Australian Wine Vintage Chart
by Loren Sonkin
| Australia | ||
| 2009 | 90 | D/H |
| 2008 | 86 | D |
| 2007 | 85 | D |
| 2006 | 89 | D |
| 2005 | 90 | D |
| 2004 | 92 | D |
| 2003 | 88 | D |
| 2002 | 94 | D/H |
| 2001 | 92 | D/H |
| 2000 | 88 | D |
| 1999 | 90 | D |
| 1998 | 96 | D |
| 1997 | 88 | D |
| 1996 | 92 | D |
| 1995 | 88 | D |
| 1994 | 86 | D |
| 1993 | 88 | D |
| 1992 | 90 | D |
| 1991 | 88 | D |
| 1990 | 90 | 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.
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Comments
Australia is a little bit bigger than a region! For example, in 2007, Margaret River in the west had a 5 star vintage, as did the Hunter valley and Tasmania, yet in the Barossa it was 4 stars, and only 2 stars in the Yarra Valley.
This table would be more relevant if it actually specified Australian regions - Australia has more than 61 of them!
This chart is insane!!!
Which region is it specific to? Do you simplify France or the US into one region.... Australia is a very large country with massive variations in climatic conditions for its viticultural regions.
This chart should be removed, unless its referring to cheap generic 'South Eastern Australian' wines that make up the majority of exports.... in which case I strongly encourage not to 'hold' the 1996 vintage, but rather to use as an industrial strength cleaner.