PIEDMONT VINTAGE GUIDE
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.