Wine Vintages
You see vintages talked about in wine circles; you see snobs argue over whether the '97 is better than the '96, and you wonder if any of it actually matters.
Many things influence the quality of a vintage, but it's mostly the weather. Rain around harvest is disasterous as the extra water causes the grapes to swell and become weak and diluted. Dry weather is generally good, as it makes the fruit more concentrated (at the cost of lower yields, which are also good for quality). Rough starts (such as a cold spring) can reduce the yield. These things seem to have a perceptible influence on overall quality, although you'd have to drink a lot of wine to be able to make general pronouncements about a year.
Vintages matter more in some places than others. The quality of Burgundy is highly dependent on the (very fickle) weather, as is the quality of Bordeaux. The Germans live in perpetual fear of freak cold at strange times. The weather in Australia is so consistent that vintage barely matters. The weather in California is mostly consistent, so vintages are largely for the snob.
If you aren't inclined to memorize charts, focus mostly on Bordeaux and Burgundy, where it actually matters. Remember that 2005, 2000, 1997, and 1990 were great years (the '05 is especially divine, but will not be ready to drink for a while), while the rest of the 90's were bad in Bordeaux. In Burgundy, 2005, 2001, 1999, 1996, 1993, and 1990 were good, and the rest were bad. In Germany, they've had a string of great vintages starting in the mid-90's, while both the 2001 and 2005 are regarded as the best of the generation.
These vintage charts are compiled from reading a variety of the usual wine publications for what they thought of the year. I don't drink nearly enough wine to be able to make general statements about the quality of any specific vintage, so I cannot personally vouch for most of this information.
Bordeaux
- 2005
- incredible, greatest in decades
- 2004
- decent
- 2003
- unique and different, not necessarily age-worthy (the heat wave vintage)
- 2002
- mediocre
- 2001
- not too bad
- 2000
- superb, will be remembered
- 1999
- eh, whatever
- 1998
- pretty decent
- 1997
- great year
- 1996
- not so interesting
- 1995
- decent
- 1994
- very mediocre
- 1993
- very mediocre
- 1992
- bad
- 1991
- bad
- 1990
- awesome year
Burgundy
- 2005
- truly awesome
- 2004
- typical
- 2003
- okay but a little odd sometimes (the heat wave vintage)
- 2002
- excellent year
- 2001
- strange and uneven
- 2000
- uneven
- 1999
- excellent year
- 1998
- not bad
- 1997
- mediocre
- 1996
- very good year
- 1995
- not too bad
- 1994
- not good
- 1993
- very good
- 1992
- bad
- 1991
- uneven at best
- 1990
- Godlike
California Cabernet and Merlot
- 2005
- very good
- 2004
- good
- 2003
- good
- 2002
- Very good
- 2001
- Godlike; classic year
- 2000
- somewhat uneven
- 1999
- excellent
- 1998
- uneven
- 1997
- Awesome
- 1996
- Excellent
- 1995
- Very good
- 1994
- Excellent
- 1993
- Decent
- 1992
- good
- 1991
- Excellent
- 1990
- Excellent
German Riesling
- 2005
- Lightning strikes twice; may well match '01 in divine awesomeness
- 2004
- typical
- 2003
- typical
- 2002
- typical
- 2001
- Godlike; best of this generation
- 2000
- mediocre
- 1999
- very good
- 1998
- very good
- 1997
- very good
- 1996
- excellent
- 1995
- very good
- 1994
- good
- 1993
- very good
- 1992
- uneven
- 1991
- uneven
- 1990
- awesome
Vintage Port
Remember that they only bother to make vintage port on the good years, so it tends to be good in general.
- 2003
- Classical and refined
- 2000
- Godlike, lower yields than '97
- 1997
- Awesome
- 1995
- Very good
- 1994
- Godlike
- 1992
- Excellent
- 1991
- Very good
- 1987
- good
- 1985
- really good
- 1983
- really good
- 1980
- good
- 1978
- good
- 1977
- Godlike
- 1975
- possible mistake
- 1970
- awesome