The hottest May on record and the third hottest June (in total degree days) led to a harvest time around two to three weeks ahead of normal. The long, warm summer saw very few extreme heat events, with foggy mornings setting the stage for vibrant and expressive wines. Ohio/Michigan Vintage Chart… The almost uneventful spring and summer weather pattern, every grower's dream, produced fruit of exceptional quality. Early budbreak, followed by prolonged bloom induced by cool weather, caused uneven set, requiring cluster pruning in some varieties. In some years winegrowers must feel like baseball players in the batting cage swinging at whatever Mother Nature throws their way, and for vintage 2010 in California's renowned Napa Valley this was the case. © 2021 Napa Valley Vintners ALL Rights Reserved. The folks at California Wine Club do a great job sourcing the best of California's aged cabs. Some growers, especially those in the eastern hills around the Howell Mountain AVA were low on water for overhead irrigation or farmed in areas that rarely see any frost and were therefore hit hardest. This effort hit it out of the park and speaks volumes about the collaborative efforts, innovation and leadership of the Napa Valley wine industry. 2014 Napa Valley – Vintage Report. Summary: Bordeaux 2017 was marked by devastating frosts early in the growing season.That said, en primeur tastings showed there is a lot of pleasure in this vintage if you know where to look. We think these brief descriptions are more useful than a numerical score. As the fruit set, growers recognized that the outstanding weather of the previous year would result in an exceptional crop. But the weather evened out, condensing the harvest and producing a near simultaneous harvest of grapes. The moderate temperatures were optimum for grape quality. A long cool summer allowed the fruit flavors to evolve beautifully ahead of the sugar accumulation. Yields were generally consistent with 2010 — down by 10%. California Pinot Noir, Sonoma Vintage Chart . Overall, vintners characterized the year as late, light and luscious. Mold, rot, and botrytis were challenges to the grapes that were not harvested, and had a major impact on the quantity of the harvest, but not the quality. For example, many growers compare the date of bloom to growing season data from previous years to determine a timeframe for the first day of harvest. A benefit of the dry year found very little pest infestation in the vines, little mold or mildew problems and very healthy vines. Napa Cabernet by Vintage The Napa Valley is recognized by collectors and critics alike as one of the greatest places on earth to grow and vinify the noble Cabernet Sauvignon grape. In the cellar, winemakers delighted, undeterred by challenges of Mother Nature. The 2018 Napa harvest ended on a high note this fall. 2014 Napa Valley – Vintage … Most waited through the first two rains of this year to pick Chardonnay in October, and that patience paid off. The 2015 growing season in Napa Valley started out with unseasonably warm temperatures in the late winter and early spring. Click here to see the latest, updated edition of our wine vintage chart for 2020. The nearly 14 days of 100°f plus temperatures that mark a typical growing season, 2009 counted perhaps only four or five overall, again helping to reduce demand for water when the resource was relatively scarce. California/Chardonnay. The harvest was one of the earliest on record in Napa Valley, beginning on July 22 with the picking of grapes for sparkling wine, and concluding for most all vintners and growers in the valley by mid-October. latest vintage chart to get an idea of what to expect. Thank You! Vineyards entered the growing season in a state of dormancy, induced by a December freeze which saw temperatures plummet into the teens. Fog and cool temperatures were a concern heading into September as sugar levels were yet to rise in all varieties. In contrast to 2007, the New Year began with intense storms that brought high winds and heavy rains to the region, but the precipitation soon waned and for the second year in a row, Napa received little more than 60% of its normal rainfall. An abnormally wet El Niño spring and late summer caused a poor set for the 1998 vintage crop. February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. “Early, even and excellent” are three words being used to describe this year’s growing season and the Napa Valley wine grapes that have come from it, reflecting the consistent quality for which this world famous wine region is known. Cabernet Sauvignon was the seventh most planted grape; there was more than four times as much Petite Sirah.Almost nobody was shooting for greatness; the top winery in Napa (Christian Brothers) made non-vintage … # Vintage Charts, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California Update: IntoWine has partnered with the California Wine Club to offer you great deals on Aged Cabernet Sauvignon . Both quality and quantity were good for all varietals in all growing areas. Bordeaux 2017. 2012, 2013 and 2014 are the best string of vintages in Jordan winemaking history; most Sonoma/Napa winemakers would agree. Click here to see the latest, updated edition of our wine vintage chart for 2020. Below, find the charts and link currently available on three wine review … The commitment to quality runs so deep and strong in this valley that systems for effective sorting were already set-up, both in the field and at the wineries. Vintage Charts About Our Tastings United States Return to All Regions. An unseasonably warm winter with substantial rainfall launched the 1996 growing season with an early bud break. After a consistently cool summer season, significant mid-October rain pushed the vintage even later. 2013- A Dream Vintage. And the wines? The light rain events in late September and early October had no effect on the grapes or the harvest in Napa Valley. This 1996 Napa Valley vintage chart depicts the high and low temperatures for each day of the growing season, as well as key stages of the growing season and rainfall, from January through the middle of September. Industry winegrowers led by the Napa Valley Vintners, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and the Napa County Farm Bureau along with residential grapes growers, community leaders and environmental groups joined forces in a highly organized and well-orchestrated effort that employed organic compounds, fruit disposal and mating disruption. Heat spikes occurred in June and at scattered intervals throughout the summer season. While quantity was low, the fruit this year will make for well-balanced wines with good intensity, structure and texture with a brightness of flavor. Grape quality was very good with a crop that was smaller than average. California/Pinot Noir. The vineyards of Napa Valley are intentionally farmed at lower yields bringing only the very best grape to harvest. Perhaps the most notable natural occurrence of the year was the devastating Valley Fire that broke out in Lake County to the north in mid-September. Harvest got underway following a weekend of intense summer heat late in September. Find ratings for recent vintages of Rhône-style reds, summing up the … In spite of the drought and the South Napa earthquake, vintners are using words like “quality,” “depth of flavor” and “excellent” to describe their expectations for the 2014 vintage in Napa Valley. They got to consciously choose exactly … The shatter resulting from the rain events in June was variable by vineyard location hitting some locations harder with projected crop diminished by more than 30% while leaving other sites nearly untouched with near-normal crop. Temperature fluctuations have a sig-nificant effect on grapevines and grape development and therefore influence the … This timetable continued through the somewhat cool summer season where harvest for the first varieties for sparkling wines found the latest harvest start in anyone’s memory, beginning August 29. The timing was just a little ahead of normal. June brought unseasonable rain, but worries were erased by the warm, dry weather which followed and continued through the summer. The summer growing season continued on the mild to cool side, with few days topping 100 degrees, even in the warmest locations in the appellation. The 2010 vintage was a cooler year producing more elegant cabernets, while the 2011 was so cold and rainy, that many winemakers struggled to make balanced wines. Overall, the grape crop was balanced, showing excellent intense colors and flavor concentrations. The first grapes for sparkling wine picked on July 30 and nearly all harvest activity was completed by the third week in October – for many, a full two weeks ahead of the normal harvest schedule. Winegrowers across Napa Valley met the challenges of a crazy weather year, harvesting fruit with incredible concentration which, by all accounts, is showing 2008 as a low-yielding, yet high-quality vintage from Napa Valley. There was a brief period of heat that spiked around Labor Day, but the temperatures cooled after several days. Then, just a quickly as the heat arrived, it was as if a switch had been turned and the temperatures dropped to well below normal. Vintage charts summarize the quality and character of the wines from a particular region in a specific year. 2013 was a dream vintage for winemakers in Napa Valley, producing Cabernet Sauvignon. Volume is looking great, up 20-30% increase over average crop quantity. In 1961, Bordeaux was having one of its best vintages ever. While a lighter than average vintage, 2008 looks to be another where vintners and growers in Napa Valley will continue their well-earned reputation for excellence in the world of wine. Many are also noting “perfect weather,” “abundant crop” and “good fortune” among the blessings they are counting in a season where Mother Nature threw a rockin’ curveball. October proved to be a very active month in vineyards and winery crush pads as red and white grapes reached maturity simultaneously. Stay tuned as the fruit, now juice on its careful and intricate way toward wine, develops in the cellar. Vintners were excited about what they were tasting from the vineyards--concentrated flavors that will materialize into elegant, structured wines, almost European in style. Nearly all white varieties were already picked and the thicker-skinned black varieties like Cabernet and Merlot were unaffected by the rain. Bloom followed in early May. See better and save more with NAPA NIGHTVISION. At the time of harvest, there were no reports of smoke taint affecting Napa Valley wines. Winegrowers were faced with a two-day heat spike into triple digits for the first time in the season, coinciding with the first day of harvest on August 24. Each year we put together one of the most comprehensive wine vintage charts available, chronicling nearly 25 years of wine across the globe. Mid-July presented a record-setting ten day heat wave, but the canopy had not yet been thinned because of the delayed season and young clusters were shaded from the hot sun. Challenging year in the vineyard reaps rewards in the cellar. A year of weather extremes marked the 1995 vintage, which saw winter floods, spring rains and a June hailstorm. While it can tended to be on the greener side, the cool weather helped the vines work more efficiently and produced a beautiful vintage of this varietal with black cherry and plum, not any pruney character. By using our website and/or subscribing to our newsletter, Find ratings for recent vintages of California Cabernet Sauvignon and blends from Napa, summing up the quality and character of the wines. Heavy March rainfall prior to budbreak, followed by ideal weather during bloom, resulted in an abundant set of excellent fruit. By October 8 nearly 90 percent of the 2017 grape tonnage was in when warm, fierce winds fueled an unprecedented firestorm. As vines all over the appellation were budding, the sheer number of days of frost threatened the future of the crop. California/Zinfandel. Indian Summer returned with warm, clear days and vineyard crews sprang into action to finish harvest for what appears to be a vintage of exceptional quality from all points around the Napa Valley. An uneventful, warm spring concluded with unexpected rain during the bloom period in May, resulting in lower berry set and ultimate crop reduction of 20% to 30% at harvest. After the fruit set, fewer clusters with smaller berries appeared to be the norm all around the Napa Valley. Tracking these key stages plays an important role in the planning of the season and harvest logistics. Mother Nature throws curve balls; winemakers catch them, The year began with abundant rainfall, followed by a mild Spring resulting in extended flowering with little shatter. Plus, recommendations for when to drink the wines at their best. Couple that with the lack of frost and the mild, relatively cool growing season, Mother Nature managed to have it all work in unison to give vines and grapes the best scenario possible. Bud break occurred earlier than many vintners could remember and the trend carried forward throughout the growing season. ˜is 2013 Napa Valley vintage chart depicts the high and low temperatures for each day of the growing season, as well as key stages of the growing season and rainfall, from January through the middle of September. Although the fire was tragic for the Lake County residents who lost their lives and their homes, prevailing winds blew the fire's smoke away from Napa Valley. The effects of low winter rainfall were mitigated by the combination of cool daytime temperatures and evening marine fog. Compared to the 1994 and 1985 vintages, the 1995 Napa Cabernet vintage is more reserved. A cool, even growing season throughout, except for a three-day heat stretch of unusually high temperatures in June and ominous rain clouds in late August, led to a compact harvesting period that finished in mid-October. Moderate Indian Summer temperatures permitted extended hang time for red varieties, important to the development of rich flavors and deep color. Then, within the same week that many had been irrigating for frost protection, vineyards were irrigated because of a multi-day heat spike that brought early season temperatures into the triple digits in many parts of the appellation and at the time that vines were beginning to flower, another time when fruit and vine development is particularly susceptible to extremes. Initial reports all the way around are finding vintners and growers delighted with 2009—from Albarino to Zinfandel to everything in between. Though rainfall was little more than two-thirds of normal for the third year in a row, the timing of the precipitation was on the vine's side. Weather Conditions. Seamless season of heavenly hangtime and phenomenal phenolic development. With canopies thinned to adjust for the cooler season, grapes at various sites experienced some sunburn. Few high heat events occurred at any point this year, but growers managed more open vine canopies to ensure sunlight, warmth and good air circulation around the grape clusters. Temperature ˚uctuations have a signi˛cant e˝ect on grapevines and grape development and therefore in˚uence the … The near-perfect 2016 growing season started early, saw ideal weather conditions throughout and wrapped up as the valley's first significant fall rainstorm arrived on October 14. The NVV’s vintage charts depict key stages of the growing season from January through the middle of September, including the high and low temperatures for each day and rainfall amounts. Cool weather dominated early October, with rain coming in the first week, but the white varieties were in and this presented no damage to the black varieties still on the vine. A relatively warm summer with several heat spells speeded veraison and ripening, while a cooling trend in September allowed grape flavors to catch up with sugars, bringing the fruit into excellent balance. The clusters, while small and low in weight, produced elegant fruit with definite personality and complexity. The spring season was one of the driest on record with virtually no rainfall. Finger Lakes, New York Vintage Chart. Then, a week-long heat spell over the Labor Day holiday ratcheted everyone into high gear as several varieties were coming to ripeness all at once. Because of the early vine development in spring, growers were initially predicting a very early harvest, however because of the cooler summer it started just a little ahead of normal. Recent Napa Valley Vintages at a Glance. Napa Valley Merlot Vintage Chart. The drier soils prompted vines to push out early, providing the "perfect storm" for frigid, dry air to create conditions for the deepest and longest frost period in decades. 2 Gifts for the Price of 1! While ongoing drought was of great concern to farmers around California, Napa Valley received 75% of normal rainfall for the water year, bringing far fewer water concerns for Napa Valley's vintners. With both red and white varietals showing excellent balance, the vintage was judged overall to be one of higher quality and slightly lower quantity. America’s 50 Best Wine Retailers of 2020, America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants of 2019, Wine Enthusiast's 2019 Wine Star Award Winners, The Enthusiast 100: Our Top Wines of 2020, The Making of Wine Enthusiast's No.1 Wine of 2020, Sought-After Spirits That Aren't Pappy Van Winkle, California Privacy Rights Do Not Sell My Information. Clusters, as well as individual berries on the clusters, though set at a normal quantity, were notably smaller in all varieties due to the dry season. Popping open a bottle of wine shouldn’t be a shot in the dark. As grapes for sparkling wines began to be harvested in mid-August, the lighter white varieties began in earnest toward the third week of August. In Napa Valley, things were very different. It may also appeal to enthusiasts who normally collect Old-World wines, as this is a very elegant, classic year for Napa Cabernet. Temperatures were warmer than normal as winter continued into spring with resulting earlier budding, bloom and set in the vineyards across all varieties. In the last two decades, the region has enjoyed successful vintage after successful vintage with Mother Nature giving top winemakers every … A Labor Day weekend heatwave kicked harvest into high gear, then cool weather allowed sugar levels to return to normal. The Vinous Vintage Chart, also available on the Vinous App for iOS and Android smartphones, contains vintage summaries back to 1961. In September the region saw a couple of periods of brief precipitation. Our goal is help you know which bottles to drink, what vintages may need more age to reach perfection, and which bottles are past their prime. Â, However, even with our new interactive chart, sorting through all that information can be a bit daunting. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Temperature fluctuations have a significant e˛ect on grapevines and grape development and therefore influence the character of the vintage. Top off toolbox this holiday season with great deals on Craftsman tools, now available at NAPA. Mild weather during harvest allowed picking to proceed at a normal pace and late rains came too late in the season to do much damage. That’s why we also compile an annual cheat-sheet showing what wine vintages are best to drink right now. An early spring, a surprise frost and early heat spikes led to a bit of a roller coaster ride for the 2001 vintage crop. Vintage will be remembered for high quality, but low yields. The year began dry with some very cold days and single-digit nighttime temperatures around the New Year holiday, and continued dry, with about 60% of normal precipitation throughout the appellation. The valley floor crop, including most of the black varieties, was almost fully harvested when unseasonably cool and wet weather arrived the second week in October, with nearly an inch of rain falling in parts of the appellation. Soaking spring rains during bloom reduced the size of the crop somewhat, but the long, warm summer that followed allowed grapes to ripen uniformly and achieve near-perfect fruit maturity, acid levels and sugar content. Next time you’re standing in a wine shop wondering if you should buy the 2012 Napa Cab or the 2013, check this list to see if your year is listed, and which of the vintages at their peak had the best grapes.Â, Thirsty for more? In 2018, Wine Enthusiast tasted, rated and reviewed 24,753 wines. High temperatures brought a somewhat frenzied start to harvest in August, when it seemed all varieties would ripen at once, but a return to normally cool nights and foggy mornings allowed harvest to proceed at a more relaxed pace. This vintage, while as much as 30% higher than the past two years' smaller crops, is on par with near-normal quantity. A two-week period of hot weather at the beginning of August created some uneven coloration during veraison, and growers compensated by thinning fruit to allow only the best grapes to reach maturation. A long, cool spring followed by a cool summer produced slightly lower grape yields of richly concentrated fruit. The long, relatively mild finish to the season, not without its moments of unpredictability, helped to preserve freshness and finesse in the fruit with abundant hang time teasing out great color, structure and soft tannins. While this is good news for water resources, the cloud cover and cool temperatures delayed vine development by several weeks at the onset of the growing season. This heat spike added the boost of sugar development that growers were looking for to complement the excellent acid structure developed in the white varieties. Some growers reported losses of thirty percent or more. The pace of harvest was break-neck with cellar crews often working around the clock to crush the fruit that was coming in all at once. Sonoma Chardonnay Vintage Chart. New York/Finger Lakes. The dryness of the season produced less vine canopy, and allowed the vines to focus on fruit production. The 2002 vintage will be remembered by a long, mostly mild growing season, followed by warm weather near the end of September that pushed the ripening level upward, concentrated fruit flavors and condensed the harvest. Across the whole state, wine quality looks good for 2018 in California. The ten-day to two-week lag continued into a later than average veraison. The up and down temperatures began with a cold and harsh March, with two deceptive heat spikes into the 80s, which coaxed the vines into a slightly earlier bloom. In Napa Valley Mother Nature is once again a super-hero, providing winemakers lush, beautiful grapes for great wine. We've received your email address, and soon you will start getting exclusive offers and news from Wine Enthusiast. Mother Nature may have lightened the load in the vineyard, but what's being revealed in the winery is very well structured, concentrated, elegant wines. Most agreed that Merlot was a success story for 2011. Heat spikes in September helped move the harvest forward after many felt it would be a late year. Thinning of the resultant large crop was important and widespread. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near-ideal conditions for winemakers to allow their fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels. Andrew Jefford, award-winning wine journalist for Decanter Magazine and author of twelve books on wine including The New France has compiled information and written the vintage charts … What began with a wet winter and spring continued with rainfall into mid-June that delayed bloom and disrupted fruit set resulting in shatter in parts of the region set the stage for a long, cooler-than-average growing season with a later-than-average harvest beset with autumn rain storms. Volume is looking to be about average to a little less than average. This resulted in an early bud break and bloom. Yields were were average on a per acre basis, however, with numerous post-phylloxera vineyards coming on line, the year's overall tonnage was up noticeably. Warm, nearly perfect conditions arrived with an Indian Summer making for a later than average harvest, providing winemakers with fruit with extended hang and ultimately realizing excellent sugar development and balanced acids with a larger than average crop of what could be a signature vintages from Napa Valley. 2013 Napa Valley: Once Upon a Time in America…, Antonio Galloni, October 2015 Uncovering the Best Values in California Cabernet Sauvignon, Antonio Galloni, October 2015. A precocious spring, drought conditions throughout the year, and an early harvest are three of the signatures of 2014 in Napa Valley. Napa Valley's winemakers remain committed to upholding the region's reputation for making some of the world's finest wines and early articles about the 2017 vintage describe the wines with words such as "finesse," "great complexity of flavor" and "elegant.". A cool spring was followed by intermittent rain during the May bloom period, causing shatter in many vineyards and reducing the potential crop size. Vintages. 2015 Napa Valley – First Impressions, Antonio Galloni, June 2016. Thanks to a relatively steady and mild July and August and then a series of warm days at the end of the growing season, vineyards were able to progress to perfect ripeness. Napa Valley Chardonnay Vintage Chart. With only one heat spike recorded in the first part of July, the 1999 vintage ripened under conditions that allowed a long hang-time that resulted in fruit of concentrated varietal flavors with a strong backbone of acid. VINTAGES P opping open a bottle of wine shouldn’t be a shot in the dark. The harvest was marginally larger than in 2017, and slightly later thanks to a cooler autumn that allowed prolonged ripening. Hudson Vineyards director Kelly MacLeod says, “This year, it really was a winemaker’s dream. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. "Classic" and "perfect" are just two accolades being bestowed upon the 2012 Napa Valley growing season and harvest. Growing seasons vary enormously from year to year. Cool growing season temperatures were broken with intermittent heat spells in August and September, resulting in several selective harvests, rather than one extended crush. My first tastings from barrel suggest that Napa Valley's producers have a highly promising vintage on their hands. During the growing season, clusters also were subjected to uneven ripening and threatened with sunburn, sending growers into the vineyard, performing more hand manipulation of the vines and reducing crops. Here's your free guide to the most relevant vintages in the most significant regions. The 21st century in the Napa Valley began with a virtually picture perfect growing season. California Syrah, Napa Vintage Chart. The beginning of the 2019 growing season was defined by copious rainfall and late soil moisture. The unpredictable nature of the 2003 growing season began with a series of early heat spikes in March, followed by the wettest April on record. The world's most trusted authority in wine for over 30 years. Unbiased, professional tasting notes, reviews, articles, videos, daily news and much more. Fortunately, the summer season continued with cooler, consistent temperatures. There were also notably fewer days in the 90s, and harvest followed a traditional, even relaxed, pace. Country, Region 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001; Bordeaux: St. Estephe, Pauillac: NT: NT: 96-99: 91E: 99T Top Five Questions Regarding the 2015 Vintage, Early harvest yields high quality wine grape crop. Vintage charts provide a general indication of a specific wine region's overall performance in a given year. Although our expert reviewers base these ... Napa 93 93 93 92 89 89 89 89 94 87 87 90 88 86 91 85 90 85 89 88 90 91 89 89 92 91 Rainfall returned after three dry years, pushed bud break, flowering and fruit-set back by at least two weeks at the front end of the growing season, and due to the cloud cover, there was no frost damage in 2010. Textbook conditions saw near-ideal spring bud break, steady flowering, even fruit set, and a lengthy stretch of warm days and cool and often foggy nights during the long summer months. Daytimes during the spring were picture-perfect, yet the cold temperatures and frost threat held on for more than three weeks. Napa Valley Trilogy: 2014, 2015 & 2016, Antonio Galloni, December 2016. All in all, exceptional fruit with bright acidity and ample texture promises an amazing vintage. Most growers agreed that the heat helped catch the vines up to a "normal" place in the growing season. This was a vintage of contrasts: contrasts from previous vintages, and contrasts from early predictions to final outcome, yet winegrowers adapted to changing conditions all along the way to finish with what was an outstanding vintage. The prospects for all varieties seem very promising, with intense and complex wines in prospect. Growers held on as acid balance eventually caught up. Harvest of Chardonnay began in early to mid-August in Carneros and southern Napa, followed by Pinot Noir. For collectors who enjoy a refined Cabernet, this vintage is ideal. 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