Champagne Vintages
The term ‘vintage’ in regard to Champagne simply describes a bottle that has been made with grapes from a single year. A 'non-vintage' on the other hand refers to a Champagne that has been created by blending parcels of base wine from several separate years.
Neither are superior as the resulting style are very different.
A vintage Champagne should only be created from an outstanding year’s harvest, and should express the characteristics of that year, whereas a non-vintage Champagne is created to produce wines with a house's style that is consistent year on year.
AVERAGE
GOOD
VERY
GOOD
GREAT
Exceptional
2021
In 2021, we suffered the greatest frosts since 2003 and hail wiping out over 50% of the 500 hectares causing massive disease pressure across the region. The Cote des Blancs were the least effected vineyards, so can expect clean Chardonnay crop with hopefully age worthy vintage wines. It will be interested to re visit the progression of this incredibly tricky region over the next few years. ??/10
Vintage Rating
???
2018
For the first time in a long time, houses could pick at their chosen level of ripeness due to a bumper and healthy crop being available. So much so that grapes were left hanging due to yield levels being met (even with the additional allowance following such poor yields previously). The worry is that high ripeness and lower acidity will cause these wines to peak early. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
2015
A very warm vintage while also upholding just enough acidity to balance out the phenolic ripeness and produce a harvest regarded as good as, if not better than 2002. An exciting year to keep an eye on. 9/10
Vintage Rating
9/10
2012
A tale of two sides. Some houses naming this one of the best vintages of the century, while others argue the most difficult. Rain during bud burst called for interaction, while the conditions for the rest of the growing period eased off and aided the process. 8/10
Vintage Rating
8/10
2009
A ripe and rounded vintage due to a hot, sunny and dry growing season, yet little vintage wines were made following the global financial crisis. 6/10
Vintage Rating
6/10
2006
An approachable style of wine was produced with slightly lacking structure due to lower acidity levels after hot weather during the summer. 6/10
Vintage Rating
6/10
2003
Blistering summer heat followed a frosty spring leaving a low yield of shrivelled grapes with overtly high sugar levels and little acidity. 2/10
Vintage Rating
2/10
2000
A mixed weather millennial vintage with wines expressing fruity characteristics, deep colour and early drinking cuvees. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
1997
Super low yields came from a poor growing season of hail, frost and noble rot. We were lucky to receive some sun for the weeks leading up to harvest creating a ripe crop at last. 4/10
Vintage Rating
4/10
2020
Unlike the global Covid-19 pandemic, the climate was much kinder in 2020. The growing season saw one of the shortest ripening periods ever, following on from a wet winter and a summer heatwave ultimately creating grapes with a slightly lower sugar level with a higher level of acidity. A great balance and the third consecutive vintage of fantastic quality in a row. Of course, it's very early to tell but this looks like one to watch. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
2017
Up to 50% of grapes were turned away by houses due to the traumatic growing season endeavoured across the appellations. The perfect storm or hail, rain, heat and a huge amount of rot make this one of the most difficult vintages on record, although some houses did report perfect ripeness. 3/10
Vintage Rating
3/10
2014
A technically challenging year seeing some villages prosper and produce excellent crops, while others suffer to the hand of summer, rainfall and rot. 6/10
Vintage Rating
6/10
2011
The harvest period in 2011 was misty and miserable resulting in some of the earliest harvest dates on record. Grapes were underripe and diluted. 2/10
Vintage Rating
2/10
2008
Giving 1996 a run for it's money, 2008 threatens to produce wines with even more longevity, minerality, elegance and perfection. A damp spring, dry summer and warm sunny harvest make this possible. 10/10
Vintage Rating
10/10
2005
A vintage with massive phenolics resulting in over concentrated fruit flavours and short lived wines. 5/10
Vintage Rating
5/10
2002
Sunny days and cool evenings made for perfect growing/ harvesting conditions. A vintage to go down in history. 9/10
Vintage Rating
9/10
1999
An incredibly hot summer saw wines lacking in acidity yet full of fruit ripeness. A rounder style of Champagne. 6/10
Vintage Rating
6/10
1996
A perfect vintage supplying wines with racing acidity as well as spectacular ripeness. A tricky growing season weather wise was saved last minute by hot and breezy weather. Wines to lay down and enjoy for years to come. 10/10
Vintage Rating
10/10
2019
Spring 2019 saw thunderstorms and frosts which slowed down the cycle of the vine and ultimately wiped out a percentage of crop. However, despite a later flowering, the summer maturity levels raced forwards doubling the normal potential ripeness resulting in a balanced final product. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
2016
A devasting year for Champagne. Torrential rain, hail and frost in the spring was followed by a continuously rainy summer offering only a few days of sunshine near harvest time. So sunny in fact that a percentage of remaining crop was sunburnt. The lowest yield since 2003. 1/10
Vintage Rating
1/10
2013
A vintage boasting fresh acidity thanks to a long and cool harvest. A well-balanced high yielding vintage producing wines to age. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
2010
A foggy and damp August made for a rot effected crop with low acidity levels yet a ripe fruit concentration. 3/10
Vintage Rating
3/10
2007
A vintage known for it's expression, terrior and elegance. The harvest was turned around last minute by warm weather following a wet growing season resulting in a balanced harvest. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
2004
Large yields followed last years low output with grapes showing expression, elegance and finesse. A large but delicate vintage helped but idyllic growing conditions. 8/10
Vintage Rating
8/10
2001
A memorable vintage for the wrong reasons. Torrential rain, aggressive hail destroying crop and producing virtually no vintage wines. 1/10
Vintage Rating
1/10
1998
A year of fluctuating weather conditions have provided a vintage with good acidity and balance. 7/10
Vintage Rating
7/10
1995
A hot and dry growing season resulting in ripe grapes made for a great vintage. A well-structured vintage that will continue to age gracefully. 8/10
Vintage Rating
8/10