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CLASSIC WINE VINTAGE CHART
FRENCH WINES |
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HOW TO USE THESE VINTAGE CHARTS.
The charts are a general guide, they can vary considerably within a region, they only relate to wines of distinct quality, personality and individuality, as such, the charts are only applicable to a country's top 5 to 10%.
The colour of the cell denotes the wine's readyness for drinking, whist the numbers 1 to 10 represent the wines overall rating for each year.
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FRENCH WINES |
BORDEAUX |
The vintage chart immediately below only relates to the top Chateaux in these regions of Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a huge wine producing area, and consequently vintages do vary significantly within each region. Red Bordeaux is notorious for being one of the most long-lived wines in the world due to the dense fruit and high levels of tanin found in the Cabernet and Merlot grapes. The sweet wines of Sauterne produce the longest lasting whites, due to their high levels of sugar and alcohol. |
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Year |
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99 |
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97 |
96 |
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Margeaux |
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St. Julien, Pauillac, St. Estephe |
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Graves, Pessac-Leognan (reds) |
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Graves, Pessac-Leognan (whites) |
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St. Emilion, Pomerol |
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Sauterns, Barsac |
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BURGUNDY |
Red Burgundy' is made from the Capricious Pinot Noir (except Beaujolais, which uses the Gamet grape), it is a thoroughbred amongst grapes. It is difficult and expensive to grow. Burgundy is near the northern limit for effective ripening of the grapes, this all combines to make Burgundy desperately unreliable. The vintage chart therefore is restricted to rating what can be expected from a top Domain. White Burgundy is predominantly made from the Chardonnay Grape, which thankfully is more reliable, it ripens early and is generally not subject to rot. The whites are fermented and aged in oak which provides qualities that make white Burgundies some of the longest living in the world. |
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Year |
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Chablis |
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Cote de Nuits |
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Cote de Beaune (reds) |
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Cote de Beaune (whites) |
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Maconnais (whites) |
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Beaujolais Crus |
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LOIRE |
The Loire, starting in Southern Brittany, winding it's way down to within 30km of the Rhone, is such a huge and varied region it is difficult to generalize about the quality of it's wines. The majority of Loire wines should be drunk young, however, some vintages of selected wines will age well, in particular the Cabernet Franc reds and such wines as Vouvrey with high sugars and acidity. Hot summers are a rarity in the Loire, however, when they do occur the Loire is capable of producing some stunning vintages. |
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Year |
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99 |
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Bourgueil, Chinon, Saumur Champigny. |
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Anjou, Vouvery (sweet whites) |
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Sancerre (whites) |
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RHONE |
Northern Rhones are predominantly produced from the Syrah grapes, this grape ages well. the climate of the Rhone is is warm and produces fewer problems, however, Excessive temperatures can cause problems by drying out the grapes, as in 2002. Southern whites should be drunk young. |
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Year |
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Cote Rotie |
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Condrieu |
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Hermitage (reds) |
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Hermitage (whites) |
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Chateauneuf di Pape (reds) |
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Chateauneuf di Pape (whites) |
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ALSACE |
The climate of Alsaceis very dry, never the less, basic Alsace wines are drunk within two to four years. Whilst Grand Cru & Lieux-dits may be kept longer.
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Year |
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99 |
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Alsace Grand Cru |
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CHAMPAGNE |
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| Most Champagne produced is non-vintage, indicated normally NV when specified. consistency is therefore created within this cold region by blending. Vintage Champagnes are declared is specifically good years, several year after the harvest, it will reach maturity after 10 years or so, then keep well for up to 15 years. |
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Year |
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Vintage Champagne |
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