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Champagne Vintage Chart

by Loren Sonkin

 

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2002 94 D/H
2001 86 D
2000 88 D
1999 89 D/H
1998 90 D/H
1997 89 D
1996 97 D/H
1995 93 D
1993 88 D
1992 90 D
1991 89 D
1990 94 D
1989 93 D
1988 94 D
1986 88 D
1985 88 D
1978 91 D

Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu of specific knowledge about a bottle or producer.  The better wines from a vintage will generally have longer lives and cellar better.  The ratings are as follows:

RATING:
95-100 Spectacular.  Most producers made very good wines at all levels
90-94   Excellent.  The best wines should be great.  Consistency throughout the vintage.
85-89  Very Good.  The best producers made top wines.  Inconsistent thru the lower levels.
80-86  Good.  Many producers made good wines with some inconsistency at the bottom.
75-79  Middling.  Choose your producers carefully. Only the best may have made a top wine. 
70-74  Below Average.  Tough vintage to make good wines.
Under 70  A Poor vintage.  Spend your money very carefully. 

STATUS:
D=Drink
D/H=Drink or Hold
H=Hold

 

 

Loren Sonkin is an IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars.

Comments

I was just given a bottle of champagne - something about which I know next to nothing. It says Carello, and then, under that, Asti Spumante. I can't find a date anywhere on the bottle. How do I know what year it was produced?

First, it's not Champagne. Champagne comes from a specific area in France.

Second, if you don't see a date then it's a blend of wines from more than one year.

Hi. Your "champagne" is actually a sweet sparking wine from the Piemonte region of Italy. It is probably not a specific vintage and no matter because this type of wine is fairly consistent from one year to the other thanks to blending. Drink it with desert and not before a meal.

Its not a champagne - its a fizzy wine from Italy. Best to drink with dessert

We have a 1979 Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Chardonnay.

How would you rate this wine? Does it have any notable value?

Thanks,

Bill - bwls@earthlink.net

I have a Moet and Chandon 1988 Champagne. I believe this is still drinkable - yes? Why is it that cmpagne seems to have a longer lifespan than white whines?

That bottle should be drinkable if it was well stored. Many white wines will last longer than you might think, if well stored. Still, I think the effervescence does help the wine age.

I just got a magnum of 1990 La Grand Dame. Anyone have any tasting notes on this vintage?

Hi I have chance to obtain several bottles of Diebolt-Vallois 1979 is this good, past its drinking date? value for money?

I have a bottle of Cuvee Dom Perignon Champagne, Vintage 1985 750 ml. I acquired the bottle as a gift in 1994, and it has been stored on a wine rack in a closet since then. Can you tell me what it's shelf-life is and what it's worth?

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