Vintage Chart
Elegant
Cooler and/or wetter growing seasons.
Typically characterised by:
- Higher acidity
- Lower alcohol
- Brighter fruit
- Finer tannins (reds)
- Greater freshness, finesse, and minerality
Elegant vintages favour precision and terroir expression over concentration.
Classic
Balanced sunshine and rainfall with steady ripening.
Typically characterised by:
- Balanced fruit and acidity
- Pure varietal character
- Harmonious structure
- Excellent ageing potential
Classic vintages represent the benchmark expression of a region.
Powerful
Warmer, sunnier, and generally drier growing seasons.
Typically characterised by:
- Riper fruit
- Fuller body
- Higher alcohol
- Greater concentration
- Richer texture and firmer tannins (reds)
Powerful vintages favour intensity and richness while maintaining balance when acidity is preserved.
Switzerland🇨🇭
2020 – Powerful – A warm, dry, and early growing season allowed all three varieties to reach excellent maturity. Pinot Noir is concentrated and generous, with ripe cherry fruit, broad texture, and polished tannins. Chardonnay is rich and structured, while Completer combines considerable ripeness with enough natural acidity to retain tension.
2021 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and demanding season delayed ripening and created significant vineyard pressure. Pinot Noir is lighter and more perfumed, with bright red fruit, moderate alcohol, and fine tannins. Chardonnay is fresh and citrus-driven, while Completer shows pronounced acidity, mineral structure, and a particularly austere, long-lived profile.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry season brought rapid ripening and considerable concentration. Pinot Noir is deep and structured, with dark fruit, ripe tannins, and substantial power. Chardonnay is broad and generous, while Completer is dense and textural, its naturally high acidity helping balance the warmth of the vintage.
2023 – Classic – A warm but relatively balanced season, supported by periods of rainfall and cool Alpine nights, allowed gradual and even ripening. Pinot Noir combines ripe fruit with freshness and refined tannins. Chardonnay is concentrated but precise, while Completer shows ripe orchard fruit, savoury depth, and firm mineral acidity.
2024 – Elegant – A wet and difficult season brought disease pressure, uneven flowering, and reduced yields, although the Föhn and improved conditions before harvest helped dry the fruit and complete ripening. Pinot Noir is expected to be perfumed and finely structured, Chardonnay fresh and restrained, and Completer especially tense, mineral, and acid-driven. The vintage favours finesse over concentration. The region’s Föhn wind can be particularly valuable in such seasons because it dries the bunches and extends the ripening window.
2025 – Classic – A relatively warm growing season produced ripe, healthy fruit while the region’s elevation and cool nights helped preserve freshness. Pinot Noir appears aromatic and balanced, with vivid fruit and fine tannins. Chardonnay combines maturity with mineral precision, while Completer retains firm acidity beneath a riper, more expressive profile.
2020 – Powerful – A warm, dry, and early season allowed all three varieties to reach excellent ripeness. Pinot Noir is generous and concentrated, with ripe cherry fruit, supple tannins, and broad texture. Müller-Thurgau is aromatic and expressive, while Räuschling shows more body and softer acidity than usual without losing freshness.
2021 – Elegant – A cool, wet season with persistent mildew pressure and delayed ripening reduced yields and required careful vineyard work. Pinot Noir is lighter and more transparent, with bright red fruit and fine tannins. Müller-Thurgau displays delicate floral aromas and lively acidity, while Räuschling is particularly vibrant, mineral, and citrus-driven.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry growing season produced fully ripe fruit across the region. Pinot Noir is rich and structured, with darker fruit, polished tannins, and considerable concentration. Müller-Thurgau is generous and intensely aromatic, while Räuschling is broader and riper than normal, showing less austerity and more texture.
2023 – Classic – A warm season with timely rainfall supported steady ripening and good crop levels. Pinot Noir combines ripe fruit with freshness and refined tannins. Müller-Thurgau is balanced and aromatic, while Räuschling retains bright acidity and mineral definition. The wines show excellent harmony, making this one of the most balanced recent vintages.
2024 – Elegant – A wet and demanding season brought heavy disease pressure, difficult flowering, and significantly reduced yields. Careful selection and a favourable finish preserved quality. Pinot Noir is perfumed and refined, with bright acidity and fine tannins. Müller-Thurgau is fresh and delicate, while Räuschling excels through its crisp acidity, citrus fruit, and saline minerality. The small crop produced wines of finesse rather than power.
2025 – Classic – A relatively warm season with an early harvest produced healthy fruit with good physiological ripeness while maintaining fresh acidity. Pinot Noir appears balanced and elegant rather than opulent. Müller-Thurgau is expressive and vibrant, while Räuschling combines ripe citrus fruit with its characteristic mineral tension. The vintage currently appears harmonious and well-proportioned, although it remains provisional while the wines mature.
2020 – Powerful – A warm, dry, and early growing season brought complete ripeness and considerable concentration. Pinot Noir is generous and structured, with ripe cherry fruit and polished tannins. Müller-Thurgau is broad and aromatic, while Räuschling is fuller and less austere than usual, though the best examples retain freshness.
2021 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and difficult season brought severe mildew pressure, delayed ripening, and reduced yields. Pinot Noir is lighter and more transparent, with red fruit, fresh acidity, and fine tannins. Müller-Thurgau is delicate and floral, while Räuschling shows pronounced acidity, citrus fruit, and mineral tension. Some top Pinot Noirs nevertheless achieved impressive ripeness and balance.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry season accelerated ripening and placed vines under water stress. Pinot Noir is concentrated and ripe, with darker fruit, broader texture, and substantial tannins. Müller-Thurgau is generous and intensely aromatic, while Räuschling is richer and softer, with less of its customary austerity.
2023 – Classic – A variable but generally warm season, supported by periods of rainfall, allowed the grapes to ripen steadily. Pinot Noir combines ripe red fruit with freshness and supple tannins. Müller-Thurgau is aromatic and balanced, while Räuschling retains citrus-driven acidity and clear mineral definition, giving a harmonious regional profile. Zürich producers made well-regarded examples of all three varieties in 2023.
2024 – Elegant – A wet and demanding season created strong disease pressure and required careful vineyard management and selection. Pinot Noir is expected to be perfumed and lighter-bodied, with bright acidity and fine tannins. Müller-Thurgau is fresh and delicate, while Räuschling is particularly well suited to the vintage’s moderate alcohol and acid-driven character. Available Zürichsee Räuschling examples show alcohol levels around 11%, consistent with the lighter vintage style.
2025 – Classic – An early and relatively warm season produced rapid development and one of the earliest harvests remembered by some Zürich growers. Pinot Noir appears ripe and aromatic while retaining the region’s cool-climate freshness. Müller-Thurgau is expressive and open, while Räuschling combines good maturity with firm acidity.
2016 – Classic – A wet and relatively cool beginning to the season created considerable vineyard pressure, but warm, dry conditions from summer through harvest allowed the red grapes to ripen steadily. The wines are fresh and balanced, with clear fruit, moderate alcohol, fine tannins, and a restrained, classically proportioned structure.
2017 – Powerful – Spring frost reduced yields before a hot, dry summer accelerated ripening. The small crop produced concentrated reds with dark fruit, elevated alcohol, and firm structure. Syrah and Cornalin are particularly intense, while the best wines retain enough freshness to balance their warm, powerful character.
2018 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry season allowed even late-ripening red varieties to achieve full maturity. The wines are broad, ripe, and expressive, with dark fruit, generous alcohol, soft acidity, and polished tannins. They are rich and immediately appealing, although sometimes less restrained than in cooler years.
2019 – Classic – A variable spring was followed by a warm summer and favourable harvest conditions, while cool nights helped preserve acidity. The reds combine ripe fruit with freshness, showing aromatic precision, refined tannins, and excellent balance. Syrah and Cornalin achieved depth without excessive weight, giving strong ageing potential.
2020 – Powerful – A warm, dry, and exceptionally early season produced deeply ripe and concentrated red grapes. The wines are generous and full-bodied, with dark fruit, spice, broad textures, and substantial tannins. The best examples retain sufficient acidity and alpine freshness to support medium- to long-term ageing.
2021 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and difficult season brought frost, hail, mildew pressure, and delayed ripening. The reds are generally lighter and more restrained, with bright red fruit, moderate alcohol, fresh acidity, and delicate tannins. Pinot Noir performed comparatively well, while late-ripening varieties required strict selection.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally hot, sunny, and dry season placed considerable stress on the vines, particularly in shallow soils and exposed sites. The reds are concentrated and structured, with ripe black fruit, elevated alcohol, dense tannins, and considerable power. Older vines and higher vineyards produced the most balanced wines.
2023 – Classic – A warm season with sufficient periods of rainfall allowed the red grapes to ripen evenly without the extreme drought pressure of 2022. The wines are aromatic, ripe, and harmonious, with vivid fruit, supple tannins, and good freshness. Syrah, Cornalin, and Humagne Rouge show particularly convincing balance and varietal character.
2024 – Elegant – A wet and demanding growing season brought frost, hail, mildew, difficult flowering, and sharply reduced yields. Improved conditions before harvest allowed the remaining grapes to reach sound maturity. The reds are expected to be fresh and perfumed, with moderate alcohol, bright acidity, fine tannins, and more finesse than concentration.
France 🇫🇷
2019 – Classic – A hot, dry season with very low yields was moderated by useful rainfall shortly before harvest. The wines combine ripe fruit and concentration with vibrant acidity, showing aromatic clarity, fine tannins, and excellent balance. They have the depth of a warm year without losing Gamay’s freshness and energy.
2020 – Powerful – A warm, sunny, and exceptionally early growing season produced fully ripe grapes and considerable concentration. The wines are deep and expressive, with dark fruit, floral aromas, ripe tannins, and broad texture. Despite their power, the best examples retain freshness and balance, giving strong ageing potential.
2021 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and difficult season brought frost, disease pressure, and delayed ripening. The wines are generally lighter and more transparent, with bright red fruit, floral aromas, vibrant acidity, and delicate tannins. Careful producers made particularly fine, fluid wines that favour perfume and finesse over concentration.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally hot, sunny, and dry season produced a small, concentrated crop. The wines show ripe black fruit, violet and peony aromas, substantial texture, and firm structure. Gamay retained surprising freshness, preventing the wines from becoming excessively heavy or jammy despite the extreme conditions.
2023 – Classic – A warm and sometimes humid season produced a relatively generous crop, helping moderate sugar and concentration. The wines are aromatic, balanced, and approachable, with ripe red fruit, supple tannins, and good freshness. The best examples show clear Gamay character without the density of 2022.
2024 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and demanding season brought strong mildew pressure, uneven flowering, hail in some areas, and reduced yields. The surviving fruit produced fresh, perfumed wines with moderate alcohol, bright red fruit, lively acidity, and fine tannins. The vintage favours delicacy and transparency over power
2009 – Powerful – A warm, sunny growing season with relatively limited rainfall allowed Chardonnay to achieve excellent ripeness. The wines are generous and concentrated, showing ripe orchard fruit, broad textures, and softer acidity. They are rich and approachable, while still retaining Chablis’ signature mineral character.
2010 – Classic – A cool, relatively wet season followed by a dry, favourable finish allowed Chardonnay to ripen slowly while preserving exceptional acidity. The wines are precise, mineral, and tightly structured, with citrus fruit, saline tension, and outstanding ageing potential.
2011 – Elegant – A very warm spring accelerated the growing season, but a cooler and more irregular summer produced wines of moderate concentration. The wines are fresh, open, and approachable, with citrus fruit, delicate minerality, and a lighter, earlier-drinking profile.
2012 – Powerful – A difficult season marked by frost, poor flowering, hail, and disease pressure dramatically reduced yields. The small crop ripened fully, producing wines with remarkable concentration, ripe citrus fruit, firm acidity, and considerable mineral depth. The best examples combine richness with excellent ageing potential.
2013 – Elegant – A cold, wet spring delayed the growing season before a late harvest. The wines are lean, fresh, and classically mineral, showing restrained citrus fruit, pronounced acidity, and fine precision. They favour elegance over concentration and continue to appeal to lovers of traditional Chablis.
2014 – Classic – A balanced season with moderate temperatures and a dry, sunny September allowed for slow, even ripening. The wines combine vibrant acidity with citrus fruit, saline minerality, and exceptional precision, creating one of the benchmark Chablis vintages of the modern era.
2015 – Powerful – A warm, sunny, and relatively dry season produced ripe Chardonnay despite hail affecting parts of the region. The wines are concentrated and expressive, with generous orchard fruit, broad textures, and moderate acidity, offering a richer interpretation of Chablis while maintaining mineral freshness.
2016 – Powerful – Severe spring frost, persistent rain, and mildew drastically reduced yields before a warm, dry summer rescued the remaining crop. The wines are concentrated and textural, with ripe fruit, generous body, and substantial mineral depth. The low yields created wines of impressive intensity and ageing potential.
2017 – Classic – Spring frost reduced yields, but warm, dry conditions through the remainder of the season ensured complete ripening. The wines are pure, focused, and beautifully balanced, combining bright citrus fruit, vibrant acidity, saline minerality, and excellent ageing potential.
2018 – Powerful – A wet winter replenished water reserves before an exceptionally warm and sunny summer. The wines are ripe, generous, and approachable, with yellow fruit, rounded textures, and softer acidity. The best examples retain freshness despite their naturally richer style.
2019 – Classic – A warm, dry season with low yields produced concentrated fruit, while cool nights preserved freshness. The wines combine ripe citrus fruit with vibrant acidity, pronounced minerality, and excellent structure, resulting in a beautifully balanced and ageworthy vintage.
2020 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, dry, and early vintage produced healthy fruit with excellent concentration. Despite the heat, the wines retained surprising freshness, showing ripe citrus, generous texture, and a powerful mineral finish. Rich yet remarkably balanced, they are built for long ageing.
2021 – Elegant – Severe April frost was followed by a cool, wet season with persistent disease pressure and low yields. The wines are light, precise, and distinctly cool in style, displaying restrained citrus fruit, vibrant acidity, and pronounced saline minerality. A classic vintage for lovers of tension and freshness.
2022 – Powerful – A hot, sunny, and dry season supported by winter water reserves and timely summer rainfall allowed Chardonnay to ripen evenly. The wines are generous and concentrated, with ripe citrus fruit, broad texture, and surprisingly vibrant acidity. They combine warmth with excellent balance and ageing potential.
2023 – Classic – A warm growing season with timely rainfall produced a generous crop and slow, even ripening. The wines are aromatic and harmonious, showing ripe citrus and orchard fruit, balanced acidity, supple texture, and an approachable yet distinctly mineral style.
2024 – Classic – An exceptionally wet and demanding season brought frost, hail, mildew, and sharply reduced yields. A favourable finish allowed the small crop to ripen successfully, producing wines with vibrant acidity, citrus fruit, saline minerality, and remarkable precision. Despite the challenges, the best wines show outstanding freshness and ageing potential.
2008 – Classic – A cool, prolonged growing season with moderate sunshine allowed the grapes to ripen slowly while preserving exceptional acidity. The wines are precise, concentrated, and tightly structured, with citrus fruit, chalky minerality, and remarkable tension. It is one of Champagne’s benchmark modern vintages, with outstanding ageing potential.
2009 – Classic – A relatively dry beginning to the year was followed by sufficient spring rainfall, a warm August, cool nights, and an exceptionally dry harvest. The wines are ripe, harmonious, and expressive, combining generous fruit with balanced acidity and fine texture. They are generally more approachable than 2008.
2010 – Elegant – An irregular season culminated in heavy August rainfall, creating rot pressure and requiring strict selection, particularly for the black grapes. The better wines are fresh, supple, and moderately concentrated, with Chardonnay generally performing best. They offer finesse and early accessibility rather than exceptional depth or longevity.
2011 – Elegant – An unusually early season began warm and dry before turning cool, wet, and erratic during summer and harvest. Both sugar and acidity levels were relatively low, producing light, open wines with gentle fruit, modest structure, and an earlier-drinking profile. It was generally more successful as a blending vintage.
2012 – Powerful – Frost, hail, disease pressure, and poor flowering sharply reduced yields, but warm, sunny conditions in August and September transformed the vintage. The small, healthy crop produced concentrated wines with ripe fruit, firm acidity, substantial structure, and exceptional ageing potential. Pinot Noir performed particularly well.
2013 – Classic – A cold spring and late flowering delayed the season, leading to one of Champagne’s latest harvests in recent decades. A dry, warm September allowed gradual ripening while preserving acidity. The wines are focused, energetic, and mineral, with firm structure and considerable longevity, particularly from Chardonnay.
2014 – Classic – A variable summer with cool and damp periods was rescued by a warm, dry September. The grapes achieved good ripeness without losing freshness, producing balanced wines with bright fruit, fine acidity, and moderate concentration. The best examples are harmonious, precise, and classically proportioned.
2015 – Powerful – A dry, sunny growing season produced small, evenly ripe berries with relatively high potential alcohol. The wines are concentrated and vinous, with ripe orchard and red fruit, broad texture, and substantial structure. Pinot Noir was particularly successful, giving the vintage a deep and powerful character.
2016 – Elegant – Frost, hail, and uneven weather reduced yields and complicated ripening, although a favourable finish improved quality. The wines are generally fresh and refined, with moderate concentration, restrained fruit, and fine acidity. Pinot Noir often performed better than Chardonnay, but results vary considerably by village and producer.
2017 – Elegant – A difficult season ended with warm, humid conditions and widespread grey rot, particularly affecting Pinot Noir and Meunier. Chardonnay generally performed better. The best wines are delicate, fresh, and finely textured, but the vintage is uneven and more suited to selective vintage bottlings or blending.
2018 – Powerful – A wet winter and spring replenished water reserves before an exceptionally warm, sunny summer produced a large, ripe crop. The wines are generous and concentrated, with broad fruit, rounded textures, and relatively low acidity. The best examples retain mineral freshness, but the overall character is rich and open.
2019 – Classic – Frost, mildew pressure, and two intense heatwaves reduced yields and required careful sorting, but the surviving fruit achieved excellent maturity. The wines combine concentration with freshness, showing ripe fruit, vibrant acidity, and clear mineral definition. They are powerful in substance but classically balanced in structure.
2020 – Powerful – A mild, wet winter was followed by an exceptionally warm spring and a hot, dry summer, resulting in one of Champagne’s earliest harvests. The wines are ripe, intense, and concentrated, with broad fruit, strong Pinot Noir character, and surprisingly energetic acidity despite the heat.
2021 – Elegant – Severe spring frost was followed by a cold, wet, and stormy summer with major mildew pressure and historically low yields. The best wines are light, vivid, and classically fresh, with restrained fruit, high acidity, and moderate alcohol. Quality is uneven, but carefully selected Chardonnay can be excellent.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally sunny, warm, and dry season was supported by crucial rainfall in June and August. The healthy, generous crop reached excellent maturity while retaining sufficient acidity. The wines are ripe, concentrated, and expressive, with broad texture, generous fruit, and strong ageing potential, particularly for Chardonnay.
2010 – Classic – A cool, relatively wet growing season followed by a dry, favourable finish. Chardonnay ripened slowly while retaining excellent acidity. The wines are precise, mineral, and tightly structured, with citrus fruit, considerable freshness, and strong ageing potential, although yields and ripeness varied between vineyards.
2011 – Elegant – An unusually early season with a warm spring, followed by a cooler and more irregular summer. The wines are generally open, fragrant, and moderately concentrated, showing fresh citrus, softer textures, and less tension than the strongest vintages. They are attractive and approachable rather than built for very long ageing.
2012 – Powerful – A difficult season marked by frost, hail, poor flowering, and reduced yields, but the small crop achieved considerable concentration. The whites are dense, rich, and structured, with ripe fruit, firm acidity, and substantial texture. The best wines combine power with freshness and have developed particularly well.
2013 – Elegant – A cool, wet spring delayed flowering and reduced yields, while a late harvest allowed Chardonnay to ripen gradually. The wines are focused and high in acidity, with restrained citrus fruit, pronounced minerality, and a lean, traditional structure. The best examples are refined, although quality is uneven.
2014 – Classic – A generally favourable season for Chardonnay, with sufficient water reserves, moderate summer temperatures, and a dry, sunny September. The wines combine ripe citrus fruit with vibrant acidity, clarity, and mineral precision. They are harmonious, energetic, and exceptionally ageworthy, making 2014 a benchmark white Burgundy vintage.
2015 – Powerful – A warm, sunny, and relatively dry season brought early and complete ripening. The wines are rich, generous, and concentrated, with ripe orchard fruit, broad textures, and comparatively moderate acidity. The best examples retain freshness, but the overall style is opulent and immediately expressive.
2016 – Classic – Severe spring frost and mildew drastically reduced yields, but a warm, dry summer and favourable harvest produced healthy, concentrated Chardonnay. The wines are intense yet balanced, with ripe citrus, firm acidity, and considerable depth. The small crop resulted in wines with both substance and strong ageing potential.
2017 – Classic – A relatively dry and sunny season with good flowering and an early harvest. Chardonnay generally retained freshness while achieving full ripeness. The wines are pure, precise, and harmonious, with bright citrus fruit, moderate concentration, and fine mineral definition. They are less monumental than 2014 but beautifully balanced.
2018 – Powerful – A wet winter and spring replenished water reserves before an exceptionally warm, sunny summer. The whites are ripe, broad, and generous, with yellow fruit, richness, and softer acidity. Careful harvesting was essential, as the best wines preserve freshness while others can appear heavy or advanced.
2019 – Classic – A warm, dry season with frost and poor flowering reducing yields, followed by significant summer heat. The small crop produced concentrated Chardonnay, but cool nights and naturally high acidity maintained balance. The wines are intense, precise, and energetic, combining ripe fruit with mineral tension and excellent ageing potential.
2020 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, dry, and early vintage in which Chardonnay was harvested from August onwards. Despite the heat, healthy fruit and good acidity produced rich yet surprisingly vibrant wines. They show ripe citrus, considerable concentration, broad texture, and a powerful structure balanced by freshness. The Bourgogne Wine Board described the whites as rich, balanced, and marked by ripe citrus and white-flower aromas.
2021 – Elegant – Severe April frost dramatically reduced the Chardonnay crop, followed by a cool, wet, and demanding growing season. September sunshine helped complete ripening, but alcohol levels remained moderate. The wines are light, lively, and classically fresh, with restrained citrus fruit, marked acidity, and fine mineral definition.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry season, but winter water reserves and well-timed summer rainfall helped Chardonnay avoid severe stress. The wines are ripe, concentrated, and generous, with yellow citrus, broad texture, and surprising acidity. They combine the richness of a warm vintage with enough energy for ageing.
2023 – Classic – A warm and generally sunny season, with timely summer storms supporting the vines and a large Chardonnay crop slowing the accumulation of sugar. The wines are aromatic, balanced, and approachable, showing ripe citrus and orchard fruit, moderate acidity, and supple texture. They are generous without the concentration or weight of 2022.
2024 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and demanding season marked by frost, mildew pressure, irregular flowering, and sharply reduced yields. A dry, sunny August and favourable conditions before harvest allowed the remaining Chardonnay to ripen successfully. The wines are refined and fresh, with citrus fruit, moderate alcohol, vibrant acidity, and a delicate, mineral profile.
2015 – Powerful – A warm, sunny, and relatively dry season produced healthy Pinot Noir with excellent ripeness and concentration. The wines are deep, generous, and structured, combining ripe dark fruit with silky tannins and considerable ageing potential. Despite their power, the best examples retain perfume and balance.
2016 – Classic – Severe spring frost and persistent mildew reduced yields, but a warm, dry summer and favourable September allowed the surviving fruit to ripen fully. The wines combine concentration with freshness, showing vivid red fruit, refined tannins, aromatic precision, and strong ageing potential.
2017 – Elegant – A relatively warm, dry, and early season produced a healthy and comparatively generous crop. The wines are fragrant, supple, and immediately expressive, with bright red fruit, fine tannins, and moderate concentration. They are harmonious and approachable rather than especially powerful.
2018 – Powerful – A wet winter and spring established strong water reserves before an exceptionally hot, sunny, and dry summer. The wines are ripe, broad, and concentrated, with dark fruit, generous alcohol, and substantial tannins. The best examples preserve freshness, although warmer sites can show considerable richness.
2019 – Classic – A warm, dry season with spring frost, uneven flowering, and periods of intense summer heat produced a small, concentrated crop. The wines combine ripe fruit and impressive depth with vibrant acidity, fine tannins, and remarkable aromatic definition, giving a powerful yet classically balanced profile.
2020 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm, sunny, and early vintage, with harvest beginning in August at many estates. Despite the heat and drought, Pinot Noir retained surprising freshness. The wines are concentrated, intense, and energetic, with ripe fruit, firm structure, and excellent ageing potential.
2021 – Elegant – A cool, wet, and difficult season marked by severe April frost, mildew pressure, and low yields. Improved weather from mid-August helped the remaining Pinot Noir complete ripening. The wines are light, fragrant, and fresh, with red fruit, moderate alcohol, delicate tannins, and an earlier-drinking profile.
2022 – Powerful – A hot, sunny, and dry season was supported by useful winter water reserves and timely summer rainfall. The healthy, generous crop ripened evenly, producing deeply coloured wines with ripe fruit, concentration, and polished tannins. Despite their richness, the best wines show excellent freshness and balance.
2023 – Classic – A warm and sometimes irregular season, with timely storms and a large crop moderating sugar accumulation. Careful yield control and sorting were important. The wines are aromatic, pure, and balanced, with vibrant red fruit, silky tannins, moderate concentration, and an accessible form of classicism.
2024 – Elegant – An exceptionally wet and demanding season marked by mildew, difficult flowering, irregular ripening, and sharply reduced yields. A drier finish allowed the surviving Pinot Noir to reach sufficient maturity. The wines are fresh, perfumed, and delicate, with moderate alcohol, fine tannins, and more finesse than concentration.
2020 – Powerful – A warm, dry, and exceptionally early season produced ripe, concentrated fruit, although useful rainfall helped prevent widespread vine stress. The wines are generous and expressive, with ripe orchard fruit, broader textures, and moderate acidity. The best examples combine richness with enough freshness and mineral definition for ageing.
2021 – Elegant – Severe spring frost was followed by a cool, wet, and demanding growing season with significant disease pressure and reduced yields. The wines are light, fresh, and distinctly classical, showing restrained fruit, vibrant acidity, moderate alcohol, and pronounced mineral tension. Careful selection was essential, particularly for the reds.
2022 – Powerful – An exceptionally hot, sunny, and dry season placed considerable pressure on the vines, although established water reserves and occasional rainfall supported ripening. The wines are concentrated, ripe, and generous, with broad textures and considerable aromatic intensity. The best retain freshness, but the overall expression is warm and powerful.
2023 – Classic – A contrasting season combining humidity, periods of intense heat, and a warm harvest required careful vineyard management and sorting. The wines are aromatic, fresh, and harmonious, with expressive fruit, supple structure, and well-preserved acidity. Quality varies by site, but the best examples show excellent regional typicity and balance.
2024 – Elegant – An exceptionally wet season with limited sunshine, severe mildew pressure, and difficult flowering sharply reduced yields in many areas. The wines are fresh, delicate, and mineral, with citrus and white-fruit flavours, moderate alcohol, and vibrant acidity. Reds are generally supple and perfumed rather than deeply concentrated.
Italy 🇮🇹
2004 – Classic – A long, relatively even growing season, with adequate rainfall and a warm, dry finish allowing Nebbiolo to ripen gradually. The wines are aromatic, structured, and fresh, with refined tannins, excellent balance, and the precision required for long ageing.
2005 – Elegant – A cooler, more variable season, with summer rainfall and difficult weather around harvest. Successful producers made fragrant, medium-bodied wines with fresh acidity, restrained fruit, and relatively gentle structure. The best examples are graceful and traditional, but generally less powerful and long-lived.
2006 – Powerful – A warm growing season with sufficient water reserves and a favourable, dry autumn. Nebbiolo achieved excellent ripeness and concentration, producing deep, structured wines with ripe fruit, substantial tannins, and considerable ageing potential. The vintage is powerful, but generally less perfumed and refined than 2004.
2007 – Powerful – A warm, precocious vintage with moderate rainfall and an unusually early growing cycle. The wines are ripe, generous, and immediately expressive, with sweet fruit, broad textures, and relatively soft tannins. They are powerful in flavour but generally more approachable and less austere than 2006.
2008 – Classic – A cool, wet beginning to the season was followed by a warm, dry summer and a favourable autumn with clear days and cool nights. The wines are fragrant, precise, and traditionally structured, combining bright acidity, fine tannins, and excellent aromatic definition with strong ageing potential.
2009 – Powerful – A warm, sunny season with periods of heat and relatively rapid ripening. The wines are rich, concentrated, and broad, showing ripe dark fruit, elevated alcohol, and substantial tannins. They are expressive and generous, although sometimes lacking the freshness and precision of cooler vintages.
2010 – Classic – A long, relatively cool growing season with regular rainfall and an extended autumn ripening period. Nebbiolo developed slowly and completely, giving wines with exceptional balance, freshness, aromatic complexity, firm tannins, and outstanding ageing potential. It remains one of the benchmark modern Barolo vintages.
2011 – Powerful – A warm season with an early start, supported by good winter and spring water reserves. High temperatures accelerated ripening, producing generous, fragrant wines with ripe fruit, softer acidity, rounded tannins, and an accessible personality. The best examples retain freshness, but the overall style is warm and immediate.
2012 – Elegant – A variable season marked by winter cold, periods of summer heat, and uneven rainfall. Ripening was less uniform, resulting in considerable variation between vineyards and producers. The better wines are perfumed, fresh, and medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate, earlier-drinking profile.
2013 – Classic – A cool, wet spring delayed the growing cycle, while a warm summer and favourable autumn allowed Nebbiolo to ripen slowly. The wines are aromatic, firm, and fresh, with pronounced acidity, precise fruit, structured tannins, and excellent ageing potential. It is a traditional, slow-developing vintage.
2014 – Elegant – A cool, exceptionally wet season created considerable vineyard and disease pressure, although warmer, drier conditions in September improved the final ripening period. The wines are light, fragrant, and fresh, with red fruit, prominent acidity, gentle tannins, and an earlier-drinking profile. Quality varies considerably by producer and site.
2015 – Powerful – A warm, sunny, and comparatively dry season, supported by strong water reserves accumulated during the wet preceding year. The wines are ripe, generous, and concentrated, with sweet fruit, broad textures, and substantial but polished tannins. They are powerful yet approachable, generally maturing earlier than 2013 or 2016.
2016 – Classic – A beautifully balanced vintage, with enough sunshine for full Nebbiolo ripeness and enough water reserves to avoid stress. The season was long and even, giving wines with precision, freshness, fine tannins, and strong ageing potential.
2017 – Powerful – A hot, dry vintage marked by drought and reduced yields. The wines tend to be concentrated, ripe, and more immediate, with darker fruit, higher alcohol, and a warmer expression of La Morra’s naturally soft, aromatic character. Rainfall from March to October was exceptionally low, intensifying the effects of heat and drought.
2018 – Elegant – A wetter vintage, especially in winter and spring, with good water reserves but also more vineyard pressure. The wines are generally softer, more open, and less structured, showing gentle tannins, red fruit, and an earlier-drinking profile.
2019 – Classic – A well-balanced year with periods of heat moderated by rainfall and cooler nights. The wines combine ripe fruit with freshness and structure, giving a classic Barolo profile: aromatic, firm, balanced, and ageworthy.
2020 – Classic – A warm but balanced vintage, with a sunny start, rain in late spring, and a stable ripening period. The wines are generous and expressive, but still fresh, with rounded tannins and a harmonious, approachable classicism.
2021 – Powerful – A sunny, mostly dry vintage supported by good winter water reserves and cool nights. The wines show concentration, structure, and vibrant acidity, with more depth and power than usual for La Morra, while still keeping aromatic finesse. The absence of extreme heat and a favourable, dry autumn helped preserve freshness despite the vintage’s concentration
2010 – Classic – A cool, relatively wet season with a delayed growing cycle, followed by warmer summer weather and a long autumn. Ripening was slow and uneven in some areas, but the best wines show freshness, firm tannins, precise fruit, and excellent ageing potential. Montalcino performed particularly well.
2011 – Powerful – An exceptionally warm and irregular vintage, culminating in intense heat during August and September. The wines are rich, ripe, and generous, with concentrated fruit, higher alcohol, softer acidity, and an earlier-developing profile. Careful harvesting was essential to avoid overripe fruit and excessive weight.
2012 – Powerful – A hot, dry summer placed considerable pressure on the vines, although winter snow replenished water reserves and late-August rain restarted ripening. The wines combine ripe fruit with surprising freshness, generally showing rounded tannins, moderate concentration, and a more balanced, approachable style than the conditions initially suggested.
2013 – Classic – A cool, wet spring delayed the growing season, but a warm, dry summer and favourable September allowed a long, gradual ripening period. The wines are fresh, aromatic, and structured, with firm tannins, bright acidity, restrained fruit, and strong ageing potential.
2014 – Elegant – A cool, exceptionally wet vintage marked by hail, disease pressure, and difficult vineyard conditions. A mild, dry finish improved the harvest, but the wines are generally lighter and less concentrated, showing red fruit, fresh acidity, gentle structure, and an earlier-drinking profile. Producer selection is particularly important.
2015 – Powerful – A wet winter established strong water reserves before an exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry summer. The wines are ripe, concentrated, and generous, with deep fruit, broad textures, polished tannins, and considerable ageing potential, although acidity can be softer in the warmest sites.
2016 – Classic – A balanced season with adequate spring rainfall, a warm but generally moderate summer, and favourable conditions during the final ripening period. The wines combine depth with freshness, showing expressive aromatics, refined tannins, excellent definition, and outstanding ageing potential.
2017 – Powerful – One of the driest and hottest vintages of recent decades, with spring frost, prolonged drought, and significantly reduced yields. The wines are concentrated, ripe, and intense, with dark fruit, elevated alcohol, and substantial tannins. Higher vineyards generally retained greater freshness and balance.
2018 – Elegant – A relatively balanced vintage with sufficient rainfall, moderate summer temperatures, and cooler nights supporting gradual ripening. The wines are fragrant, silky, and approachable, with fresh red fruit, supple tannins, and less density than the surrounding vintages, but often very good aromatic definition.
2019 – Classic – A cool, wet spring replenished water reserves and delayed development, followed by a warm summer and a long, stable harvest period. The wines show excellent harmony between ripeness and freshness, with vivid aromatics, structured tannins, energetic acidity, and exceptional ageing potential.
2020 – Classic – A warm, predominantly dry season, with some spring frost and periods of summer heat, but cool nights helped preserve acidity. The wines are generous, polished, and immediately expressive, combining ripe fruit, rounded tannins, and sufficient freshness for medium- to long-term ageing.
2021 – Powerful – A sunny, dry vintage preceded by useful spring rainfall, although April frost reduced yields in some areas. Water reserves helped the vines withstand the summer, while cool nights supported complete ripening. The wines are concentrated, vibrant, and structured, with ripe fruit, firm tannins, and strong ageing potential.