Map of Key French Wine Regions 
Bordeaux
As Bordeaux covers a large area, there are great variations in quality for the
different regions even in the same year. A good Medoc vintage does not necessarily
mean a good Pomorol vintage, or vice versa.
Below are the classic vintages of
the 20th century:
Snapshot
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| Outstanding |
1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2003 |
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Very good |
1934, 1952, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1986, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, |
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Good |
1933, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001 |
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Details
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| 1930 | Poor vintage |
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1931 | Poor vintage |
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1932 | Another poor vintage |
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1933 | Small crop average year |
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1934 | The decades best vintage the best wines still drinking well |
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1935 | Moderate vintage |
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1936 | Moderate vintage |
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1937 | Good vintage the best wines still drinking well |
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1938 | Mediocre vintage |
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1939 | Mediocre vintage |
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1940 | Mediocre vintage |
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1941 | Small crop still drinkable |
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1942 | Small crop still drinkable |
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1943 | The best of the wartime vintages |
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1944 | Underrated vintage the best still drinkable. |
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1945 | One of the greatest vintages of the century. |
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1946 | A good vintage sandwiched between two great vintages |
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1947 | Another great vintages |
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1948 | A good vintage |
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1949 | Yet again a great vintage |
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1950 | uneven vintage the best wines still drinking well |
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1951 | Dreadful vintage |
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1952 | Very good vintage |
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1953 | A marvellous vintage |
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1954 | Dreadful vintage |
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1955 | Aged exceptionally well producing wines of charm and character |
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1956 | Awful vintage |
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1957 | Poor vintage |
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1958 | Average vintage |
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1959 | A magnificent vintage |
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1960 | Poor vintage |
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1961 | The finest vintage since the second world war. Ready for drinking |
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1962 | Another amazing vintage. Ready for drinking. |
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1963 | Dreadful vintage |
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1964 | Great for Pomorol, St Emilion and Graves who harvested before the rains. Ready for drinking. |
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1965 | Awful vintage, except for sweet Banyuls |
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1966 | Best vintage since 1961. Ready for drinking. |
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1967 | Poor vintage |
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1968 | Poor vintage |
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1969 | Another poor vintage |
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1970 | Very good vintage |
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1971 | Another very good vintage |
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1972 | Really dreadful vintage |
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1973 | Poor vintage |
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1974 | Awful vintage |
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1975 | Paulliac and Pomorol most successful. A highly touted vintage. Drink now or cellar. |
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1976 | A good vintage. St Julian, Paulliac, St Estephe and Margaux the most successful vineyards producing soft fruity drinking. |
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1977 | worse vintage of the decade. |
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1978 | Excellent red wine vintage. Fully mature. |
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1979 | Good quality wines. Ready for drinking |
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1980 | Lots of supple wines produced. Ready for drinking. |
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1981 | A good vintage. Less intense wines produced. Ready for drinking. |
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1982 | A wonderful red vintage, with fat ripe juicy wines. The wines are drinking deliciously now, but will keep. |
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1983 | Average vintage. Quality was less uniform than in 1982, and the best wines are in Margaux. |
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1984 | Poor vintage |
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1985 | Another fine vintage. The wines are beautifully balanced and drinking well now. |
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1986 | A good vintage with a good concentration of fruit. |
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1987 | A very drinkable vintage. Drink up now. |
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1988 | A good vintage with wonderfully ripe St-Emilions and Pomerols, drink or cellar.. |
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1989 | Wonderful Medoc and good Pomorols and St - Emilions. Drink or cellar. |
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1990 | Undoubtedly the best vintage of the decade |
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1991 | Poor vintage |
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1992 | Poor vintage |
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1993 | Variable vintage the Merlot grape wines being the best |
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1994 | Good vintage |
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1995 | A good vintage, red wines of charm and structure produced. |
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1996 | A good not a great vintage. Not ready for Drinking. |
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1997 | Quite good vintage. Not ready for Drinking. |
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1998 | Variable vintage, Pomerols and St Emilions the best. Not ready for Drinking. |
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1999 | Quite good vintage. Not ready for Drinking. |
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2000 | Excellent vintage. Not ready for Drinking. |
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2001 | Very good vintage.Best in Pomerol and St Emilion |
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2002 | Quite good vintage. Not ready for Drinking. |
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2003 | Excellent vintage. Not ready for Drinking. Best in St. Julien/Pauillac
St. Estephe. |
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In 1855 the regions of Bordeaux were
classified into the following categories:
The 1855 Official Classification of the MÉDOC
First Growths (Premiers Crus) Commune
Château Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Château Margaux (Margaux)
Château Latour (Pauillac)
Château Haut-Brion Pessac (Graves)
Château Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus) Commune
Château Rausan-Ségla (Margaux)
Château Rauzan-Gassies (Margaux)
Château Léoville-Las Cases (Saint-Julien)
Château Léoville-Poyferré (Saint-Julien)
Château Léoville-Barton (Saint-Julien)
Château Durfort-Vivens (Margaux)
Château Gruaud-Larose (Saint-Julien)
Château Lascombes (Margaux)
Château Brane-Cantenac Cantenac (Margaux)
Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron (Pauillac)
Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande (Pauillac)
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou (Saint-Julien)
Château Cos d'Estournel (Saint-Estèphe)
Château Montrose (Saint-Estèphe)
Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus) Commune
Château Kirwan Cantenac (Margaux)
Château d'Issan Cantenac (Margaux)
Château Lagrange (Saint-Julien)
Château Langoa-Barton (Saint-Julien)
Château Giscours Labarde (Margaux)
Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry (Margaux)
Château Boyd-Cantenac Cantenac (Margaux)
Château Cantenac-Brown Cantenac (Margaux)
Château Palmer Cantenac (Margaux)
Château La Lagune Ludon (Haut-Médoc)
Château Desmirail (Margaux)
Château Calon-Ségur (Saint-Estèphe)
Château Ferrière (Margaux)
Château Marquis d'Alesme-Becker (Margaux)
Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus) Commune
Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien)
Château Talbot (Saint-Julien)
Château Branaire-Ducru (Saint-Julien)
Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Château Pouget Cantenac (Margaux)
Château La Tour-Carnet Saint-Laurent (Haut Médoc)
Château Lafon-Rochet (Saint-Estèphe)
Château Beychevelle (Saint-Julien)
Château Prieuré-Lichine Cantenac (Margaux)
Château Marquis-de-Terme (Margaux)
Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus) Commune
Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac)
Château Batailley (Pauillac)
Château Haut-Batailley (Pauillac)
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste (Pauillac)
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse (Pauillac)
Château Lynch-Bages (Pauillac)
Château Lynch-Moussas (Pauillac)
Château Dauzac Labarde (Margaux)
Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe (Pauillac)
Château du Tertre Arsac (Margaux)
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral (Pauillac)
Château Pédesclaux (Pauillac)
Château Belgrave Saint-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
Château de Camensac Saint-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
Château Cos-Labory (Saint-Estèphe)
Château Clerc-Milon (Pauillac)
Château Croizet-Bages (Pauillac)
Château Cantemerle Macau (Haut-Médoc)
The 1855 Official Classification of SAUTERNES – BARSAC
First Great Growth (Premier Cru Supérieur) Commune
Château d'Yquem (Sauternes)
First Growths (Premiers Crus) Commune
Château La Tour-Blanche (Bommes)
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey (Bommes)
Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey (Bommes)
Château de Rayne-Vigneau (Bommes)
Château Suduiraut (Preignac)
Château Coutet (Barsac)
Château Climens (Barsac)
Château Guiraud (Sauternes)
Château Rieussec (Fargues)
Château Rabaud-Promis (Bommes)
Château Sigalas-Rabaud (Bommes)
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus) Commune
Château de Myrat (Barsac)
Château Doisy-Daëne (Barsac)
Château Doisy-Dubroca (Barsac)
Château Doisy-Védrines (Barsac)
Château d'Arche (Sauternes)
Château Filhot (Sauternes)
Château Broustet (Barsac)
Château Nairac (Barsac)
Château Caillou (Barsac)
Château Suau (Barsac)
Château de Malle (Preignac)
Château Romer-du-Hayot (Fargues)
Château Lamothe-Despujols (Sauternes)
Château Lamothe-Guignard (Sauternes)
Burgundy
A good white vintage does not mean a good red vintage. Below is a table to assist you choosing the perfect gift.
Snapshot
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White Burgundys |
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Outstanding | 1864, 1865, 1906, 1928, 1947, 1962, 1966, 1986, 1989, 1996, |
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Very good | 1899, 1919, 1923, 1929, 1934, 1937, 1945, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, |
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Good | 1941, 1950, 1957, 1959, 1964, 1970, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002 |
Red Burgundys |
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Outstanding | 1937, 1945, 1949, 1959, 1962, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1990,1999 |
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Very good | 1933, 1934, 1943, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1964, 1966,1971, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002 |
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Good | 1935, 1942,1955, 1957, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2001 |
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Details
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| 1985 | A fine vintage, with reds that are drinking well now, Fine for whites, too, including Chablis. Ready for drinking. |
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1986 | The reds are showing good perfume, while the whites, except Chablis, are lighter than those of 1985. Drink soon. |
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1987 | Reds very good especially Cote de Beaune. Drink now |
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1988 | Very good in Chablis, exceptional in Beaujolais. Ready for drinking. |
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1989 | A rich, ripe year in both Chablis and the Côte d_Or. |
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1990 | A great vintage throughout the region, the red wines will benefit from further bottle ageing. |
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1991 | Quality is patchy, the result of a rainy harvest. Drink now. |
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1992 | The whites were better than the reds. All drinking now. |
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1993 | Reds fared better than whites, drinking now. |
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1994 | Reds better than whites. Drinking now |
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1995 | A splendid vintage for both reds and whites. Chablis is first rate. |
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1996 | Another fine vintage for both red and white. |
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1997 | Another good year, making for ripe, early drinking reds, as well as some attractive whites. |
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1998 | A variable year. The reds are generally not for the long term. The whites however fared better. |
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1999 | Quite a good vintage. |
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2000 | Very good white vintage red’s average. |
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2001 | Very good vintage. |
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2002 | Excellent vintage |
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2003 | Looking excellent |
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Rhone Valley
Snapshot
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Northern Rhone (Cote Rotie, St Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage and Cornas) |
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Outstanding | 1929, 1945, 1949, 1959, 1961, 1969, 1971,1978, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
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Very good | 1933, 1937, 1943, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1995 |
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Good | 1934, 1942, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001 |
Southern Rhone (Chateauneuf – du Pape) |
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Outstanding | 1929, 1945, 1949, 1952, 1959, 1961, 1970, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001 |
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Very good | 1934, 1937, 1947, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1999 |
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Good | 1939, 1944, 1953, 1966, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1996, 1997 |
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The northern Rhone contrasts with the southern part of the valley and there are
differences in grape variety and climate. Details
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| 1980 | South better than the north. Quite good vintage. |
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1981 | Quite good vintage. |
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1982 | Very good vintage. |
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1983 | Outstanding hermitage and very good Cote Rotie produced. |
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1984 | Poor vintage. |
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1985 | A fine vintage throughout the valley. |
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1986 | Average vintage. |
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1987 | Dreadful vintage. |
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1988 | A magnificent vintage in the North. Reds from the South are drinking well now. |
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1989 | A year of ripe powerful flavours. The South is generally thought more successful than the North, but both are good. |
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1990 | A wonderful vintage from Côte Rôtie down to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The North was more successful than the South. Beginning to drink nicely. |
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1991 | Generally lighter than the three previous years. Côte Rôtie in the North is the exception. |
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1992 | Moderate vintage. |
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1993 | Attractive whites in the North..Drink early. |
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1994 | A very good year. |
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1995 | A fine vintage, great wines in the North. |
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1996 | Superb in the North and whites for the whole region |
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1997 | A great vintage. |
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1998 | Good in the north even better in the South. |
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1999 | Very good vintage. The North better than the South. |
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2000 | Good vintage. |
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2001 | North a good vintage. South excellent. |
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2002 | North a good vintage. South awful. |
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2003 | An excellent vintage. |
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Champagne
Snapshot
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| Outstanding | 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1996 |
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Very good | 1979, 1981, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 |
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Good | 1983, 1986, 1993 |
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Vintage Champagne benefits from bottle ageing, as much as ten years for the best
wines.
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| 1980 | Poor vintage. |
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1981 | Very good vintage. |
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1982 | Classic, elegant wines. Drink now or cellar |
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1983 | Rich wines, with good acidity, drinking well now. Drink now or cellar |
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1984 | Very poor vintage. |
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1985 | A small crop of finely balanced, stylish wines. Drink now or cellar |
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1986 | Good vintage. |
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1987 | Poor vintage. |
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1988 | Powerful wines with a good backbone. Drink now or cellar |
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1989 | A riper, richer year than 1988 and consequently less long-lived. Drink now or cellar |
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1990 | one of the great recent vintages. A year of ripe fruit and the wines are superb. Drink now or cellar |
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1991 | An elegance and structure to the wines this year. Few vintage wines were made. Drink now or cellar |
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1992 | Very good vintage. |
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1993 | Quite good. Cellar. |
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1994 | Very poor vintage. |
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1995 | The best vintage since 1990; the wines are balanced. Cellar |
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1996 | Even better than 1995. Splendid balanced wines. Cellar |
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1997 | Good vintage. |
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1998 | Good vintage |
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1999 | Very good vintage. |
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2000 | Good vintage. |
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2001 | Very poor vintage. |
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2002 | Very good vintage. |
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Vintage Port
Snapshot
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| Outstanding | 1900, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1945, 1955, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1994, 2000 |
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Very good | 1904, 1920, 1924, 1934, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1960, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1997 |
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Good | 1910, 1911, 1917, 1922, 1933, 1942, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 |
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Details
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1945 | The most incredible port vintage of the century |
1946 | Poor Vintage Port year. |
1947 | Very good Vintage Port vintage. |
1948 | Very good Vintage Port vintage. |
1949 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1950 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1951 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1952 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1953 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1954 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
1955 | Outstanding Vintage Port vintage. |
1956 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1957 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1958 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
1959 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1960 | Very good Vintage port vintage. |
1961 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
1962 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
1963 | An incredible port vintage. The ports are amazing and have great longativity. Drinking now |
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1964 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1965 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1966 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1967 | Average Vintage Port vintage. |
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1968 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1969 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1970 | Great Vintage Port vintage. |
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1971 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1972 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1973 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1974 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1975 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1976 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1977 | Brilliant Vintage Port vintage. |
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1978 | Average Vintage Port vintage. |
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1979 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1980 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1981 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1982 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1983 | Very good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1984 | Poor Vintage Port vintage |
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1985 | Exceptional Vintage Port vintage. |
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1986 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1987 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1988 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1989 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1990 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1991 | Very good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1992 | Very good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1993 | Poor Vintage Port vintage. |
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1994 | Outstanding Vintage Port vintage. |
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1995 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1996 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1997 | Very good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1998 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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1999 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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2000 | Excellent Vintage Port vintage. |
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2001 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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2002 | Good Vintage Port vintage. |
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2003 | Excellent Vintage Port vintage. |
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Map of Key Italian Wine Regions 
Italy
Snapshot
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Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco) |
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Outstanding | 1961, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1997 |
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Very good | 1967, 1970, 1986, 1996, 1999 |
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Good | 1962, 1968, 1969, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1993, 1995, 1998 |
Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino) |
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Outstanding | 1962, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1997 |
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Very good | 1968, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1999 |
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Good | 1961, 1970, 1973, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1998 |
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Piedmont and Tuscany are the regions where vintages most matter, and where the
wines most repay ageing, especially Barolo and Barbaresco from Piedmont and Chianti
Classico and Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany. This is not to say that other
Italian reds do not improve with age; most whites however are best drunk in early
youth.
Details
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| 1960 | Average vintage |
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1961 | Good In Tuscany great in Piedmont. |
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1962 | Superb Tuscan wines produced |
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1963 | Awful vintage |
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1964 | Excellent vintage |
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1965 | Poor vintage |
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1966 | Poor vintage |
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1967 | Very good vintage. |
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1968 | Variable vintage |
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1969 | Good vintage. |
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1970 | good vintage in Tuscany very good in Piedmont. |
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1971 | An excellent vintage. |
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1972 | Awful vintage |
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1973 | Average vintage. |
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1974 | Excellent vintage in Piedmont, good elsewhere. |
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1975 | Fair vintage. |
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1976 | Poor vintage |
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1977 | Good in Tuscany |
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1978 | Best vintage of decade. |
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1979 | Good vintage |
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1980 | Poor vintage. |
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1981 | Variable vintage |
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1982 | Excellent vintage. |
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1983 | Average vintage. |
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1984 | Poor vintage. |
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1985 | Great vintage. |
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1986 | very good vintage. |
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1987 | Average vintage. |
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1988 | Excellent vintage. |
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1989 | Mixed vintage, Brunello the best. |
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1990 | A uniformly excellent vintage throughout the country; the wines will repay further ageing. |
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1991 | A great vintage in both Tuscany and Piedmont. |
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1992 | Poor vintage |
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1993 | Average quality in Tuscany, and only little better further north in Piedmont. |
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1994 | Tuscany fared better this year, but rain at the harvest nevertheless diluted the quality. |
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1995 | Some great wines were made this year in both Tuscany and Piedmont. |
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1996 | Fine in Piedmont, and above average in Tuscany. |
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1997 | An excellent vintage throughout the country. |
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1998 | Successful in both Tuscany and Piedmont. |
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1999 | The hat-trick vintage, with fine wines in both regions. |
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2000 | Yet another very good vintage in Piedmont, and a good but less uniform year in Tuscany. |
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France 