Good or Great years for wine???

[eduardozertuche]

Probably you have had this question before, but I want to know how can I tell what year has been good or great for wine in a certain region. For instance, I bought a bottle of 2001 Santa Helena Chardonnay from Chile, and it tasted great. So I bought another one, but I could only find 2004, and this one didn't taste quite as good. Is there a guide somewhere or do I have to find out by sampling each year until I find what I like and what I don't?

[hotwine]

Welcome to the board.

Vintage charts are available from several sources. One of the most widely-read is contained in the magazine "Wine Spectator", found in most bookstores here in the States.

You're right.... a given producer's wines do indeed often vary in quality from one vintage to another, so consulting a reputable source for vintage information can save a consumer a lot of time and money.

[Kcwhippet]

Here's another source for a vintage chart.

www.erobertparker.com/info/vintagechart1.asp

[wondersofwine]

Also, even if a year is generally regarded as a "good" vintage year, some producers wines from that year may not be to your taste. It helps to find a producer whose wines have some consistency and high quality from year-to-year. It's also possible that the 2004 Chardonnay was too young and would taste better in a couple years. Keep trying wines to find producers you like in almost any vintage.

[eduardozertuche]

Thank you very much for your answers. This gives me some ideas of what to look for.

You know, I have a very hard time buying wine, since I always forget which ones I liked. For instance, the other day I picked up a bottle of Riunite Lambrusco and found it too fruity and sweet for my taste. So I play it safe and go for Cavernet-Sauvignon or Chardonnay, most of the time chilean.

I like older, stronger-tasting wines, specially reds, to go with strong cheese or a good pot of cheese fondue. Any ideas or hints on what kinds of wine, or regions, or vintages should I look for?

[wondersofwine]

Many Spanish wines from Rioja at the basic level are good with food and affordable. You might also try Cote du Rhone or Gigondas wines from France. With cheese fondue I prefer a lighter white wine such as Pinot Blanc or an Italian white wine. A muscular Pinot Noir or Burgundy can stand up to bleu cheese.