Top Champagne Vintages Every Wine Lover Should Know

Champagne has been a favorite for many over the years. Its bubbly nature, light tastes, and the way it makes any moment special are all reasons we love it. Knowing about different years can help pick the right one for the right time. Here, we’ll look at top Champagne picks from various years. These include 2014, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2002, 1996, 1988, and 1985. We’ll highlight what makes each year’s Champagne stand out. Plus, suggest some great bottles to try.

Key Takeaways

• Champagne vintages can significantly impact the taste and quality of the wine, with each year offering unique characteristics.
• Understanding the best Champagne vintages, such as 2014, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2002, 1996, 1988, and 1985, can help you select the perfect Champagne for any occasion.
• Vintage Champagne represents a small portion of overall shipments, with non-vintage cuvées accounting for the majority.
• Renowned Champagne houses like Louis Roederer, Dom Pérignon, and Krug have produced some of the most celebrated and revered vintage Champagnes.
• Collecting and cellaring vintage Champagne can be a rewarding hobby for wine enthusiasts, as these exceptional wines can appreciate in value over time.

Understanding the Importance of Vintage in Champagne

The year grapes are harvested affects Champagne taste and quality. Summer’s cool, rainy weather can mean a big crop of fresh, lively grapes. A harvest in late September from a delayed growing season might produce Champagnes that are more balanced and full of life.

Challenging conditions can lead to Champagnes with deep and complex flavors. This happens in bountiful harvests. It’s why knowing about each vintage can help pick the best Champagne for any event. This choice can be between a lively, light wine or a rich, complex one.

Influence of Harvest Year on Taste and Quality

The year the grapes were picked can totally change a Champagne‘s taste and quality. For example, If the summer was cool and rainy, the grapes will be fresh and vibrant. This makes Champagnes taste lively and refreshing. On the other hand, a late harvest can create Champagnes that are more refined yet full of life.

Even in tough years, Champagnes can surprise with deep and complex tastes. Knowing these vintage differences is vital for choosing the right Champagne. You might want a light, fresh wine or one that’s rich and complex.

Selecting the Perfect Champagne for Any Occasion

Understanding different Champagne vintages lets you pick the right wine for any event. Lively Champagnes from, say, 2014, are great with light dishes. Whereas, rich and complex Champagnes from prized years like 2002 and 1996 go well with more indulgent meals.

Exploring Champagne vintages can enhance your dining experiences. It ensures you choose the best Champagne for celebrations. Each year brings unique flavors, which can make meals truly memorable.

The best champagne vintages of the 21st Century

The 21st century gifted us with amazing champagne vintages. Each year brought its special touch. From the energetic 2014s to the mature 2002s, wine lovers found something to cherish.

2014: Lively and Vibrant

In 2014, there was cool weather and plenty of rain in summer. These conditions gave us lots of fresh grapes. This led to champagnes that were full of life, like Louis Roederer Cristal.

2013: Balanced and Full of Life

The 2013 season has a late start and harvest in September. This late start made champagnes more balanced and lively. A great example is Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

2012: Depth and Complexity

Even 2012’s challenging weather brought a lot of grapes. This abundance made champagnes with deep flavors. Pierre Gimonnet Special Club is a prime specimen.

2008: Elegant and Powerful

In 2008, the grapes were very healthy. This made champagnes that were both elegant and strong. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne stood out.

2002: Balanced and Long-Lived

The 2002 vintage was outstanding. It created champagnes that were well-balanced and could age for a long time. Louis Roederer Cristal and Dom Pérignon were stars.

Exceptional Vintages from the 1990s

The 1990s brought us some amazing champagne years. However, the 1996 vintage truly stands out. It’s been praised for its perfect blend of rich texture and ideal acidity. Champagnes from that year, like Billecart-Salmon Clos Saint Hilaire, were of exceptional quality. This was thanks to the great ripeness of the grapes then.

1996: Rich, Velvety, and Delicately Balanced

The 1996 champagne vintage in Champagne is very special. It’s known for its rich and velvety feel, alongside a perfect balance of sweet and sour. This was possible because grapes in 1996 were super ripe. Thus, the Champagnes were powerful yet elegant. The Billecart-Salmon Clos Saint Hilaire shows the beauty of the 1996 vintage.

1995, 1997, 1998, and 1999: Solid Scores

The 1996 vintage was outstanding, sure, but don’t overlook the 1995, 1997, 1998, and 1999 years. They also produced fantastic Champagnes. Critics like Robert Parker praised these vintages highly. Each year showed the 1990s’ Champagne making skill. The Champagnes were prized for their balance, elegance, and aging potential.

Revered Champagne Vintages of the 1980s

The 1980s brought us some amazing Champagne years, even though they are not always the first ones people think of. In particular, 1988 and 1985 were exceptional. They showed off the incredible quality and style Champagne can achieve when everything goes right.

1988 and 1985: Delicate Complexity and Elegance

In 1988, the grape growing season was slow and careful. Champagnes from this year are known for being complex yet delicate. Notable houses like Ruinart and Pol Roger shined, with notable bubbles like the Ruinart Dom Ruinart and the Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill.

The 1985 vintage stood out for its Pinot Noir. These Champagnes were deep, complex, and left a lasting memory. One of the best, Krug, is still celebrated today. Its special wine areas and top wine fields from 1985 remain favorites among wine fans and champagne experts.

Acclaimed Champagne Appellations and Grands Crus

Champagne is made from small vineyards. Each one has a special mix of weather, soil, and land shape. These areas, like Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, have great prestigious champagne crus and renowned champagne appellations. Places like Ambonnay and Bouzy are famous for their amazing Champagnes.

Prestigious Crus: Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs

The Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs shine with esteemed champagne grands crus. Montagne de Reims is famous for its Pinot Noir, and Côte des Blancs for its top-notch superb Chardonnay. Vines here create outstanding vintage champagnes. Wine lovers and collectors love these champagnes.

Renowned Appellations: Ambonnay and Bouzy

Champagne is also known for its special places, like Ambonnay and Bouzy. These acclaimed champagne appellations make exceptional champagne cuvées. They are famous for producing premium champagne years and top champagne millesimes. These champagnes truly reflect the skill and unique quality of the area’s winemakers.

Renowned Champagne Houses and Cuvées

Each Champagne house has a unique way of making wine. Some are famous for their special cuvées. Louis Roederer, Dom Pérignon, and Krug are top Champagne houses. They’re known for their celebrated and honored vintage Champagnes.

Louis Roederer Cristal

Louis Roederer Cristal is a very special Champagne. It’s famous for being elegant, strong, and complex. Made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Cristal is known for its perfect balance and the ability to age well over time.

Dom Pérignon

Dom Pérignon is named after a famous monk who helped create Champagne. It is a famous kind of vintage Champagne made by Moët & Chandon. Dom Pérignon is loved for showing the best features of its vintages and where the grapes grow.

Krug

Krug is all about making the best Champagne with no shortcuts. It’s famous for its strong taste and many layers of flavor. The Grand Cuvée and Krug Vintage are two of the best-known Champagnes from Krug.

Aging Potential and Ideal Drinking Windows

Vintage Champagne can age for a long time. When you drink it can vary, based on the vintage. Some Champagnes need many years before they’re at their best. But others, like the 2015 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill, are great to enjoy sooner. Knowing when to drink different Champagne vintages enhances your experience.

Experts scored Champagne vintages between 79 and 97 points. They suggested when to drink each, ranging from now to later on. Details about the weather, grapes, and wine features came with each rating.

Older vintages from 1949 to 1988 show how Champagne quality has changed over time. Surprisingly, 2012 wines are still being sold today. This shows some Vintage Champagnes can age beautifully for a decade or more.

Port wines are often sold right away or stored for future generations. Meanwhile, Bordeaux wines are mostly drunk soon after purchase. Few are kept for many years, highlighting a preference for immediate enjoyment.

Wines like Chambolle-Musigny from Burgundy can age very well. For example, a ten-year-old Bruno Clair is seen as a great vintage. French people usually prefer younger wines. Britons enjoy aged wines, suggesting different tastes in wine maturity.

Deciding when to drink a wine can differ among experts. They consider factors like tannin levels and aging potential. The quality of the wine, like being a first growth or crus bourgeois, affects how long it should be aged. This impacts the wine’s taste and overall experience.

Pairing Champagne Vintages with Food

Different Champagne vintages can be great with many dishes and foods. Champagnes from lively years like 2014 go well with light meals. On the other hand, older Champagnes, such as those from 1996 and 2002, are perfect for rich, indulgent dishes. Knowing which Champagne to pair with what food makes dining special.

Complementing Different Dishes and Cuisines

Pairing Champagne with food means looking at the wine’s weight and flavor, along with the dish’s. Lighter, Brut Nature Champagne, with very little sugar, fits well with delicate meals. In contrast, Demi-sec Champagne, which is sweeter, is better for desserts or rich foods.

Vintage Champagne, which is both pricey and exclusive, pairs best with strong-tasting foods. For example, duck’s savory flavor matches vintage Champagne well. Similarly, mature cheeses like parmesan go great with these unique wines.

Vintage Champagne also shines with smoked meats and caviar. These pairings bring out the best in each other’s flavors. Caviar’s salinity and fattiness balance the vibrancy of vintage Champagne.

Seafood like sushi is excellent with older Champagnes that are complex. However, not all sushi pairs well. Dishes with avocado and cucumber may not match the Champagne’s robust flavors as much.

With knowledge of Champagne vintages, you can make meals unforgettable. The right pairing enhances the wine and food, making the experience extraordinary.

Investing in the best champagne vintages

Vintage Champagne can be a smart buy, often growing in value. For wine lovers, collecting and storing vintage champagnes is both fun and satisfying. It lets them see how these special wines change over time. Knowing when to open a bottle is key to a great collection.

Collecting and Cellaring Vintage Champagnes

Champagnes from top years are usually more expensive because they’re rarer. They come from celebrated champagne harvests, making them extra special. Famous champagne brands from the best regions are highly valued. Storing these excellent wine bottles lets their taste mature, offering collectors a one-of-a-kind delight.

The table compares champagne yields, alcohol levels, and acidity of recent years. It shows how the weather and other conditions affect the grapes. This info helps collectors choose the best vintage champagnes for their collection.

Conclusion

Every Champagne vintage is special, fitting for various times and tastes. You might want a bubbly, fresh sip or something deeper and rich. It’s fun to dive into the best Champagne vintages, finding satisfaction and reward. Different years bring different flavors. From zestful 2014s to the age-worthy 2002s and refined 1980s, there’s something for everyone. Knowing the details helps pick the perfect bottle for any event, enhancing memories with each glass.

In 2018, most Champagnes sold were non-vintage cuvées. Yet, the celebrated Champagne harvests and renowned Champagne cuvées are still loved worldwide. They hail from special areas like the prestigious Champagne crus. Each sip tells a story of the region it comes from and the skilled hands that made it. There’s true magic in every Champagne vintage, showcasing the craft and nature of its place.

If Champagne is your love or just a casual favorite, discovering the top Champagne millesimes is pure joy. Knowing about the outstanding vintage Champagnes and their special traits deepens the experience. This journey offers delights and memorable moments. It’s a chance to celebrate life’s special occasions or simply enjoy the everyday with a touch of elegance.