Comments on: Are Vintage Charts Outdated?

By: Catavino - Spanish Wine, Portuguese wine and more! » Iberian Wine Myth Busters - Vintage

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:53:02 +0000

[...] Today’s Myth Buster was inspired by an article,a book we are about to review, and my past experience selling wine in Minnesota. However, allow me to begin my soapbox lecture by pointing out the ever-so-not-humorous joke about vintage. [...]

By: Dr. Debs

Dr. Debs — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 16:45:27 +0000

Tim:

The Parker vintage chart was updated in April 2006 (http://www.erobertparker.com/info/vintagechart1.asp). This is what I’ve been using to scrounge through inexpensive beaujolais from recent vintages, and it hasn’t steered me wrong, yet! I’ve really benefitted from the “Caution: Wine may be too old” for this region’s wine.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 16:17:34 +0000

I agree that vintage charts are more useful in regions where there is more weather variability as there is in some parts of France. It would be of particular interest in less expensive wines to know if the year was overall very good and that lesser wines might be better than in average or poor years. In looking over Mr. Parker’s chart, however, you have to go back to the early 1990′s to find average vintages in most parts of France, with the notable exception of southern Rhone wines in 2002.

Thanks for your comments!

By: Dr. Debs

Dr. Debs — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:39:51 +0000

Thanks, Tim. I think that they are useful, though, in cases where there is great wine variability–which is not true of California Cabs which are tend to get pretty consistent ratings year after year, at least in my experience. Where I find the vintage ratings really useful is with Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Beaujolais–especially the last two, since finding wines from these regions in my area is a bit hit or miss. Knowing that the vintage as a whole was pretty good gives me greater confidence to pick up bottles of Burgundy or Beaujolais that I find in local shops and give them a try.

By: Pat Uphues

Pat Uphues — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 13:57:48 +0000

Great follow-up, Tim. You are right on the money about this. After I posted yesterday, I looked a little deeper into the year 2000. Mostly I looked into comments from individual winemakers. Almost all agreed that the weather (heat spikes, etc.) was a challenge but the final product was of high quality. Whenever I look at Parker’s chart and see the letter ‘C’ next to the score, I ignore the vintage entirely. I doubt this was his intention or if he realizes what an impact such a critique could have. Reconsidering his stance on 2000 could also lead me to belive that it may not endure a long life in the cellar. In any case, I am guilty of too much reading and not enough tasting. Imagine the shame!