1900
The 1900 vintage was a top vintage, especially in Bordeaux. Very good and long-lasting wines were produced. The duo of 1899 and 1900 are still the two best consecutive vintages today. Beautiful wines were produced throughout Europe. Well-stored examples are still worth seeking out. The wine of the vintage is Chateau Margaux 1900.
1901
A vintage of good quality and very high yields in the Bordeaux growing region. Very rare to find and most wines will be oxidised
1902
The 1902 vintage was an ordinary vintage without much interest, especially in Bordeaux. Today the wines are too old and only suitable for collectors.
1903
The 1903 vintage was a spoilt vintage of poor quality due to the cold weather. Even when young, the wines were watery and short. Today, probably no wine from this weak vintage has survived and you can hardly find any drinkable examples. Avoid !
1904
The 1904 vintage is considered a very good vintage in Bordeaux. The weather was excellent and great wines were produced. Perhaps one of the best vintages between 1900 and 1920, some wines may have survived if stored very well and professionally. The search can be worthwhile!
1905
The 1905 vintage is characterised by large yields in the Bordeaux wine region. The season was good to satisfactory, the vines bore ripe grapes. However, the very light wines were suitable for early consumption, although some bottles may have survived. Compared to the 1904 growths, only moderately elegant and ageable. Rather risky today!
1906
The 1906 vintage was characterised by high humidity and wetness at the beginning of the year in the Bordeaux wine-growing region. This was followed in the summer by a period of heat and prolonged dry spells, which caused problems for the ripening of the grapes. The harvest was then brought in during sunny weather, which saved the vintage and produced a satisfactory result. The best wine of this vintage is probably Chateau Margaux 1906, which even after almost 100 years is still beautifully firm with a great structure and a great old bouquet.
1907
The 1907 vintage is hardly interesting today, although it was of high quality when young and high yields were achieved. However, the wines were not suitable for long cellar storage and had to be drunk early. Hardly any wine is likely to have survived to the present day, with the exception of well-aged Pomerol wines.
Our wines from the 1907 vintage
1908
The 1908 vintage has gone down in the history of Bordeaux vintages as an average year. Some wines are likely to have survived due to their sturdy tannin structure. Chateau Latour produced a passable wine in 1908.
To our wines from the 1908 vintage
1909
The 1909 vintage was almost destroyed by very stormy weather in August. The wines turned out thin, watery and were only a little fun for the first few years. To this day, no wine has survived the poor weather conditions throughout the entire growing season. No miracles could be performed in the cellar at that time either. The vintage should be avoided in Bordeaux. Instead, favour Port and Madeira.
1910
The 1910 vintage was almost completely destroyed by mildew. This was compounded by bad weather in spring and at harvest time, followed by a very late harvest of unripe grapes. A dreadful year, the wines only survived the first few years. Avoid.
1911
The 1911 vintage brought in a comparatively small harvest. Despite difficult conditions, the wines turned out well; mildew, heat, drought and storms did not cause too much damage to the vines. Chateau Lafite produced a beautiful and quite long-lived wine in 1911.
In Germany, 1911 was a great wine year. Noble sweet wines can still be a revelation today. The search for well-stored examples is certainly still worthwhile. The wines are very rare and only occasionally available.
1912
The 1912 vintage was considered a difficult wine year at the time. A cold and rainy August made it difficult for the grapes to ripen. A warm September contributed to the joy of the winegrowers and they were able to bring in an all-round satisfying and abundant harvest. The wines later proved not to be very storable and today you can only get hold of a well-stored, drinkable specimen if you are very lucky.
Great port wine year. You can still find it here today!
1913
The 1913 vintage is one of the worst failures of the last 100 years. Dramatic weather conditions and a high level of pest infestation dashed all hopes of a good vintage. The wines could hardly show any finesse, even when young, and are no longer interesting today.
The port wines also turned out thin and lean. The vintage was not declared. In Germany, it was also a dreadful year of inferior quality.
1914
The 1914 vintage has gone down in the history of Bordelaise as the first wartime vintage. A hot August allowed the grapes to ripen well. On the 14th of that month, the First World War began and demand collapsed. Overall, round wines of satisfactory quality were produced. The harvest was very small, which is why wines from the 1914 vintage are almost impossible to find today.
To our wines from the 1914 vintage
1915
The 1915 vintage was abandoned in many places in Bordeaux due to the lack of labour caused by World War I. The remaining producers had problems with mildew, high humidity and a lot of rain. Hardly any wines of poor quality could be produced. Nowadays, this vintage can be chopped off, the wines have not survived.
In Germany, on the other hand, the vintage represents exceptional quality. Long-lived and full-bodied wines were produced, which should still be drinkable today if stored well. High quality categories such as Auslesen or Beerenauslesen are to be sought.
1916
In the 1916 vintage, Bordeaux produced long-lasting wines that were supported by their tannin structure. The quality was rather modest and the wines lacked elegance and finesse. The Chateau La Mission Haut Brion turned out quite well and should still be nice to drink today if stored and bottled well.
In Germany, the vintage has fallen into oblivion. The war and the shortage of labour had a full impact on wine producers. There were hardly any drinkable wines left.
1917
In the 1917 vintage, Bordeaux relied on women, children and old people for the harvest. Almost all the men were at war at this time. An early start to the harvest meant that simple and unpretentious wines could be produced. The shelf life was not long and the wines are considered risky today.
The 1917 port vintage is considered good to satisfactory and was declared by some port houses. A forgotten year in Germany.
1918
In the 1918 vintage, there was still a shortage of labour in Bordeaux due to the First World War. The picture-book summer allowed the grapes to ripen beautifully. The harvest shortly before the armistice was completed in fine weather. Overall, a good vintage, the wines can still be outstanding today. We recommend Chateau Lanessan 1918 and the sweet wine Chateau D'Yquem from Sauternes. A true wine of the century with further decades of ageing potential.
The 1918 port vintage was rather modest and can be safely forgotten today. Thin, watery wines were produced in Germany. Hardly interesting anymore.
1919
The 1919 vintage began promisingly with an impeccable flowering phase in spring. This raised high expectations among producers and merchants. Unfortunately, the beautiful first ripening phase was followed by a rainy July and August, which favoured the development of powdery mildew due to the high humidity. The winegrowers had their hands full trying to minimise the damage. Due to the still inadequate supply of fertilisers and sprays, it was hardly possible to react adequately to the adverse conditions. The autumn was very hot and the grapes were literally cooked. The result was wines with a high acid content and a lack of elegance. Some are likely to have survived, with a not insignificant vinegar flavour. Chateau Haut Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut Brion seem to have done quite well in this difficult year.
The port wine houses had to contend with scorching heat and the parched soil provided the vines with too little water. Poor quality!
1920
The 1920 vintage gave Bordeaux producers a great start to what was probably the best decade in their long history. The 1920s delivered a wealth of great vintages, producing some wines of the century. In 1920, a beautiful flowering was followed by a difficult July and August, and the grapes were unable to reach their usual level of ripeness. Fortunately, this was compensated for by the glorious autumn with many hours of sunshine. The winegrowers brought their grapes into their cellars in sunny weather. Overall, low yields due to the rot in summer, but high quality. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild produced fully ripe and extremely long-lived wines. The wine of the vintage could be Chateau Cheval Blanc. Great wines were also produced in the Pomerol wine-growing region in 1920. If stored well, many wines can still be enjoyed today!
23 port wine houses declared this good vintage. The search will certainly be worthwhile for a long time to come.
In Germany, it was also an above-average wine year with many noble sweet wines, which can still be outstanding today. Particularly successful in the Rheingau and on the Rhine front.
1921
The 1921 vintage brought producers from Bordeaux an extremely hot summer and the earliest harvest since 1893. Scorched grapes and overheated fermenters caused the winegrowers considerable difficulties. Despite all this, the weather conditions resulted in wines that were rich in extract, tannins and longevity. However, many were used up due to the high demand in the golden 20s and are becoming increasingly rare. The wine of the vintage is probably Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Margaux. These wines are still a revelation if they are stored well and have the colour typical of their age. The search is worthwhile!
The port wine houses did not declare this vintage. Poor quality !
In Germany, the 1921 vintage is considered the greatest of the 19th century and one of the greatest vintages ever! A hot summer led to fully ripe grapes and the beautiful autumn meant that the grapes could be transported undamaged to the cellars. In addition, the market had recovered after the First World War. Demand for the 1921 vintages was very high, which is why there are hardly any wines from this vintage left today. Well-stored bottles can still be bought and even stored without hesitation. The search for fine wines is worthwhile.
1922
The 1922 vintage was a step backwards after the good 1921 vintage. The ripening process was actually going well, but a wet and cold September dashed all hopes in Bordeaux. The wineries that harvested late still had the best success. Today it is an uninteresting vintage that is no longer worth looking for. Most of the wines are likely to be oxidised or only moderately nice to drink - avoid!
The port wines were light and thin, but passable and easy to drink in the first decades. Today, only really top producers and well-aged examples are interesting.
A very good vintage in Spain, mainly in the Rioja growing region. Great wines can still be found here.
1923
The 1923 vintage was of moderate quality in Bordeaux. A late harvest of not particularly well-ripened grapes made the work of the wine producers more difficult. Even Chateau Latour was unable to produce a good wine. Today, it is only interesting as a vintage wine.
The port wines were acceptable and good. However, the ageing potential was not good and the wines should have been used up by now.
1924
The 1924 vintage began with a wet spring and the summer was hardly any better. Nevertheless, beautiful wines were produced, thanks to the perfect September with many hours of sunshine. The grapes were harvested intact and the cellar masters did an amazing job. A very good wine was produced at Chateau Latour, a sturdy long-distance runner, which is certainly still good to drink today. Chateau Margaux and Chateau Petrus are also recommended. Generally speaking, all Pomerol wines in the 1924 vintage were good and well worth seeking out. There are many Belgian and Dutch merchant bottlings on the market that can be bought without hesitation. The prerequisite is always proper and professional storage!
18 port wine houses declared the good vintage.
1925
The 1925 vintage was almost completely ignored and overshadowed by the two much better 1924 and 1926 vintages. The trade wanted nothing to do with the 1925 vintage and exports collapsed! The British preferred to drink the better vintages, although it did not deserve this when it was young, as it produced wines that were ready to drink and acceptable at an early age. The ageing potential was not good, the wines today are probably far past their peak and hardly interesting. If you are lucky, you may be able to find a well-stored example from Bordeaux; the focus should be on the great chateaus. One tip would be Chateau Latour.
A weak port wine year with thin, watery wines. Hardly any drinkable wines left.
1926
The 1926 vintage goes down in the history of Bordelaise as a very good vintage. A great, hot summer allowed the grapes to fully ripen, resulting in wines that were rich in extracts, tannins and longevity. Today, the wines from 1926 are difficult to find, as the vintages sold like hot cakes in the booming twenties of the last century. Even the very high prices could hardly influence wine drinkers at that time. Chateau Petrus, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Cheval Blanc are highly rated wines. Chateau Latour also produces a great, delicate wine in 1926. The search for 1926 wines is still worthwhile, keep an eye out for Grand Cru Classé growths. Also good to very good in Sauternes!
A weak port year with thin, watery and short-lived wines. Hardly any drinkable examples left. Avoid and fall back on Bordeaux!
1927
The 1926 vintage goes down in the history of the Bordeaux winegrowing region as a weak year. The excellent 1926 vintage was followed by a thin, watery and short-lived 1927 vintage. The storms and rain in summer and autumn made life difficult for the wineries, and the harvest could only be brought in with great effort. The wines were terrible, even in their youth, and even then they were not enjoyable to drink. Today uninteresting and spoilt. Avoid !
The 1927 Port vintage was declared by 30 houses. The late harvest of fully ripe grapes produced robust wines. The enormous demand caused prices to rise and exports soared to new records. Still beautiful today, but now on the decline. Look out for well-stored bottles, with a bit of luck you can still find a real sensation here!
1928
The 1928 vintage, together with the 1929 vintage, was a vintage of the century in Bordeaux. The wines are enormously tannic, rich in extract and long-lived. Thanks to a hot summer, the grapes ripened perfectly, the grape skins were thick and the cellar masters were able to draw on balanced colour and tannins, which, combined with sophisticated cellar techniques, resulted in opulent wines rich in finesse. Today, you should still keep an eye out for these wines. Due to the global economic crisis in 1929, many of the outstanding wines remained unsold and slumbered in many cellars. This is why you can still find the vintage today. The best wines are probably Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour. Both are sturdy long-distance runners, the Latour needed almost 50 years to break down the insane tannin structure a little. The 1928 Latour still has a longer life ahead of it. The search is worthwhile, but prices have risen sharply. True treasures can also be found among the lesser-known chateaux. Chateau Trotanoy and Chateau Calon Segur are recommended here. The Sauternes wines are also exceptionally good. Long-lived sweet wines with further potential!
The 1928 Port vintage will go down in history as good to satisfactory. Beautiful, but not particularly expressive wines were produced. With luck, drinkable examples can still be found in well-structured cellars.
The bad decade in Germany produced another poor vintage. The winegrowers were on the brink of collapse and had to contend with all too adverse weather conditions. Today, the wines are too old and hardly interesting!
1929
Like the 1928 vintage, the 1929 vintage was also very successful and magnificent in Bordeaux. It was characterised by balanced wines rich in finesse. The examples were completely the opposite of the 1928 growths. The 1929s were and are not as tannic and opulent, but rather captivate with their delicate and enchanting palate. The best wines of this great vintage are probably Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Haut Brion (a wine of the century that is just now opening up again and reaching new heights! A wine of the century with even more ageing potential was also produced at Chateau Cheval Blanc in 1929. An extremely gentle, balanced and multi-layered wine. The search for these vintages continues to be worthwhile, even the less well-known producers have achieved brilliant feats. Here you can find real treasures for considerably less money. This vintage is also recommended for Sauternes. The sweet wines still show elegance and charm.
The 1929 port vintage is a rather average to adequate vintage. When selecting, always look for renowned producers and well-stored bottles. Can still be nice to drink!
In Germany, the lean decade is coming to an end with an acceptable vintage. However, the wines were drunk up very early and are hardly to be found today. Excellent wines were produced at Schloss Reinhartshausen. Still a pleasure to drink from good cellars. With time, however, risky and perishable.
1930
The 1930 vintage was a return to the mundane after the two great twin vintages of 1928/1929. The bad weather and the producers' lack of capital resulted in meagre and thin wines in Bordeaux. Demand had also fallen sharply as a result of the global economic crisis, and prices stagnated in the cellar. A very difficult time for winegrowers and almost impossible to find today. Avoid !
As in Bordeaux, the 1930 Port vintage was also characterised by bad weather and financial difficulties for producers. Here, too, there are hardly any drinkable wines left, although exceptions can still be found.
Disaster year in Germany. Acidic wines of inferior quality. No wine has survived to this day. Also not recommended!
1931
The 1931 vintage hardly produced any better wines than the miserable 1930 vintage. The fine autumn saved the farmers and produced reasonably expressive wines, but these had to be used up in their youth. To this day, they are probably no longer enjoyable to drink. Due to the economic crisis, there was also no market for high-quality wines in the early 1930s. The winegrowers were going through a tough time and the prospects for the future were modest. The Great Depression was also felt in Bordeaux.
The 1931 Port vintage also had an initially poor reputation due to the difficult world economic times. But this is wrong, because great wines were produced in 1931. However, the British trade ignored them completely, as the cellars were still well stocked and demand was still lacking. Nevertheless, Noval produced a legend, the Nacional is considered one of the greatest port wines ever. The search is still worthwhile here, but the prices for this wine have risen to astronomical heights.
Another disastrous year in Germany. Acidic wines of poor quality. With a few exceptions, no wine is likely to have survived to this day. Not to be recommended!
1932
The 1932 vintage is the third poor vintage in succession. It is also probably the weakest of the 1930/31/32 trio and should be avoided. The low yields of thin wines were hardly enjoyable in the first few years after bottling. Today, most of them are spoilt, as the winegrowers' cellar techniques were simply not good enough to withstand the adverse conditions.
The 1932 port wine vintage was also not labelled and is living a forgotten existence. Poor quality and barely drinkable wines.
1933
In the 1933 vintage, the bad years were followed by a small, imperceptible improvement. The low yield produced simple, light wines for early consumption. Today, the vintage has fallen into oblivion. The best wines are probably Chateau Margaux and Cheval Blanc.
In Germany, a very productive wine year of satisfactory quality. However, it was also not made for a long stay in the cellar. With a few exceptions, the wines that were ready to drink early have hardly survived to this day. There may be a few surprises in the noble sweet range.
1934
The 1934 vintage was finally a good vintage again in Bordeaux. After the miserable wines of the previous years, the winegrowers were delighted with a beautiful spring. The drought in summer was made up for by rain showers in September. The result was opulent, tannic wines with high yields. Together with the 1937 vintage, this was the best vintage of a difficult decade. Today, the wines are risky and one should rely on well-aged examples. Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Cheval Blanc produced great wines. Good bottles can still be outstanding. The search is still worthwhile.
Only 12 port wine houses declared the vintage, yet top wines with long ageing potential were produced. They are characterised by charm and finesse. A search is advisable.
Quite a good wine year in Germany, too, with noble sweet wines of high class. Can still be nice to drink. Look out for good and renowned producers!
1935
The 1935 vintage did not live up to the expectations of the winegrowers. After the good 1934 vintage, it was a return to mediocrity. The yields were very high, the quality rather modest. In addition, the wine trade had filled the cellars with 1934 wines and was not dependent on the weaker 1935 growths. A forgotten year.
15 port wine houses declared the vintage. Outstanding quality with tiny yields. Expensive wines, but worth the search!
In Germany, unfortunately, another weak wine year with thin, acid-heavy wines. Avoid.
1936
The 1936 vintage could almost be the twin of the 1935 vintage. Weak wines of moderate quality. The trade still did not need young growths. The Woltners' La Mission haut Brion did quite well. There can still be surprises.
A good port vintage without the houses declaring it - they simply had too many outstanding wines from previous years lying dormant in their cellars.
Still a forgotten vintage in Germany with poor wines.
1937
For a long time, the 1937 vintage was on a par with the 1934 vintage. Today, however, it is clear that the 1934 wines have much better staying power. In 1937, the winegrowers had to contend with adverse weather conditions. A cool summer, little rain but also below-average hours of sunshine made for difficult growing conditions for the vines. Nevertheless, beautiful wines can still be found today. Chateau Latour is certainly one of the good representatives of the vintage, as are La Missin Haut Brion and Chateau Petrus in various retailer bottlings. The search can still be rewarding. A top vintage in Sauternes. The sweet wines are still the non-plus ultra today - the Yquem a wine of the century. Despite the high prices, it is definitely worth buying.
Beautiful quality but not outstanding in Portugal. Simpler port wines for early consumption. Not declared by the British.
Finally another top vintage, perhaps even a vintage of the century in Germany. The best year since 1921 with great noble sweet wines. Ideal growing conditions and good weather at harvest time produced long-lasting wines full of finesse. You can still pick them up here. The search is worthwhile.
1938
The 1938 vintage in Bordeaux was characterised by a stormy, wet and cold summer. The grapes had to remain on the vines for a long time, which delayed the harvest until late autumn, resulting in mediocre wines with little ageing potential. Most of the wines were bottled at the beginning of the Second World War. The Woltners at La Mission Haut Brion were able to produce what was probably the best wine of the vintage. Overall, however, avoid.
Fine quality port wines, but not declared and exported because of the war.
A rare wine year in Germany of mediocre quality. Very rare to find.
1939
The 1939 vintage will not go down in the history of Bordelaise as a good vintage. Light, early-drinking wines without long ageing potential. As was very often the case at this time, Chateau La Mission Haut Brion turned out well. But now also on the decline.
The port wines in 1939 were of poor quality. The vintage was not declared. Avoid !
Another weak year for German winegrowers. Hardly any of the wines were still alive.
1940
The 1940 vintage in the Bordeaux wine-growing region coped quite well with the turmoil of the war, although the shortage of labour and the meagre capital resources made things difficult for the wineries. Yields were only average and quality was and still is highly variable. The bottle variations are enormous, Chateau Pichon Lalande, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Cheval Blanc are recommended. The bottles were often filled in green, unusual war bottles.
A small, below-average port vintage. Hardly to be found. Usually not declared.
A weak year for German winegrowers. Hardly any wine is likely to have any life left in it. Avoid or trust in good fortune!
1941
The 1941 vintage is considered a weak year in the Bordeaux region. Small yields under difficult wartime conditions with moderate quality. Mouton Rothschild seems to have done well, however, and it may still be worth looking for well-stored bottles. Suitable for treasure hunters. Many green wartime bottles and weak corks in circulation. Watch out !
The port wines turned out weak. Not declared. Only conditionally suitable.
Quite acceptable year in Germany, but extremely rare to find. With luck you can still get hold of something drinkable.
1942
The 1942 vintage got off to a promising start with a picture-book spring and a beautiful summer. Nature did not seem to mind the turmoil of the war. September, however, turned the high hopes into negative ones. Rain and high humidity turned the harvest into an ordeal. Sufficient to satisfactory wines with restrained ageing potential. Today already risky, La Mission Haut Brion once again performed well. Beautiful bottles can still be found.
A middling war vintage, declared by 10 port houses. Different qualities today.
Another mediocre vintage in Germany, successful in parts of the Rheingau and on the Moselle. Noble sweet wines can still be delicate. A search is worthwhile with some reservations.
1943
The 1943 vintage is considered the best wartime vintage of superior quality. Wines rich in finesse, but not made for a long life due to their lack of tannin structure. Nevertheless, many of them can still be beautiful; Lafite Rothschild, Cheval Bland and Chateau Haut Brion produced great wines under the most difficult wartime conditions. The search is still worthwhile for expertly stored bottles.
The 1943 port vintage was not declared, although the quality was not bad. Hardly any export from Portugal possible!
By far the best wartime vintage in Germany too, with well-structured and sometimes long-lived noble sweet wines. Wine collectors can still find great wines here. Extremely successful in the Rheingau.
1944
The 1944 vintage went down in Bordeaux history as a weak wine year. After the good wines of 1943, the rainy summer made life even more difficult for the war-torn winegrowers. The result was thin wines without much ageing potential, and it was only with a bit of luck that good, drinkable examples could be found. Chateau Haut Brion seems to be quite good.
Very good port wine year but hardly declared by any house. They concentrated on the top vintage 1945.
In Germany, 1944 is a forgotten year. Hardly any wines were produced due to the war. Very rare !
1945
The 1945 vintage is the vintage of the century in Bordeaux. Extremely long-lived, complex, finesse-rich, balanced and well-structured wines were produced. The early harvest also ensured a problem-free start for the cellar masters. The fabulous summer allowed the grapes to fully ripen, the skins became thick and contributed to the high tannin structure. As a result, the 1945 wines have a very long shelf life. The ageing potential is better than that of almost any other Bordeaux vintage. The 1928, 1959, 1961 and 1982 vintages are probably just as good. Cellar technology was also traditionally orientated at this time, resulting in a wide variety of different wines within the region. In contrast to today's uniformity of the Bordeaux region, the wine popes did not yet act as advisors. As a result, the wines are characterised by their independence and the wine connoisseur is offered completely different types of wine with their own character and charm. The best wine of the vintage is Chateau Mouton Rothschild, perhaps the wine of the millennium and in good bottles still a unique and unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, nowadays there are more fakes than genuine examples. In any case, only buy from reputable sources. Other very good wines are Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Petrus, Chateau Vieux Certan and Chateau Ausone. Even the lesser-known châteaux produced incredibly good and complex wines that are well worth seeking out. This vintage is definitely a tip, and every wine lover should have a few 1945 Bordeaux's in their cellar.
21 port wine houses declared the vintage to be exceptionally good, with small yields and excellent qualities producing long-lasting and charming wines that are still worth buying. Noval, Niepoort, Ferreira and Taylor produced very appealing port wines, which continue to keep very well with little risk!
Also a super vintage in Germany of the best quality, but extremely low yields make it almost unobtainable today and the wines are no longer available. A hot summer ensured high sugar content and very long-lived sweet wines. At Schloss Schönborn, the Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is a millennium wine that still has several decades of life ahead of it. A world-class sweet wine and certainly far superior to Yquem or Rieussec.
1946
The 1946 vintage was quite good and balanced. A warm summer allowed the grapes to ripen nicely. Unfortunately, the good hopes of the local producers were dashed by a cold and wet September. Nevertheless, good wines were produced, which left a beautiful and charming impression even after two decades. Overall, however, the vintage was ignored by most wine lovers simply because of its existence between the peak years of 1945 and 1947. Chateau Mouton Rothschild once again achieved a brilliant feat with an outstanding and long-lasting wine. The search for good bottles is still worthwhile here!
The port wine houses did not declare the 1946 vintage, they simply had too many good 1945s in their cellars. Moderate quality with average yields
Very high production of wines that were mostly ready to drink early. The quality was nowhere near as high as that of the 1945s, but some acceptable wines were produced. More risky today!
1947
The 1947 vintage was characterised by a very hot summer. The flowering phase went extremely well, the grapes showed an enormously high sugar content. Temperatures continued to rise towards autumn, with almost tropical temperatures prevailing in Bordeaux. This caused considerable problems for the winegrowers, as the grapes and the fermentation tanks overheated! The vintage is characterised by masculine wines with a high degree of volatile acidity. The wines from Pomerol and St. Emilion were exceptionally successful. Chateau Cheval Bland 1947 is considered a millennium wine with unbroken potential. Chateau Petrus is a legend and still receives top marks from wine experts today. Also worth mentioning is Chateau Margaux in the Belgian Vandermeulen bottling. A wine of incredible elegance and complexity. The search for 1947 wines is still interesting and good bottles still survive for several decades. The wine lover should pick this up.
The vintage was declared by 11 port wine houses, very good quality but increasingly rare to find today.
Very high quality also in the German wine-growing regions, where heat waves ensured fully ripe grapes. The noble sweet wines are still a pleasure to drink today. The search is still worthwhile today - successfully on the Moselle and in the Rheingau.
1948
The 1948 vintage got off to a promising start with a glorious spring and fuelled the hopes of the winegrowers. The cold summer and the lack of sunshine made it difficult for the grapes to ripen. Old vines still bore the best fruit, but the beautiful autumn saved the harvest and thus also the vintage. Small yields of sometimes appealing wines. Varying qualities from outstanding to weak. Chateau Mouton Rothschild produced a top wine in 1948, which is somewhat reminiscent of the 1945. Still recommended for good bottles. Chateau Leoville Barton and Chateau Petrus are also very good. Increasingly risky today!
Declared by only 9 port wine houses, although it was actually a very good year with ideal weather conditions. Did the producers make a mistake ? Still beautiful wines today, but rare to find. Tip
A good to average year in Germany too, with moderate yields. It is possible that some bottles have survived, in any case keep an eye out for noble sweet wines.
1949
The 1949 vintage will go down in the history of Bordelaise as a superb year. It is a complete contrast to the 1945 and 1947 vintages. The weather conditions were anything but easy. A rainy spring caused considerable problems for the vines. Due to the so-called trickling, the yield was already severely decimated at the start of the year. The following year saw a heatwave with unprecedented temperatures in Bordeaux. Almost 43 degrees Celsius were measured in July. The remaining grapes were thus able to soak up enough hours of sunshine and ripen. Due to the drought, however, older vines were better equipped to withstand the weather and were able to survive the drought unscathed and provide the grapes with the necessary moisture. To make matters worse, storms followed in the autumn, which further reduced the yield. It was a very popular year with merchants and the post-war society. Most of the wines were used up in the 1950s. Today, the wines are very rare and yet popular. Very good wines were produced at Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Petrus and Chateau Cheval Blanc. Some of the lesser-known producers also produced outstanding wines. Here, too, the search is still worthwhile. Keep an eye out for well-stored bottles, otherwise increasingly risky.
A weak port wine year with a summer in which temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius were recorded. The vines dried out in a desert landscape and the harvest was almost completely destroyed. Avoid !
Very good wine year in Germany. A hot summer with fully ripe grapes in the Rheingau and on the Moselle. Noble sweet wines are still a pleasure, but are becoming rarer. Yields were low and prices have risen enormously. Keep an eye out and buy more.
1950
The 1950 vintage produced very high yields, which were twice as high as those of the 1949 vintage. In most appellations, however, the quality could not keep up with the latter. The wines were appealing when young, but lacked great ageing potential. The best wines came from St. Emilion and especially Pomerol. Here, the well-known winegrowers produced beautiful wines. Chateau Petrus 1950 is a legend. If you want to buy a Bordeaux from 1950, Pomerol is always a worthwhile alternative. Chateau Margaux also seems to have done well and can still be charming today.
A mediocre port wine year, only rarely found today. Nevertheless, the wines can still be passable.
Good year in Germany with a very small yield. The wines were all used up in the first half of the 1950s and are almost impossible to find today. It is certainly still possible to enjoy noble sweet wines. The search is worthwhile.
1951
The 1951 vintage was a terrible year in Bordeaux. The weather conditions were almost desperate for the producers; cold, wet and rainy weather led to sour, unripe wines of inferior quality. Nowadays, it is hardly possible to speak of enjoyable drinking. Only interesting as a vintage gift. With a lot of luck, you can still find reasonably charming wines in Pauillac and Margaux.
The 1951 Port vintage was not labelled by the houses, although the quality seemed appealing.
As in Bordeaux, it was also a weak year in Germany. The weather simply did not play ball and even the best winegrowers were unable to counteract nature. Perhaps some reasonably drinkable bottles were still available in the noble sweet range.
1952
The 1952 vintage was a clear improvement on the 1951 wines. The merchants also had to quench the high post-war thirst and made large-scale purchases in Bordeaux. The first months of the growing season were promising, with a beautiful flowering and a warm, not too dry summer fuelling the winegrowers' high hopes. Unfortunately, the autumn with its cold, wet and rainy weather put a damper on the harvest. This ultimately led to very different qualities. Good in Graves and on the Right Bank. Chateau Petrus and Vieux Chateau Certan are long-distance runners. Latour can still be charming and full of character in good bottles. Today, the vintage is becoming rarer.
In Portugal, a horrible, wet, spoilt year. Not declared and to be avoided.
Great wines could be produced in Germany in fine weather, which were drunk up in the first half of the 1950s. The Auslese wines can still be great today. A search for intact bottles is worthwhile.
To our wines from the 1952 vintage
1953
The 1953 vintage goes down as a very good year in the long history of Bordelaise. A hot summer allowed the grapes to ripen very well, but rain in September made harvesting conditions more difficult. This had to be postponed again and again. The wines are not chunks of tannin, rather they combine the typical Bordeaux charm of lightness, complexity, opulence and originality that is hard to find today. Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Petrus, Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Haut Brion are very successful. But the second and third-classified growths are also great and are still worth searching for. The vintage is also so interesting because this type of wine is no longer produced today and therefore embodies an even higher rarity value. The Parker wines of today have nothing in common with the wines of that time. Wine lovers should definitely store a few 1953 wines in their cellar and buy more if necessary. Today, well-stored bottles are almost risk-free and can be obtained from good sources without hesitation.
Quite an acceptable port wine vintage, unfortunately too hot a season and little rainfall. The drought caused problems for the vines; not declared.
A beautiful summer and fully ripe grapes led to a showcase vintage of exceptionally high quality in Germany. The noble sweet specialities are the epitome of German winemaking and are still elegant today. Trockenbeerenauslese wines from the Rheingau and Mosel are expensive but well worth the money. Wines of the century!
1954
The 1954 vintage is not a particularly good year in France and especially in Bordeaux. The worst summer in living memory made it impossible for the grapes to ripen. A few hours of sunshine followed in the autumn, but the vintage could no longer be saved. The trade completely ignored the 1954 growths, the cellars were filled to the brim with the good 1952 and 1953 wines. Chateau Latour seems to be quite good, but also uninteresting today.
Very good qualities with modest yields. Can no longer be found today. A bargain can still be found here!
Horrible weather over the entire growing period produced sour, thin, meaningless wines with no potential. No bottle will have survived today. Only to be used as a vintage gift.
1955
The 1955 vintage is considered a very good representative of Bordeaux wines. The warm summer in large parts of the country allowed the grapes to reach a high degree of ripeness, the grape skins became thick and tannin-rich, long-lasting wines were produced. The year was underestimated by wine experts in the first few months and the high quality of the vintage could not be categorised. The yields were average. The wines are considered charming, delicate, balanced and fascinating. Impossible to compare with today's Bordeaux wines, the style was contrary. The opulent, ostentatious chunks of tannin and the uniformity of today's wines from the region were unknown at that time; the producers relied on their own terroir and the cellar skills of their employees. This resulted in independent wines with a wide variety of characteristics. Some recommended wines from the vintage are Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Vieux Chateau Certan, Cheval Blanc and Chateau Margaux. Overall, the wines from the right bank, St Emilion and Pomerol, are probably more successful than their counterparts from the left bank. The 1955 vintage is still worth searching for, and is currently at its peak in many bottles!
26 port wine houses declared the vintage to be exceptionally good, the best year since the good 1948. A beautiful summer, rain showers and acceptable harvest conditions in autumn led to mature, characterful wines of great elegance and with long ageing potential. Worth the search here!
Average vintage in Germany. Wines ready to drink early with a balanced structure. Today only rarely at its peak. Try noble sweet wines !
1956
The 1956 vintage goes down in wine history as a terrible year. The weather conditions were disastrous, the grapes had no opportunity to ripen. Thin wines without structure and life. Somewhat drinkable examples were available when young, but these days they are probably over the hill. Only interesting as a vintage gift.
As in Bordeaux, a weak wine year. Rain, few hours of sunshine and a cool autumn led to poor grapes. The port houses did not declare the vintage. Avoid !
In Germany, as in the other wine-growing regions, it was a terrible year. Frost in spring, cold, wet summer weather and a modest autumn brought thin, sour wines to the winegrowers' cellars. Hardly interesting today. Do not expect much from the bottles.
1957
The 1957 vintage initially seemed to excite merchants in Bordeaux and importers from neighbouring European countries. After the weak 1956 vintage, fresh, better wines were needed to meet the high demand. The weather conditions were anything but favourable, with frosts in April destroying the blossom and a cold August preventing the grapes from ripening sufficiently. A golden October saved the winegrowers and acceptable grapes could be brought into the cellars. However, the wines were made for early consumption; with age, they deteriorated considerably and began to degrade noticeably in the first few years. Today, only bottles that are nice to drink can be found on the market if you are lucky - look out for the well-known producers!
No declared port wine year of mediocre quality and unbalanced wines. Avoid !
In Germany, as in France, severe frosts in the spring months. This was followed by a fine summer and a satisfactory autumn. Better than in Bordeaux, but also risky today. Nevertheless, noble sweet wines can still be a pleasure to drink.
1958
The 1958 vintage is a completely underestimated wine year that was completely overshadowed by the wines of the century from 1959. Uncomplicated weather conditions made work easier for the winegrowers. Beautiful, balanced wines of elegance and charm were produced, which can still be beautiful today. Certainly not comparable with the subsequent 1959 vintage, but it is still worth looking for well-stored bottles here, although the risk is constantly increasing! La Mission Haut Brion produced a great wine, Cheval Blanc also seems to have done well.
12 port wine houses declared the average vintage. Early ready-to-drink wines, today only interesting to a certain extent. Ferreira and Niepoort were able to produce good wines!
A fairly good vintage in the German wine-growing regions, with large harvests of mediocre quality. The rainy autumn and the resulting difficult harvest conditions for the wineries dashed hopes of a top vintage. Rare to find these days. Perhaps a search for noble sweet wines is still worthwhile.
Our wines from the 1958 vintage
1959
The 1959 vintage is an exceptionally successful vintage in Bordeaux. Together with the twin vintages of 1928/1929, the 1945 vintage, an outstanding 1961 and the 1982 wines of the century, it is now counted among the best of the past century. Ideal growing conditions with a warm summer and a high number of hours of sunshine allowed the grapes to ripen perfectly and their skins gathered plenty of extract and colour. The autumn was slightly rainy, which is why most wineries postponed the harvest. The fully ripe grapes were harvested around two weeks later than average and taken to the cellars. The yields were quite high and the wines are characterised by an independent, vintage-typical taste. Initially, the relatively low acidity of the wines was seen as difficult, with a lack of balance and moderate ageing potential. However, this suspicion quickly disappeared, as the low acidity was more than compensated for by the remaining, abundant components such as tannins etc. The wines are characterised by opulence and sophistication with an incredible, multi-layered aroma. Many wines were only ready to drink after 30 or more years and are still powerful, even young today! The 1959 vintage is certainly a Grand Vin in the French sense. The best representatives of the 1959 vintage are Chateau Latour, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Petrus and Chateau Haut Brion as well as La Mission Haut Brion. The smaller chateau estates also produced exceptionally successful wines of great elegance in 1959. They are definitely worth a search. Unfortunately, the wines are now becoming rare and are difficult to obtain. Keep an eye out!
Very weak port wine year! Not declared by the producers. Avoid.
In the German wine-growing regions, a vintage of the century with infinitely long-lived Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines. You will still find what you are looking for here. Even Auslese wines are now very nice to drink. Very high sugar levels, caused by the hot summer, resulted in wines of great elegance. The best vintage since 1937 and 1945. Examples of the fame of the vintage are the Staatsweingut Kloster Eberbach Steinberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese wine and the Trockenbeerenauslese from the Erbacher Marcobrunn vineyard at Schloss Reinhartshausen in the Rheingau. Expensive but immortal wines of world-class calibre.
1960
After the magnificent 1959 vintage, the 1960 vintage was a return to normality. The cold summer did not allow the grapes to ripen in the best possible way, but nevertheless acceptable wines were produced. However, the wines were ready to drink early and did not have particularly long ageing potential. The best representatives of this vintage are Chateau Latour and Chateau La Mission Haut Brion as well as Chateau Figeac. Here, with a little luck, you can still find a well drinkable example. Make sure the bottles are well stored!
A very hot summer led to a good to exceptional vintage. 24 port wine houses declared the year, and today you can still find beautiful wines. Niepoort's Vintage seems to be filigree.
After the top vintage of 1959 in Germany, a weaker year in all German wine-growing regions. Large harvests of light wines of medium quality. Hardly any high quality wines such as Auslese or Trockenbeerenauslese could be produced. The sugar content did not permit this. Rather avoid !
1961
The 1961 vintage will go down in the history of Bordelaise as the vintage of the century. Frosts in spring decimated the potential yield right at the beginning of the year, and rain showers in April and May also reduced the fertilisation of the flowers. A very warm but dry summer led to fully ripe grapes with thick berry skins. The 1961 vintage is often compared with the 1945 wines, as both show a certain similarity in weather conditions and ripening potential. In autumn, and especially in September, 1961 was followed by a great, warm and sunny autumn with many hours of sunshine. The grapes were thus given the finishing touches and the producers were able to bring the harvest into the cellars without any complications. The cellar masters had few problems making the wines in 1961 with this excellent grape crop, and many chateaus produced outstanding wines. Tannic, complex and well-balanced wines with great ageing potential and finesse were initially greeted with exuberant reviews from wine critics. Today, the vintage is one of the non-plus-ultra of the last century. The best wines are Chateau Latour (a wine of the century with incredible potential), Chateau Petrus (the most expensive wine on the wine list of the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow in magnums), Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Chateau Lafite Rothschild was not exceptionally well structured in this vintage, as was Chateau Margaux. Both are nevertheless great wines and still nice to drink. Chateau Latour 1961 is a unique wine experience with an incredible, long finish. Another 25 years of potential. But the smaller estates also produced sensational wines with good structure and balance. Chateau Beychevelle, Chateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Talbot and the legendary Chateau Plamer 1961 are just a few examples. Today, the 1961 vintage is becoming rare and you should try to acquire some wines for your collection now.
Average port year that was not declared by the port houses because of the outstanding 1960s growths. Beautiful 20-year-old Twanys and late bottled vintage wines !
A poor and rainy summer meant that the grapes barely ripened. A beautiful autumn prevented the worst and beautiful wines were still produced. Very rare today and still a recommendation for noble sweet wines.
1962
After the outstanding 1961 vintage, the 1962 vintage is a nice, round, satisfying vintage. Of course, it did not have the structure of the 1961 growths, but was able to score points in its youth with its independent charm. It was ready to drink earlier and was fun in its youth. In addition, the 1961 wines were very expensive and rarely available, whereas the 1962 wines are very attractive in terms of price and flavour. It was also realised in the following years that the wines had good ageing potential. Many wines are still nice to drink today. The 1962 vintage was particularly good on the right bank, especially in Pomerol. You can find real bargains here today. Chateau Petrus 1962 and Chateau Figeac are recommended.
Average port wine year that was nevertheless not declared. Beautiful late bottled vintage wines that can still be great today.
In Germany, the vintage became famous for its exciting ice wines. A search is still worthwhile here. Lower qualities should be avoided today. Noble sweet wines from well-known producers are still good. The Scharzhofberger Riesling Eiswein from Egon Müller is a long-distance runner with further potential.
1963
The 1963 vintage was a weak, insignificant year in Bordeaux. A summer that was too cold allowed the grapes to barely ripen. This resulted in tart, thin, inexpressive wines that were ready to drink early. Still acceptable when young, but lacking in potential and finesse with age. Avoid !
Very good port year, which was declared by 25 houses. Niepoort and Noval are outstanding. Still beautiful and long-lasting wines. Worth a search here!
In Germany, despite miserable weather conditions with heavy frost in winter and spring 1963, beautiful wines were produced. With a bit of luck, these can always be charming today. Risky but the search can be fun. Pay attention to the high quality categories of the winegrowers. Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines as well as ice wines are expensive but sought-after.
1964
The 1964 vintage is a good year after the miserable 1963 wines. An almost ideal growing season produced wines rich in tannins. The very rainy weather during the autumn harvest caused problems for the winegrowers in Bordeaux, with many vineyards almost drowning in the floods. The wineries were hit completely unexpectedly by the change in the weather. Despite all this, some great, charming, long-lived wines with a strong character were produced. The best creations were produced in Graves, Pomerol and St Emilion. Chateau Petrus is outstanding, Cheval Blanc very good and Chateau Haut Brion 1964 also beautiful. Today, the year can still be fun, provided good storage and a bit of luck with the bottle.
1964 was a difficult wine year in Portugal, with hardly any vintage quality due to rain and moderate grape quality. The houses did not declare the vintage. Avoid !
A really great vintage in Germany. The hottest summer in living memory allowed the grapes to soak up many hours of sunshine and grow fully ripe for harvest. In some locations, the drought caused considerable problems for the winegrowers. As always, the old vines with deep roots were favoured. These can provide enough moisture for growth even during dry periods. Some long-lasting noble sweet wines of the highest elegance and finesse have been produced in the Rheingau and on the Moselle. These can still be quite beautiful today, but the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region seems to have produced the best wines. The high acidity helped the wineries ! Egon Müller and Hermann Dönnhoff are worthy of note, but Prüm and Loosen wines are also recommended. Tip !
1965
The 1965 vintage was not a brilliant achievement in the Bordeaux wine-growing region. A wet and cold summer did not allow the grapes to ripen properly, resulting in thin, acidic and uninspiring wines of inferior quality. Only drinkable to a limited extent even when young. No longer interesting today!
The 1965 port wine year was not a bad year in terms of quality, but was not declared by the houses because of the good 1964 and 1963 wines.
In Germany, 1965 was one of the worst wine years of the last century. A miserable summer and autumn dashed all the producers' hopes. The same poor quality in all wine-growing regions. The harvest was abandoned in many places. Avoid !
1966
The 1966 vintage is recorded in Bordeaux history as a good to very good year. Great growing conditions with a cool and dry summer caused some problems for the vineyards, but the picture-book September brought the necessary hours of sunshine and allowed the grapes to ripen nicely. The harvest was brought in without any serious problems. The result was long-lasting, tannic wines. Of course, not as complex and multi-layered as the 1945, 1959 or 1961 wines, but a great vintage. We recommend Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau La Mission Haut Brion. The search is certainly worthwhile here!
The port wine year 1966 can be described as very good. It was declared by 20 port wine houses and is still at its peak today. Great wines with charm and character. One of the really great port wines is Fonseca 1966 !
A good wine year in Germany too, with beautiful wines that are ready to drink early. However, the high acidity is and was too much in the foreground. Nevertheless, the grapes can still be beautiful today. Trust in noble sweet wines.
1967
The 1967 vintage was in great demand in the first few years after its release and people spoke of a good to acceptable vintage. However, it soon became apparent that this early assessment overestimated the true quality of the wines and the year was increasingly downgraded. Certainly, some interesting wines were produced that are still nice to drink today. However, to speak of a good vintage would be an exaggeration. Chateau Leoville Las Cases has done well. Wines of the century were produced in Sauternes in 1967. Château d 'Yqem 1967 is considered a top wine and is one of the best sweet wines of the past century. It is well worth the search. However, the prices for Sauternes growths have risen significantly.
Only 4 houses released vintage wines in 1967, a port wine year that is considered average and is very rare to find today.
In Germany, the year is considered outstanding, but only for the high quality categories. Simple wines such as Kabinett or Qba - Gewäsche were weak. Beerenauslese, ice wines and Trockenbeerenauslesen are still the epitome of elegance and finesse. Here you should continue to keep your eyes open. Top wines can be found in all wine-growing regions, particularly successfully in the Rheingau and on the Moselle. Schloss Reinhartshausen and Egon Müller produced great wines. search !
1968
The 1968 vintage was no improvement on the bad years in Bordeaux. A very cold spring and a wet August meant that the grapes barely ripened. Thin wines with little elegance. The high yields mean that bargains can still be found today. Look out for well-stored bottles. Chateau Petrus seems to be a success, but is overpriced in terms of price-performance ratio!
Quite a good port wine year, but not declared by the producers. Not interesting today!
In Germany as well as in Bordeaux, 1968 was a weak wine year. Cold, wet, few hours of sunshine, fungi and mould made life difficult for the winegrowers. Beautiful in their youth but hardly drinkable today. Taste the noble sweet wines and hope!
1969
The 1969 vintage is a weak to average year in Bordeaux. The weather conditions were anything but good. Few hours of sunshine and a lot of rainfall caused problems for the ripening of the grapes. The wineries had to watch as the vineyards vegetated. Acidic, thin wines with little ageing potential, but Chateau Lafite Rothschild seems to be acceptable. Mouton Rothschild is also drinkable. Interesting for vintage seekers!
Weak port wine year ! Not declared and hard to find today.
In Germany, wines emphasising acidity were produced, but these have good ageing potential. Noble sweet wines are still very drinkable today. Auslese and Beerenauslese wines from well-managed cellars are great. The search is still worthwhile here. Rheingau wineries were ahead of the game.
To our wines from the 1969 vintage
1970
The 1970 vintage is a clear improvement in Bordeaux after the three dreadful vintages. In the first few years in particular, French wine critics considered the 1970 wines to be outstanding and extremely ageworthy. However, this was not always the case in the following decades, especially not in all Bordeaux regions. August brought many hours of sunshine and high temperatures, the grapes formed thick skins and high extract. Unfortunately, the drought caused problems for many vineyards, the old vines had an advantage! The market had been waiting a long time for good, first-class wines and prices rose sharply. Producers and merchants had to make up for the dry years and bring in a new chapter for vineyards and wine cellars. The 1970 vintage was particularly successful in St. Emilion and Pomerol, Château Pétrus is a wine of the century. Château Latour is also one of the stars of the year. Cheval Blanc and Château Mouton Rothschild are also good. Here, however, you have to make sure that the bottles are well stored, as most of the bottles available on the market today come from a return from the USA. The bottles were stored in extreme heat on a ship on their return to Europe. All in all, a successful wine year!
Great weather and outstanding wines of elegance and finesse. 23 port wine houses declared the vintage. The search for 1070 port wines is worthwhile.
In Germany, quite good wines of high quality were produced, but they can by no means be compared with the 1971 and 1976 vintages. Average weather conditions resulted in relatively ripe grapes, but ultimately the wines lacked the necessary polish and elegance. Nevertheless, there are still some beautiful noble sweet wines to be found. Rheingau and Mosel at their best!