Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello: The Ultimate Guide to Italy’s Wine Vintages
Older wines are what make my love for wine never-ending. They are incomparable, living in a limbo of emotion that few other experiences can replicate. One of the reasons I decided to dedicate my life to wine is because of the first old bottle I ever tasted.
When I first started working in the restaurant business in NYC, I remember feeling highly confused about my career path. I knew I wanted to be involved in food and wine, but I always thought cooking was my strongest skill. That changed one day while I was working at a restaurant in Brooklyn, NY (Antica Pesa). The owner, Lorenzo, was opening a bottle of Quintarelli Recioto 1983. Recognizing my growing interest in wine, he offered me a sip. That moment was life-changing—a revelation. From that sip, I decided that wine would not only be my career but also my life.
I believe that anyone who works in wine has had an experience like that—a moment so profound that we spend our careers trying to recapture it. This is what makes us who we are.
It has been a long time since I first wanted to write a vintage guide for the main categories of wine that Italy offers. As wine professionals, we often place too much emphasis on vintage and risk miscommunicating its importance to customers. While vintage undoubtedly impacts the wine’s final taste, it doesn’t tell the whole story. A good bottle is a good bottle, and how it tastes depends as much on your expectations as on the vintage itself. Moreover, a great producer rarely makes a bad bottle, even in challenging years. In fact, I truly enjoy tasting wines from great producers in less favorable vintages; it’s fascinating to see how they interpret the conditions of the year.
This guide is meant as a reference point for what to expect when buying an older vintage. It’s not a definitive verdict on how the wine will taste. The flavor can vary depending on factors like the weather on the day you open it, how the wine was stored, or how quickly you drink it.
Remember, unless a wine is corked, it’s always an experience. Don’t get too obsessed with charts like this—they’re just tools, not gospel.
BAROLO
Year Rating Description
1946 *** Normal vintage. Quite harmonic and elegant wine.
1947 ***** Extraordinary vintage. Complete, perfectly balanced wine, of pure breed and with a very strong character.
1948 ** Bad vintage.
1949 ** Mediocre vintage. Weak wine, with a plain character.
1950 *** Normal vintage. Quite light, vinous, fine wine.
1951 **** Good vintage. Strong, velvety wine of good stuff.
1952 *** Normal vintage. Quite strong, vinous wine, though fairly hard.
1953 ** Bad vintage.
1954 *** Normal vintage. Weak wine, though elegant, fine, velvety.
1955 **** Good vintage. Splendidly balanced, rightly vinous, intensely scented wine.
1956 *** Normal vintage. Light wine, though intensely colored and average scented.
1957 *****+ Excellent vintage. Complete, velvety, balanced wine.
1958 *****+ Not too strong but a complete wine of very good stuff; exceptionally elegant, intensely scented.
1959 ** Mediocre vintage.
1960 * Bad vintage.
1961 *****+ Complete wine, splendidly velvety, with a very strong character, high alcoholic level, very intense and fine scent.
1962 *** Normal vintage. Wine of good stuff, not intensely scented.
1963 ** Bad vintage.
1964 *****+ Splendidly balanced, complete wine, intensely scented, perhaps a little too hard, suitable for a long life.
1965 *** Balanced, normal vintage. Fairly strong, balanced wine, with an intense and pleasant scent.
1966 ** Mediocre vintage.
1967 *****+ Excellent vintage. Complete, strong, intensely scented wine.
1968 **** Elegant, good vintage. Velvety, delicate, on average strong wine, elegantly scented.
1969 *** Balanced, normal vintage. Fairly strong, delicately scented wine of good stuff.
1970 *****+ Complete, intensely scented, strong, velvety, splendidly balanced wine of very good stuff.
1971 *****+ Splendidly balanced and harmonic, extraordinarily velvety, intensely scented, very elegant wine.
1972 * Very bad vintage. Producers renounced this wine as unsuitable for conservation and ripening.
1973 *** Elegant, normal vintage. On average strong wine, with an intense and persisting scent, along with a harmonic composition.
1974 *****+ Excellent vintage. Perfectly balanced, velvety and fine, pleasantly scented wine.
1975 **** Balanced, good vintage. Balanced, harmonic and pleasant, elegant wine, with a delicate and intense scent.
1976 *** Elegant, normal vintage. Fairly strong, balanced and fine wine, delicately scented.
1977 ** Normal vintage. Fine, not too strong, balanced, delicately scented wine. Sometimes mediocre.
1978 *****+ Strong and complete, intensely but delicately and harmonically scented, extraordinarily balanced strength and velvety texture, suitable for a long life.
1979 **** Balanced, excellent vintage. Wine of very good stuff, fairly complete, elegant, intensely scented, with a pleasant character.
1980 **** Balanced, excellent vintage. Intensely and widely scented, complete wine, of good stuff, extraordinarily balanced, harmoniously built.
1981 *** Elegant, normal vintage. On average strong, delicate, elegant, harmonic, finely and delicately scented wine.
1982 *****+ Complete, strong, balanced wine; with an intense, wide and delicate scent; extraordinarily balanced strength and velvety texture, good character; suitable for a long life.
1983 **** Elegant, good vintage. Balanced and pleasant wine, strong enough, elegant and velvety, with a fine and intense scent.
1984 *** Elegant, normal vintage. On average strong, well-balanced wine with a pleasant structure, delicate and persisting scent. Modest production.
1985 *****+ Perfectly balanced wine with a strong character, a pleasant scent, intense, fragrant, wide and exciting; perfectly balanced velvety texture and tannin level, elegant and generous, suitable for a long life. An honor for the Langhe.
1986 **** Elegant, excellent vintage. Very harmonic wine of good stuff, complete, elegant, intensely and widely scented, with a pleasant character. Very modest production because of a hailstorm in spring.
1987 *** Balanced, good vintage. Well-balanced wine, harmonic and elegant with a gentle and pleasant structure, of good stuff. Delicate, persisting and pleasant scent.
1988 *****+ Excellent vintage. Remarkably elegant structure, great balance and strong character. Pleasant and intense scent with a remarkable fragrance. Right tannin level, wide, delicately bitter, on average long-lived.
1989 *****+ Fairly structured and balanced wine; with a wide, intense and complex scent; generous and complete taste with an elegant tannin level, very good stuff and persistence; long-lived.
1990 *****+ Legendary vintage. Known for its richness, balance, and structure. Wines from this year are still highly regarded for their longevity and complexity.
1991 ** Tough vintage with challenging growing conditions, generally lacking balance.
1992 ** Cool and rainy vintage, wines are thin and lack structure.
1993 *** Passable vintage; some wines showed balance but lacked excitement.
1994 ** Difficult vintage with rain affecting quality; light and inconsistent wines.
1995 *** Better vintage in a tough stretch; balanced but not remarkable wines.
1996 *****+ Outstanding vintage. Known for structured, powerful wines with exceptional aging potential.
1997 **** Warm vintage with ripe, approachable wines. Early-drinking but still impressive.
1998 **** Balanced vintage producing elegant, medium-bodied wines with good structure.
1999 **** Structured and powerful wines, combining elegance with aging potential.
2000 **** Warm and ripe vintage. Approachable early but still well-made wines.
2001 *****+ Exceptional vintage. Wines with depth, balance, and extraordinary aging potential.
2002 * Difficult vintage with heavy rains and rot. Most wines are thin and lack longevity.
2003 ** Hot vintage leading to overripe wines. Some producers managed to craft decent wines.
2004 *****+ Classic vintage. Harmonious wines with elegance and structure; age-worthy.
2005 **** Very good vintage. Balanced wines with finesse, though slightly less structured than 2004.
2006 *****+ Outstanding vintage. Structured, complex wines with great aging potential.
2007 **** Warm vintage producing ripe, approachable wines with softer tannins.
2008 *****+ Exceptional vintage. Balanced wines with vibrant acidity and long aging potential.
2009 **** Warm vintage with rich, ripe wines. Less structured than 2008 but still good.
2010 *****+ Legendary vintage. Structured, balanced, and powerful wines with exceptional longevity.
2011 **** Warm vintage producing accessible, ripe wines with softer tannins.
2012 *** Atypical vintage with uneven ripening. Some elegant wines but less consistent.
2013 *****+ Classic vintage. Structured, balanced wines with exceptional aging potential.
2014 *** Difficult vintage with cooler conditions. Best wines are elegant but lighter.
2015 **** Warm vintage. Ripe and approachable wines with good balance and drinkability.
2016 *****+ Phenomenal vintage. Classic wines with balance, structure, and age-worthiness.
2017 **** Warm and dry vintage. Rich and ripe wines with softer structure.
2018 **** Mixed vintage. Best wines show elegance and freshness, though lighter overall.
2019 *****+ Exceptional vintage. Balanced wines with structure and vibrancy; great aging potential.
2020 *****+ Projected to be a fantastic vintage with ripe yet balanced wines.
2021 *****+ Expected to produce extraordinary wines with a perfect balance of ripeness and freshness.
2022 **** Good vintage with promise, adapting to changing climatic conditions.
2023 **** Wines are still developing; early indications suggest balance and ripeness.
BARBARESCO
Year Rating Description
1945 ***** Good vintage. Strong, velvety, intensely scented wine.
1946 **** Normal vintage. Quite harmonic and elegant wine.
1947 ***** Complete, perfectly balanced wine, of pure breed and with a very strong character.
1948 ** Bad vintage.
1949 *** Mediocre vintage. Weak wine, with a plain character.
1950 *** Normal vintage. Quite light, vinous, fine wine.
1951 **** Good vintage. Strong, velvety wine of good stuff.
1952 *** Normal vintage. Quite strong, vinous wine, though fairly hard.
1953 ** Bad vintage.
1954 *** Normal vintage. Weak wine, though elegant, fine, velvety.
1955 **** Good vintage. Splendidly balanced, rightly vinous, intensely scented wine.
1956 *** Normal vintage. Light wine, though intensely colored and on average scented.
1957 ***** Excellent vintage. Complete, velvety, balanced wine.
1958 ***** Not too strong but complete wine, of very good stuff, exceptionally elegant, intensely scented.
1959 ** Mediocre vintage.
1960 * Bad vintage.
1961 *****+ Complete wine, splendidly velvety, with a VERY strong character, high alcoholic level, VERY intense and fine scent.
1962 *** Normal vintage. Wine of good stuff, not intensely scented.
1963 ** Bad vintage.
1964 *****+ Splendidly balanced, Complete wine, intensely scented, perhaps a little too hard, suitable for a long life.
1965 *** Normal vintage. Fairly strong, balanced wine, with an intense and pleasant scent.
1966 ** Mediocre vintage.
1967 *****+ Complete, strong, intensely scented wine.
1968 **** Good vintage. Velvety, delicate, and moderately strong wine with elegant aromas.
1969 *** Average vintage. Fairly strong wine with subtle aromas and decent balance.
1970 *****+ Complete, intensely scented, strong, velvety, splendidly balanced wine of VERY GOOD stuff.
1971 *****+ Both splendidly balanced and harmonic, extraordinarily velvety, intensely scented, VERY elegant wine.
1972 * Very bad vintage. Producers renounced this wine as unsuitable for cellaring.
1973 *** Normal vintage. On average strong wine, with an intense and persisting scent, along with a harmonious composition.
1974 *****+ Excellent vintage. Perfectly balanced, velvety and fine, pleasantly scented wine.
1975 **** Good vintage. Balanced, harmonic and pleasant, elegant wine, with a delicate and intense scent.
1976 *** Normal vintage. Fairly strong, balanced and fine wine, delicately scented.
1977 ** Normal vintage. Fine, not too strong, balanced, delicately scented wine. Sometimes mediocre.
1978 *****+ Strong and complete, intensely but delicately and harmonically scented, extraordinarily balanced strength and velvety texture, suitable for a long life.
1979 **** Excellent vintage. Wine of very good stuff, fairly complete, elegant, intensely scented, with a pleasant character.
1980 **** Excellent vintage. Intensely and widely scented, complete wine, of good stuff, extraordinarily balanced, harmonically built.
1981 *** Normal vintage. On average strong, delicate, elegant, harmonic, finely and delicately scented wine.
1982 *****+ Complete, strong, balanced wine with an intense, wide and delicate scent; extraordinarily balanced strength and velvety texture, good character; suitable for a long life.
1983 **** Good vintage. Balanced and pleasant wine, strong enough, elegant and velvety, with a fine and intense scent.
1984 *** Normal vintage. On average strong, well-balanced wine with a pleasant structure, delicate and persisting scent. Modest production.
1985 *****+ Perfectly balanced wine with a strong character, a pleasant scent, intense, fragrant, wide and exciting; perfectly balanced velvety texture and tannin level, elegant and generous, suitable for a long life.
1986 **** Excellent vintage. Very harmonic wine, of good stuff, complete, elegant, intensely and widely scented, with a pleasant character. Very modest production because of a hailstorm in spring.
1987 *** Good vintage. Well-balanced wine, harmonic and elegant with a gentle and pleasant structure, of good stuff. Delicate, persisting and pleasant scent.
1988 *****+ Remarkably elegant structure, great balance and strong character. Pleasant and intense scent with a remarkable fragrance. Right tannin level, wide, delicately bitter, on average long-lived.
1989 *****+ Fairly structured and balanced wine; with a wide, intense and complex scent; generous and complete taste with an elegant tannin level, very good stuff and persistence; long-lived.
1990 *****+ Extraordinary vintage. Exciting and complex wine, with a good structure, balance and consistency, elegant scent; rich and wide, with a generous taste, harmonic and fine tannin level and persistent structure; remarkably long-lived.
1991 ** A challenging vintage with less favorable weather conditions, resulting in lighter wines.
1992 ** Another difficult year; wines are generally light and lack depth.
1993 *** A better vintage with more favorable conditions, producing balanced wines.
1994 ** Persistent September rains led to diluted wines; not up to Tuscany’s performance.
1995 *** Hail-reduced crop of deep-colored wines; benefited from a sunny autumn; a notch below 1989 and 1990.
1996 *****+ Superb Barbaresco for aging; excellent structure and longevity.
1997 **** A hot growing season resulted in record ripeness levels but some low acidities; voluptuous wines.
1998 **** More structure and potential than 1997; some very fine, elegant wines.
1999 *****+ Very good quality; voluptuous Barbaresco reminiscent of 1997; suitable for aging.
2000 *****+ Very good vintage. Wine exceptionally elegant, with strong character and complex. Intense and enduring scent. Generous and pleasant taste, with a strong character, right tannin level, suitable for a long life.
2001 ***** Excellent quality; aromatic, structured, and firm reds with racy character; suitable for aging.
2002 * A washout; many wines unripe or diluted; early-drinkers.
2003 ** Many unbalanced wines due to an extremely hot growing season, but some nice surprises; Barberas very successful.
2004 **** Fresh, harmonious, perfumed reds; hitting its peak now.
2005 *** Balanced and elegant reds, delivering fruit and ripe tannins for producers who worked well in the vineyard.
2006 **** Many outstanding reds; cool weather made austere, muscular Nebbiolos with aging potential.
2007 **** A warm, dry year; wines offer flesh and immediate appeal.
2008 **** Warm, late season rescued a cooler-than-average vintage; ripe reds show good structure, purity, and elegance.
2009 *** A warm year with inconsistent ripening; the best reds offer immediate fruit and flesh, others show underripe tannins.
2010 *****+ Exceptional vintage with ideal conditions, producing wines of great balance and longevity.
2011 **** Warm year resulting in rich, fleshy Barbarescos; the best have vibrant structures for aging.
2012 **** Elegant, balanced, and expressive wines with fruit and savory elements; intense and austere.
2013 ***** Cooler growing season leading to wines of purity and finesse, with fine acidity; among the best since 2010.
2014 *** Challenging, wet, and cool season; better in Barbaresco due to less rain, resulting in elegant wines.
2015 *****+ Vibrant Barbarescos with red fruit flavors, rich and balanced, thanks to favorable conditions.
2016 *****+ Outstanding vintage with balanced, vibrant, and tense Barbarescos; refined and elegant.
2017 **** Warm and dry conditions led to structured wines with notable freshness; approachable yet age-worthy.
2018 **** A rainy spring and July storms led to swollen berries by harvest; cool weather in September resulted in fine ripening; the best are aromatic, elegant, and fresh.
2019 ***** Consistent weather with warm days, cool nights, and well-timed rain resulted in pure, fruit-filled Barbarescos that combine elegance and power; the top wines rival the best 2016s.
2020 ***** Promising vintage with balanced wines; early reports suggest excellent aging potential.
2021 *****+ Exceptional vintage with ripe yet balanced wines; adaptability was key.
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Year Rating Description
1945 ***** An extraordinary post-war vintage with legendary status.
1946 **** A strong vintage, with promising wines.
1947 **** A warmer vintage producing rich and ripe wines.
1948 ** A weaker vintage with less notable wines.
1949 *** An average vintage, producing balanced but unremarkable wines.
1950 *** A decent vintage with some structured wines.
1951 **** A strong and velvety vintage.
1952 *** An average vintage with decent quality.
1953 *** A solid vintage with good balance.
1954 ** A lighter vintage, with less structure.
1955 *****+ The “vintage of the century” according to Franco Biondi Santi. Iconic wines with longevity.
1956 ** A weaker vintage with light wines.
1957 **** A strong and elegant vintage.
1958 **** Balanced and aromatic wines with elegance.
1959 *** A decent vintage with balanced wines.
1960 *** An average vintage with moderate quality.
1961 *****+ An outstanding vintage with legendary wines.
1962 **** A solid vintage with balanced wines.
1963 *** An average vintage with decent wines.
1964 *****+ An extraordinary vintage, still vibrant and lively.
1965 **** A solid vintage with good balance.
1966 **** A strong vintage producing elegant wines.
1967 **** A balanced vintage with fine wines.
1968 *** A decent vintage with moderate structure.
1969 ** A weaker vintage with less complexity.
1970 *****+ A remarkable vintage with great balance and longevity.
1971 *** An average vintage with approachable wines.
1972 * A very poor vintage, with limited quality wines.
1973 *** A solid vintage with balanced wines.
1974 ** A lighter vintage with less structure.
1975 *****+ A legendary vintage producing complex and long-lived wines.
1976 * A very poor vintage, with little to note.
1977 **** A strong vintage with balanced and aromatic wines.
1978 **** A balanced vintage producing elegant wines.
1979 **** A solid vintage with good balance and structure.
1980 **** A strong vintage with elegant wines.
1981 *** An average vintage with approachable wines.
1982 **** A balanced vintage with good longevity.
1983 **** A strong vintage with well-structured wines.
1984 * A poor vintage with few notable wines.
1985 *****+ An iconic vintage with exceptional wines.
1986 *** An average vintage producing decent wines.
1987 *** A moderate vintage with balanced wines.
1988 ***** A remarkable vintage with excellent balance and complexity.
1989 ** A weaker vintage with less structured wines.
1990 *****+ A legendary vintage with rich and complex wines, excellent aging potential.
1991 ***** Another outstanding vintage with exceptional quality wines.
1992 ** A weaker vintage due to challenging weather conditions.
1993 **** A solid vintage with structured and balanced wines.
1994 **** A good vintage with approachable wines.
1995 *****+ + Structured and firm, yet fruity; very good indeed.
1996 *** Fruity and aromatic, but slightly diluted.
1997 *****+ + Extremely aromatic; structured and racy wines.
1998 **** Perfumed, harmonious, and delicious wines.
1999 **** Generous, tannic, and fruity wines with velvety texture.
2000 *** Aromatic, soft, and for early drinking.
2001 *****+ Great wines with wonderful structure, focus, and balance.
2002 ** A wet growing season resulted in mediocre wines.
2003 **** Rich, powerful, and thick wines; some lack focus.
2004 *****+ Wonderfully perfumed and majestically refined Brunellos.
2005 **** Rains during harvest dampened quality, but still a very good vintage.
2006 *****+ Complex and powerful wines with Great aging potential.
2007 **** Hotter and riper; fruit-forward, rich, and elegant wines.
2008 **** A cool growing season produced balanced and elegant wines.
2009 **** Warm summer gave elegant, fruity, and balanced wines.
2010 *****+ Perfect late summer weather produced Structured and elegant wines.
2011 **** A warm year with lively and balanced wines.
2012 *****+ Rich, concentrated wines with ripe fruit and freshness.
2013 **** Classic, vibrant Brunellos with mineral notes.
2014 *** A cooler year with lighter wines.
2015 *****+ Outstanding vintage producing elegant and Structured wines.
2016 *****+ Exceptional vintage with balance, depth, and elegance.
2017 **** Spring and summer were warm and especially dry, with slightly more rain in the north; the best wines are balanced and fresh for enjoying over the near term.
2018 **** A rainy spring and July storms led to swollen berries by harvest; cool weather in September resulted in fine ripening; the best are aromatic, elegant, and fresh.
2019 *****+ Consistent weather with warm days, cool nights, and well-timed rain resulted in pure, fruit-filled Brunellos that combine elegance and power; the top wines rival the best 2016s.