Being a former chef and a member of a French Wine Society at one time, it has alot to do with the region of the country in question, weather, type of grape and the harvest it self, was it a good year or were there factors to it.
A great wine grape needs alot of care, and even a bit of dare I say it abuse??, a gpare vine has deep roots and if it gets all the right things produces a good bottle of wine every year, but there are times were the weather does not cooperate, to wet or to dry, for most the damp is bad were the dry is good, as it stresses the vine, aiding it to store nutrients and sugars to make a better wine.
As for your basic question, it is a matter of what you like, the variety of grape used, the area it is produced and the vintner themselves, a good wine has alot those qualities, what I would do is get the smaller half bottles, and do a blind tasting or have a wine tasting and get your friends to lend a hand on deciding.
Impossible to generalize. Different regions and grapes had good years. 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent (now impossible to find). 1999 California Old Vine Zinfandel was especially good). 2000 Bordeaux was an excellent vintage. 2002 Marlborough Valley New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is really tasty. Look online. I’m sure you can find others.
David H // Apr 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Being a former chef and a member of a French Wine Society at one time, it has alot to do with the region of the country in question, weather, type of grape and the harvest it self, was it a good year or were there factors to it.
A great wine grape needs alot of care, and even a bit of dare I say it abuse??, a gpare vine has deep roots and if it gets all the right things produces a good bottle of wine every year, but there are times were the weather does not cooperate, to wet or to dry, for most the damp is bad were the dry is good, as it stresses the vine, aiding it to store nutrients and sugars to make a better wine.
As for your basic question, it is a matter of what you like, the variety of grape used, the area it is produced and the vintner themselves, a good wine has alot those qualities, what I would do is get the smaller half bottles, and do a blind tasting or have a wine tasting and get your friends to lend a hand on deciding.
jimmy d. // Apr 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm
What country, region, etc. Be more specific.
Bob W // Apr 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm
1959
amancalledj // Apr 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Impossible to generalize. Different regions and grapes had good years. 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent (now impossible to find). 1999 California Old Vine Zinfandel was especially good). 2000 Bordeaux was an excellent vintage. 2002 Marlborough Valley New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is really tasty. Look online. I’m sure you can find others.
billmex // Apr 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Come on man, get a clue you have to be more specific, for example in Rioja, Spain 1995 was an excellent year but in other areas of Spain not so good.