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Vintage Charts

Germany

Germany: Riesling

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Vintage Score Drink Window Description
Vintage
2019
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Uneven flowering led to heterogeneous ripening, with record heat in July followed by cooler weather in August. Selection was key, resulting in a smaller crop of refined, precise Rieslings
Description

Uneven flowering led to heterogeneous ripening, with record heat in July followed by cooler weather in August. Selection was key, resulting in a smaller crop of refined, precise Rieslings
Vintage
2018
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Favorable weather throughout the growing season delivered the largest harvest since 1999. Wines are richer and riper overall, with charming off-dry styles, approachable GGs and excellent dessert wines. Offers more drinkability than aging potential
Description

Favorable weather throughout the growing season delivered the largest harvest since 1999. Wines are richer and riper overall, with charming off-dry styles, approachable GGs and excellent dessert wines. Offers more drinkability than aging potential
Vintage
2017
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
An early start to the season was followed by heavy frost, with summer warm and dry until August, when rain brought challenges. Yields are down, but top producers delivered balanced, ageworthy wines
Description
An early start to the season was followed by heavy frost, with summer warm and dry until August, when rain brought challenges. Yields are down, but top producers delivered balanced, ageworthy wines
Vintage
2016
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A hot, dry summer and good weather at harvest compensated for a damp spring, yielding aromatic, elegant and food-friendly wines; the best are supple and vibrant
Description
A hot, dry summer and good weather at harvest compensated for a damp spring, yielding aromatic, elegant and food-friendly wines; the best are supple and vibrant
Vintage
2015
Score
96
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Nearly perfect spring and summer weather, followed by a cooler autumn, resulted in ripe grapes that retained high acidity. Offers a full range from bone-dry to dessert style
Description
Nearly perfect spring and summer weather, followed by a cooler autumn, resulted in ripe grapes that retained high acidity. Offers a full range from bone-dry to dessert style
Vintage
2014
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Mostly cool and wet growing conditions led to a warm September and a short harvest, producing an average-size crop of racy and herbal-inflected whites
Description
Mostly cool and wet growing conditions led to a warm September and a short harvest, producing an average-size crop of racy and herbal-inflected whites
Vintage
2013
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Erratic weather, including rain at harvest, resulted in a small crop. Top producers relied on careful selection in the vineyard to make rich and minerally wines, yet many show high acidity and are just starting to become harmonious
Description

Erratic weather, including rain at harvest, resulted in a small crop. Top producers relied on careful selection in the vineyard to make rich and minerally wines, yet many show high acidity and are just starting to become harmonious
Vintage
2012
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Vintners overcame a challenging vintage to deliver open-knit, fruity Rieslings supported by ripe acidity
Description
Vintners overcame a challenging vintage to deliver open-knit, fruity Rieslings supported by ripe acidity
Vintage
2011
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ideal harvest conditions delivered fruit-forward, open-knit and balanced wines with opulent flavors and textures
Description
Ideal harvest conditions delivered fruit-forward, open-knit and balanced wines with opulent flavors and textures
Vintage
2010
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Cool growing season led to wines full of acidity and dense flavors. Exceptionally low yields. Look to top producers
Description
Cool growing season led to wines full of acidity and dense flavors. Exceptionally low yields. Look to top producers
Vintage
2009
Score
97
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Warm, dry weather at harvest; exceptionally balanced wines, with plenty of pure fruit, minerality and creaminess. Powerful GGs that are drinking beautifully now
Description

Warm, dry weather at harvest; exceptionally balanced wines, with plenty of pure fruit, minerality and creaminess. Powerful GGs that are drinking beautifully now
Vintage
2008
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Crisp, vibrant and light-weight Rieslings marked by juicy acidity and pure orchard, citrus and savory flavors; the wines today show more complexity than promised
Description

Crisp, vibrant and light-weight Rieslings marked by juicy acidity and pure orchard, citrus and savory flavors; the wines today show more complexity than promised
Vintage
2007
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Classically proportioned, with ripe, complex fruit and mineral flavors; density with elegance
Description
Classically proportioned, with ripe, complex fruit and mineral flavors; density with elegance
Vintage
2006
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Opulent, charming but fleshy kabinett and spätlese; terrific auslese, BA and TBA, with clean botrytis; best in Mosel; fine dry wines
Description
Opulent, charming but fleshy kabinett and spätlese; terrific auslese, BA and TBA, with clean botrytis; best in Mosel; fine dry wines
Vintage
2005
Score
98
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most
Description
Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most
Vintage
2004
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Vibrant, sleek wines from kabinett to auslese, but little botrytis and few late-harvest wines; fine Mosel and Nahe examples
Description
Vibrant, sleek wines from kabinett to auslese, but little botrytis and few late-harvest wines; fine Mosel and Nahe examples
Vintage
2003
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ripe, opulent wines; best in Mosel, Nahe and Rheingau. Terrific BA and TBA, though not much botrytis
Description
Ripe, opulent wines; best in Mosel, Nahe and Rheingau. Terrific BA and TBA, though not much botrytis
Vintage
2002
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
The best are charming, juicy wines, from kabinett to auslese. Pfalz and Rheingau excelled
Description
The best are charming, juicy wines, from kabinett to auslese. Pfalz and Rheingau excelled
Vintage
2001
Score
98
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Best vintage since 1971. Ripe, healthy grapes made pure, harmonious wines at all quality levels; best in middle Mosel
Description
Best vintage since 1971. Ripe, healthy grapes made pure, harmonious wines at all quality levels; best in middle Mosel
Vintage
2000
Score
82
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Plagued by rain and rot, with outstanding results from a handful of growers. Variable quality; choose carefully
Description
Plagued by rain and rot, with outstanding results from a handful of growers. Variable quality; choose carefully
Vintage
1999
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Rich and round, with ripe but lower acidity resulting in forward, appealing wines
Description
Rich and round, with ripe but lower acidity resulting in forward, appealing wines
Vintage
1998
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ripe, sleek, crisp; fine dry wines, especially in the Pfalz, and exciting ice wines
Description
Ripe, sleek, crisp; fine dry wines, especially in the Pfalz, and exciting ice wines
Vintage
1997
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Pure, clear wines with lower acidity and little botrytis; best in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Description
Pure, clear wines with lower acidity and little botrytis; best in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Vintage
1996
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Extremely late harvest; stunning in Rheingau. Perfumed, ripe, high in acidity; ageworthy, though stick to top producers
Description
Extremely late harvest; stunning in Rheingau. Perfumed, ripe, high in acidity; ageworthy, though stick to top producers
Vintage
1995
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Top estates made the best wines; aromatic and fruity, with harmonious acidity
Description
Top estates made the best wines; aromatic and fruity, with harmonious acidity
Vintage
1990
Score
97
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Powerful, great acidity and extract, harmonious
Description
Powerful, great acidity and extract, harmonious
Vintage
1988
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Balanced, firm; best in middle Mosel
Description
Balanced, firm; best in middle Mosel
Vintage
1985
Score
87
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
Racy, well-structured; some problems in Rheingau, Pfalz
Description
Racy, well-structured; some problems in Rheingau, Pfalz
Vintage
1983
Score
93
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
Very fruity, ripe, round; little botrytis
Description
Very fruity, ripe, round; little botrytis
Vintage
1976
Score
96
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis
Description
Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis

Notable older vintages: 1971, 1969, 1959, 1953, 1949



Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended

A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.

Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.

SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR