how do you know what year is good?

[curious]

I have seen posting here where a year is mentioned, so I know that it is important, but how do I know what year is good or bad for which wine?
It seems also that certain vineyards do better with certain types of wines. How do you know which vineyard is best (or again, is the year the main factor)?

[Innkeeper]

By checking vintage charts. There are many good ones online. For example: http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Vintage_Charts/0,1183,,00.html

[curious]

Thanks IK, went and checked out some sites, and bookmarked them.
Now, another question in that area.
I see that they have the names of variety of grapes, Chard, Zins and such, but not specific vineyards, how do you know one is better over another? Word of mouth?

Sorry to have so many questions, classes start in a week, will be too busy then to post, just lurk.

[Innkeeper]

Vintage charts generally cover a region, for example Upper Rhone; or a crop within a region, for example Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or Oregon Pinot Noir. For brands and/or specific vineyards you need to learn from postings here, reviews in the major magazines (I like "Wines & Spirits" best), and (heaven forbid)other on-line sources.

Don't want to scare you, but it can become complicated. Many vineyards supply more than one producer/brand, and can be in more than one AVA (American Viticultural Area). One such is Pisoni Vineyards, that supplies several wineries. It is in the Santa Lucia Highlands (an AVA), which in turn is a subregion of the Monterey AVA which is in the larger Central Coast CA region. Pisoni grows pinot noir. The closest you are going to see on a vintage chart is Central Coast Pinot Noir.



[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 01-04-2003).]

[curious]

thanks,
I have been reading advidly a lot on-line, I know it sound crazy, but I am one of those weird people who LIKE research, I enjoy doing research papers (good thing, as I have one that I will doing this quarter, 50+ pages).

I trust what I find here more than what I have found elsewhere (checked other forums and sites out, some are snobs, others don't discuss what is needed, or give good clear answers or seem to be a free advertising for a winery) and I like the archiaval set up, easy to use. Info here has been confirmed at other sites, showing that this here is accurate (when you check out 10 and 9 agree, you can pretty well trust, but I won't go into the statical aspect of biased, <g> )yet the others will provide info that is in conflict with other sites, this one hasn't, so far.

I have a notebook that I am writing down info that I feel will be of benefit to me, am going to pick up a coulple of books, Wine for Dummies and one on pairing, seen a couple recommended here, will check them out.

So, will continue to learn, and enjoy this new "vice" <BG>.

Janette

[wondersofwine]

I enjoy research too and like you use wine forums, books, etc. to extend my wine knowledge. But, practical experience--pouring, swirling, sniffing, sipping, savoring, etc. is the "most" fun.