are considered classic and ideal?

Answer 35

2013 2014

Question 36

What recent vintage in the Northern Rhone is complex and age-worthy even though coulure lowered yields?

Answer 36

2010

Question 37

What was the coolest, wettest recent vintage in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 37

2013

Question 38

What is widely considered the best recent vintage of Port?

Answer 38

2011

Question 39

What year was the earliest harvest on record in Port?

Answer 39

2017

Question 40

What are the hottest and coolest Port vintages of the last 25 years?

Answer 40

2003 - hottest 2007 - coolest

Question 41

What Rioja vintage was good for vigilant producers and high altitude sites?

Answer 41

2020

Question 42

What recent Rioja vintages saw cooler weather and leaner wines, reminiscent of the 20th century?

Answer 42

2018 2014

Question 43

What recent Rioja vintage was the most smooth, easy, and abundant?

Answer 43

2016

Question 44

What recent Rioja vintage was one of the earliest and shortest?

Answer 44

2017

Question 45

What recent Rioja vintage was the most challenging and why?

Answer 45

2013 - cool, rainy spring - hail - disease pressure

Question 46

What recent vintages in Southern Rhone were challenging for grenache due to rain?

Answer 46

2013 2018

Question 47

What recent vintage was the most challenging in Southern Rhone?

Answer 47

2014

Question 48

What recent vintages in Southern Rhone are considered cool and "off?"

Answer 48

2013 2014 2021

Question 49

What recent vintages in Tuscany are considered cooler, less consistent, and more lean?

Answer 49

2012 2014

Question 50

What vintage in Tuscany (recent) is the most opulent robust, and tannic?

Answer 50

2017

Question 51

What two recent vintages in Tuscany are considered the most elegant and age-worthy?

Answer 51

2018 2020

Question 52

What was the biggest challenge of 2020 in the Willamette valley?

Answer 52

fires

Question 53

What recent vintage in Willamette broke a streak of warm vintages?

Answer 53

2019

Question 54

What recent vintage was the warmest on record in Willamette?

Answer 54

2015

Question 55

Why was 2013 in Willamette so producer dependent?

Answer 55

- harvest rains favored producers who picked slightly earlier - later pickers suffered varying quality