What does it mean for a year to be “a good year” for wine, and how does it affect the taste? Also how can one know what years are “good years”?
In: Other
Top producers will produce great wines consistently, regardless of the vintage. Good years are when the conditions of a region elevate even mediocre producers finished product.
The biggest issue in the US is over generalization, specifically of California. Santa Barbara, Monterey, Napa, and Sonoma have vastly different sub climates. A lot of people only know Napa and Sonoma and follow those top vintages as top for the whole state. Not the case.
Also, vintage variation is more important in Europe than the rest of the New World. Their laws for production are very specific as to what they can do in the vineyards in bad years. Bordeaux and Burgundy, in particular, can be too hot, cold, wet, or dry any season and can make variation in producer quality very evident. Bad years will still have great wines from the top producers, but at a high price. Top vintages means the less expensive wines will producer on par or better than more expensive bottlings.
Latest Answers