Jahrgänge verstehen
On every label a number tells more than you think: the vintage speaks of the weather, the character – and sometimes of patience.
What the vintage means
The vintage is the year of the grape harvest. Since each year brings different weather, the wines differ: a warm, dry vintage yields ripe, powerful wines, a cool one leaner, fresher ones. Each year thus carries its own signature.
When the vintage matters
For simple, early-drinking wines, the vintage plays a minor role. For great, age-worthy reds such as Barolo, Brunello or Bordeaux, it decides style and ageing potential. In top years, wines are born that can mature for decades.
Age-worthy recommendations
- Del Conte Barolo – nebbiolo whose vintage shapes depth and maturity.
- Pietranera Brunello di Montalcino – a Tuscan icon – a lifetime in great years.
- Zenato Amarone – concentrated and long-lived – the vintage counts.
Vintage and maturity
A young top vintage often needs patience before it shows its potential. A lighter vintage, by contrast, is accessible sooner. Those who cellar wine follow the drinking-window advice – and taste a bottle now and then.
Must you memorise vintages?
No – vintage charts are a guide, not a must. Trust good producers: an experienced grower makes good wine even in difficult years. When in doubt, a specialist merchant's advice helps.
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