Not a good vintage. The growing season started cold impacted by frosts that struck most of the region. This was then followed by a wet and cold summer. While the weather improved by September it was not enough to help the vintage.

Harvest historical note: Pelé plays his final professional football game as a member of the New York Cosmos.

The growing season was challenging with a wet, cool, spring. The season improved slowly, with the end of the growing season taking place under good, warm, sun filled conditions. Over time the wine from this vintage will continue to fade, slowly losing their fruit. If you still have bottles from this vintage, it would be worth considering to enjoying them now.

Harvest historical note: Harvest officially began in October. In the same month Pope John Paul II succeeded Pope John Paul I as the 264th pope. He was the first Polish pope in history.

Extremely wet conditions at the start of the vintage. This was followed by no rain in July & August with cool temperatures in September that produced the largest vintage since 1934 due to late flowering, which resulted in diluted wines being produced.

Harvest historical note: At the time of the harvest in Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Typhoon Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history.

The summer of this vintage was cold and wet, which in turn allowed rot to develop in the vines, requiring spraying to avoid the problem from spreading over the vineyard. Moderately warm weather at the end of September and early October helped but overall there was not enough sun to help 1980 Bordeaux vintage.

Harvest historical note: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher delivers her famous “The lady’s not for turning”.

1981 Bordeaux summer was picture perfect. Flowering was even. July was cool and August along with September were warm, sunny and dry months.  However, that all changed with heavy, non-stop rain fell in early October, which ultimately shaped the character of 1981 Bordeaux wine. This wine needs to be consumed as the 1981 Bordeaux wine is past its prime.

Harvest historical note: During the harvest period, English rock band The Police releases their album Ghost in the Machine.

1982 Bordeaux wine is considered one of the best vintages in the modern era and arguably of all time (and certainly the best since 1961). The vintage conditions were almost perfect from start to finish. Flowering took place in warm, sunny and dry conditions. In August it cooled down, but a blast of heat for more than 20 days proved crucial for this vintage prior to the harvest. All this produced an historic Bordeaux vintage that remains revered today.

Harvest historical note: During the harvest, the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco takes place in Monaco; Princess Grace died after having suffered a car crash a few days previously.

The vintage started with perfect flowering in June followed by extreme heat and drought in July. August was hot and with fair amounts of rain, a poor combination for good wine, as rot started to develop. The yields were too high, which diluted many 1983 Bordeaux wines.  1983 Bordeaux is not a long aging vintage.

Harvest historical note: British entrepreneur Richard Noble sets a new land speed record of 633.468 mph (1,019.468 km/h), driving Thrust2 at the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.

Flowering was extremely poor for the Merlot crop. Cool temperatures in June, followed by warm, dry months in July and August resulted in the vintage being behind schedule. September was very humid and the first cyclone to hit the Bordeaux (in recorded history) did little to help the crop. 1984 was the last poor vintage.

Harvest historical note: During the harvest the United Kingdom and the People’s Republic of China sign the initial agreement to return Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Much of the growing season was average. Flowering occurred in early June, under cool, damp conditions. July was warmer and wetter than usual. This was followed by a cool August. The vintage was saved by a perfect September with a good combination of hot, sunny and dry conditions. The 1985 vintage is considered elegant but lacking the depth of the great years and the ability to age.

Harvest historical note: The Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its maiden flight.

This was a difficult vintage due to the heat and drought from start to the finish of the growing season. The summer was hot and very dry.  By September, the vines were experiencing stress from drought conditions. Then the rains came in mid-September followed by a massive storm that caused flooding in some Bordeaux appellations. Consequently, and over time the wine has developed power, structure and concentration, but lacks charm and softness.

Harvest historical note: Desmond Tutu becomes the first black Anglican Church bishop in South Africa.

While the vintage started well with good hot & dry months in August and September, torrential rains in October along with cold weather impacted the grapes and the harvest. As a result the wine from this vintage is thin and dilute and have not aged well.

Harvest historical note: Black Monday: Stock market levels fall sharply on Wall Street and around the world.

After a wet spring, flowering was late. Warm, humid weather in August followed by more rain in September caused many growers to harvest early. As a consequence the grapes were not fully ripe, resulting in tannic wines.

Harvest historical note:  The 1988 Summer Olympics are held in Seoul, South Korea.

The vintage started well following mild winter conditions. Early, even flowering   preceded a hot and dry summer. The harvest started very early at the end of August and is documented as one of the earliest harvests in Bordeaux history. It was a large harvest for Merlot grapes. Overall a good vintage for Bordeaux.

Harvest historical note: Vietnam announces that it has withdrawn the last of its troops from the State of Cambodia, ending an eleven-year occupation.

Following a pleasant winter and cool spring, a warm and sunny May caused the flowering to take place early. July and August were hot and dry. Then, a large storm occurred at the perfect time in mid-September, resulting in a very good harvest. The quality of the vintage resulted in rich, intense and silky wine. 1990 Bordeaux wine is one of the top vintages of the 20th century.

Harvest historical note: During the harvest, East Germany and West Germany reunify into a single Germany.

Not a good vintage. Consistently low temperatures resulted in one of the coldest vintages in history with lots of estates not producing (declassifying) their 1991 wine. The quality that was eventually produced was below average.

Harvest historical note: Dissolution of the Soviet Union: Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan declare independence from the Soviet Union.

Flowering for this vintage took place early and the summer started warm and dry however August was wet, and September was cold. More rain in the middle of the harvest hurt the vintage. When released, the wines were light and diluted and have declined over the years.

Harvest historical note: Turner Broadcasting System launches Cartoon Network, the first all-animation television channel.

A good growing season was undone by the wettest September on record. The wines produced were diluted and under-ripe. Over time these wines will continue to lose their fruit.

Harvest historical note: At the same time as the harvest, the U.S. Army conducts Operation Gothic Serpent in the city of Mogadishu, Somalia. Two U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawks are shot down. Later the film “Blackhawk Down” re-enacts the events of this ill-fated mission.

The vintage started well despite a cool and wet spring.   The summer was warm, and dry however rain fell non-stop during the month of September. The wine from this vintage lacks the usual personality and charm.

Harvest historical note: The 1994 Baseball World Series was officially cancelled due to an ongoing work stoppage. It was the first time a World Series was not be played since 1904.

A mild winter was followed with good rain showers and then a warm spring with flowering completed before the end of June. Then came a hot and dry summer with no rain. September brought rains which caused challenges in the vineyards. The 1995 Bordeaux wine is considered consistent however over time, the tannis have hardened and they have started losing their character.

Harvest historical note: O. J. Simpson is found not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend.

The region enjoyed a warm spring. May was cool. June was hot. July started cool but improved and August was fine with large rainstorms at the end of August. The harvest occurred in September and October in very good conditions, producing a good quality. The vintage continues to age well.

Harvest historical note: Nintendo introduces in American market the new game console with the name Nintendo 64.

In recent history, vintages with the number 7 have produced a series of moderate to poor vintages; these include 1957, 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997, 2007 and 2017! This vintage started with a hot spring. June started warm, but rain brought cooler temperatures.  July and August were humid and then came a lot of rain which bloated the grapes. Warm weather later helped but vintage suffers from some under ripe grapes.

Harvest historical note: The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, takes place at Westminster Abbey.

After a moderate winter, spring was cool and wet with limited sun. June was both hot and cold as was July. However, in August there was the right balance of heat and sunshine and the right amount of rain was supplied in September. This continued into October allowing the harvest to occurred in very good conditions. The wine produced in this vintage has some charm and character.

Harvest historical note: Google, Inc. is founded in Menlo Park, California, by Stanford University PhD candidates Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

The first few months of the vintage were normal, but dry. The summer started well, with warm, dry weather. High rainfall was seen in August followed by a hailstorm in early September and then more rain. This all contributed to a difficult vintage, with high yields, making it difficult to produce good quality, resulting in light wines that lack concentration.

Harvest historical notes: NASA loses one of its probes, the Mars Climate Orbiter.

Winter was cold followed by a mild warm spring which caused mildew to develop. The month of June was cold, and damp and the weather did not improve in July with cool air and limited sun. However, for the next two months the weather was warm, dry and filled with sunshine and the harvest was conducted in perfect weather. Due to its high tannins the 2000 vintage became highly regarded. The wines are deep, ripe and rich.

Harvest historical notes: The last Mini is produced in the Longbridge car factory.

Spring started cold but in May came an unexpected heatwave followed by a wet July.  August was dry and in keeping with the up and down weather, September was cold, warm and then very dry which helped the harvest. Despite the erratic weather conditions, the 2001 vintage is soft and rounded.

Harvest historical notes: In response to the September 11 attacks, the United States invades Afghanistan, with participation from other nations, thus officially beginning the War on Terror.

The 2002 Bordeaux vintage did not start well. Heavy rains resulted in uneven flowering and the Merlot did not ripen well due to a wet and cold weather in May. The summer remained cool and lacked sun. However, the vintage was saved by warm temperatures in September that helped improve the vintage.

Harvest historical notes: Switzerland joins the United Nations as the 190th member state after rejecting a place in 1986.

The 2003 vintage endured a very hot, dry growing season, both day and night. Record high temperatures were recorded in June, July and August. The vines became stressed and suffered from drought. Finally, in August some much needed rain fell and again in September. These late rains helped the vintage recover and overall helped improve the quality.

Harvest historical notes: Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to an end.

After a wet spring, flowering took place early. Summer proved to be cool and rainy however it improved by September, with warm, dry, sunny days. Unfortunately, this weather was not to last, and October saw a return to the cold and rain. As a result, the 2004 vintage saw high yields, with the wine being uneven due to the uneven growing season. Interestingly, the 2004 vintage became the largest crop in Bordeaux history.

Harvest historical notes: A team of explorers reach the bottom of Krubera Cave, the world’s deepest cave, with a depth of 2,080 meters.

The weather during the whole vintage was very good. Rain came at the right times and while there were dry days and weeks, rainfall always came when it was needed. Starting in late September and continuing into October, the days were sunny and warm, with cool evening temperatures. This allowed the grapes to be harvested under perfect conditions. The near perfect combination of warm days, cold nights and just enough rain at the right moments produced a highly regarded vintage. While this vintage will become overshadowed by the 2009 vintage, the level of consistency found in the 2005 wine is excellent.

Harvest historical notes: The trial of Saddam Hussein begins.

Winter was wet and cold and was followed by hot and dry months in June and July, but August turned back to the cold and wet. It warmed up again at the beginning of September, but rain started again and it did not stop for the rest of the month. As a result, the 2006 vintage is tannic and needs time to age.

Harvest historical notes: North Korea claims to have conducted its first-ever nuclear test.

The 2007 vintage is the product of a poor growing season with plenty of cool, wet weather in spring and early summer however the improvement of conditions in September helped save and ultimately improved the wine, though it still lacks character.

Harvest historical notes: United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The 2008 vintage got off to a favourable start after a moderate winter. Unfortunately, persistent cool temperatures and rain meant spraying needed to be done to control the onset of rot. The summer months were sunny but damp and cool. However, in October there were warm days and cool nights during the harvest. The 2008 vintage is the result of a small harvest due to low yields.

Harvest historical notes: Following the bankruptcies of Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777.68 points, hitherto the largest single-day point loss in its history.

Quite simply a great vintage and one for the history books. Spring was warm with some rain. April was average with May and June being sunny and dry as was July with August being perfectly warm and dry. There was only minor rainfall in September. October remained warm, sunny and dry with cool nights and cold mornings, which was perfect for picking. This perfect combination of warm, sunny days and cool nights contributed to the success of the wine that was produced. The 2009 vintage is rich, luxurious, ripe and opulent.

Harvest historical notes: Palaeontologists announce the discovery of an Ardipithecus ramidus fossil skeleton, deeming it the oldest remains of a human ancestor yet found.

Despite a slow start, this would be another great vintage and one to discuss, debate and compare to the 2009 vintage. After a cool and wet early June, warm and hot days followed in July and August with long sunny days and cool nights, which was perfect for the grapes. Interestingly, 2010 is the driest year on record since 1949 but it is the combination of warm days and cool nights that helped produce wines with high alcohol, ripe, but strong tannins. The rains in September also helped in their development at just the right time.

Ultimately the 2010 vintage is a modern classic and requires time and patience to age.

Harvest historical notes: Germany makes final reparation payment for World War I.

After a cold, dry winter, spring arrived too early causing Bud break to happen at the end of March. Summer also arrived early with hot temperatures in April and May and very little rain. When summer arrived the topsy turvy weather continued with July becoming very cold with some rain. The harvest started at the beginning of September, which was very early. The inconsistent weather brought low yields however the wine is good, being fresh, bright and aromatic though with less flavour when compared with previous years like 2009 and 2010.

Harvest historical notes: India and Bangladesh sign a pact to end their 40-year border demarcation dispute.

This vintage did not start well, following a cold winter and wet spring, with rains in April soaking the region. May was warmer but it cooled down in June. This caused late and uneven flowering resulting in berries that ripened at different times. August & September saw the heat arrive which then brought a drought, stressing the vines. All this weather and uneven ripening resulted in a late harvest and low yields. Overall the vintage produced an above average wine which will improve with age.

Harvest historical notes: Hurricane Sandy, the largest Atlantic hurricane on record wreaks havoc on the east coast of USA.

The 2013 vintage endured a cold and wet start to the growing season. While it warmed up in April, the rain returned in May. All this rain reduced the amount of sun, slowing down the growing cycle. Warm weather returned in July and by mid-August, things were looking better. September was mixed and ultimately all the rain throughout the growing season reduced the yields and produced unripe fruit and an average vintage.

Harvest historical notes: 140 countries and territories sign the Minamata Treaty, a UNEP treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

After a mild, wet winter, bud burst happened early in the middle of March. April was warm, sunny and dry but in May, temperatures cooled down and some rain fell. June started off hot but there were challenges with rot and mildew due to the wet, warm conditions. Cooler temperatures arrived in July along with the rain. While August was dry it was also cold, lacking the much-needed sun and the beginning of September did not deliver the warmth until later in the month. Despite a challenging growing season, the overall quality of the vintage was better than expected.

Harvest historical notes: In the Scottish independence referendum, Scotland votes against independence from the United Kingdom.

This vintage is the result of an extremely, hot, dry, sun filled summer, which started in May and continued into July. This all changed in August which saw almost twice the amount of rain normally seen in the region for this time of year. While the soils were able to handle the heat, drought and rain, the grapes that were produced were small in size, with thick skins, ripe tannins and good levels of concentration resulting in a high-quality vintage.

Harvest historical notes: NASA announces that liquid water has been found on Mars.

The vintage started very wet and was not looking good by the middle of June. However, this all changed by late June when the region experienced plenty of warm, sunny and very dry conditions together with cool and cold nights. Small amounts of moisture came in July and August. The heat and continued lack of moisture reduced the levels of acidity. Then in the middle of September rain fell at exactly the right time. Overall, while it is a late vintage, it is ripe and mature and will continue to improve with age.

Harvest historical notes: 150 nations meet at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) summit in Rwanda and agree to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

In April the vintage saw the worst frost in 27 years. By the end of the spring, temperatures had increased, and flowering took place in the middle of May. June saw rain at the start followed by warm and sunny conditions. July and August were very dry with cool temperatures. By the middle of September, it began to rain and did not stop raining resulting in an early harvest. Despite the challenging weather conditions, overall, it is an average vintage with balanced tannins.

Harvest historical note: the International Olympic Committee awards Paris and Los Angeles the right to host the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics, respectively.

A wet winter was followed by a wet spring. This was then followed by a long dry spell from late June through to July, August and September with lots of sunshine but cold nights, which helped the vintage. Light rain fell at the right time in September allowing the grapes to achieve maturity and the harvest took place under beautiful conditions.

The grapes produced had a good concentration of flavour and intense colour.

Harvest historical note: the IPCC releases its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC, warning that “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” are needed to ensure that global warming is kept below 1.5 °C.

The start of the vintage saw average January, February and March. Low temperatures in April and May, threatened frosts but none appeared. The sun returned in May and June with flowering beginning at the end of May. Summer brought ideal conditions with hot, dry conditions and cool nights. The right amount of rain at the right time came in August and September, with the harvest taking place under ideal conditions. Overall, 2019 has all the hallmarks of being an excellent vintage.

Harvest historical note: The Republic of Ireland promises to plant 440 million trees in twenty years to combat climate change.

A mild winter continued into a mild but wet spring. The warmth led to an early budburst and flowering. The wet spring months created a humid condition raising challenges of disease. The months of June to August were very warm and dry with occasional overnight thunderstorms. The very warm conditions continued to occur during the harvest.
While 2020 will be remembered for the impact of COVID, this is a very good wine vintage because the Merlot performed extremely well. These wines have found an elegant balance of acidity and velvet tannins. This is a vintage that can be enjoyed from 2023 onwards though it will also benefit from time in the cellar.

Harvest historical note: China pledges at the UN that the country will become carbon neutral by 2060.

Numerous weather challenges occurred during this vintage, starting with a warm and dry February and March leading to an early budburst. This would then expose the vines to late frosts that would stalk many vineyards and regions in Bordeaux impacting quantities produced. If this was not challenging enough, after flowering, heavy rainstorms were seen from late June through to July, which allowed mildew to be added to the complex growing environment. A reprieve was finally seen in August and early September when warm dry weather helped stop the mildew and supported the grape skins to ripened well.

Overall, not a fun vintage to grow. Hard work in the vines and even harder work during the harvest restored credibility to the vintage. The cooler-than-average growing season meant lower sugar levels which resulted in lower alcohol levels (which is not a bad thing in my humble opinion but will save that judgement for a more fact-based commentary in the “Stories” section). The wine has personality, drinks well, being fruit forward and fresh on the palette. It may struggle to age but time will be the ultimate judge.

Harvest historical note:
The US Biden Administration releases a blueprint calling for 44% of American electricity to come from the sun by 2050 (3% in 2021)

“Something special this way comes”. So I modified the title of a novel but I thought it better than trying to add to the litany of clichés that have already been used to describe the 2022 vintage.

A dry winter was followed by cool nights in Spring with bud break occurring as expected. Warm conditions in May accelerated growth in the vines but also induced hail storms around Bordeaux. The high temperatures continued into June and July. Rainstorms brought much needed moisture but was followed by more warm days in August however overnight temperatures were cool. Ideal weather conditions during harvest meant that the grapes could be picked at optimum ripeness, a precursor to the quality that they possessed.

Patience is going to be an important approach to drinking this vintage. There is no argument, this is one of the greats that can stand shoulder to shoulder with 2009. The wine is textured, layered and rich with concentrated fruit. It is a pleasure to drink and beguiling to savour. Great ageing potential with generations enjoying this fine vintage.

Harvest Historical Note:
Queen Elizabeth II dies at Balmoral Castle after ruling for 70 years, as the UK’s longest-serving monarch. Her eldest son inherits the throne as King Charles III.