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Vintage Charts

Italy

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Vintage Score Drink Window Description
Vintage
2018
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

A cooler growing season yielded fresh, elegant Barolos, open-knit with vibrant acidity, light tannins and expressive fruit and floral flavors for earlier drinking
Description

A cooler growing season yielded fresh, elegant Barolos, open-knit with vibrant acidity, light tannins and expressive fruit and floral flavors for earlier drinking
Vintage
2017
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Spring rains mitigated the hot, dry summer, with an ideal September for ripening Nebbiolo. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are fresh and balanced, evoking red fruit flavors
Description

Spring rains mitigated the hot, dry summer, with an ideal September for ripening Nebbiolo. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are fresh and balanced, evoking red fruit flavors
Vintage
2016
Score
98
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

A cooler year with a slow start and adequate rainfall resulted in a long growing season and ideal harvest conditions. Balanced, vibrant and tense Barolos; refined, elegant Barbarescos
Description

A cooler year with a slow start and adequate rainfall resulted in a long growing season and ideal harvest conditions. Balanced, vibrant and tense Barolos; refined, elegant Barbarescos
Vintage
2015
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or Hold
Description

Winter snow and spring rain provided water reserves for the vines during the hot summer, resulting in vibrant Barolos with red fruit flavors and rich Barbarescos, all showing balance
Description

Winter snow and spring rain provided water reserves for the vines during the hot summer, resulting in vibrant Barolos with red fruit flavors and rich Barbarescos, all showing balance
Vintage
2014
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Challenging growing season, wet and cool, with good September and October weather benefiting late-ripening Nebbiolo; better in Barbaresco due to less rain
Description
Challenging growing season, wet and cool, with good September and October weather benefiting late-ripening Nebbiolo; better in Barbaresco due to less rain
Vintage
2013
Score
96
Drink Window
Hold
Description

A cooler growing season and late harvest resulted in wines of purity and finesse, with fine acidity; best Barolos since 2010
Description

A cooler growing season and late harvest resulted in wines of purity and finesse, with fine acidity; best Barolos since 2010
Vintage
2012
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Barolos are elegant, balanced and expressive, with fruit and savory elements; elegant, intense, even austere Barbarescos
Description
Barolos are elegant, balanced and expressive, with fruit and savory elements; elegant, intense, even austere Barbarescos
Vintage
2011
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Rich, fleshy Barolos and balanced Barbarescos; the best have vibrant structures for aging. A fine year for Barbera
Description
Rich, fleshy Barolos and balanced Barbarescos; the best have vibrant structures for aging. A fine year for Barbera
Vintage
2010
Score
97
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

A cool growing season and ideal weather before harvest; pure, elegant and structured reds, with fine potential for aging
Description

A cool growing season and ideal weather before harvest; pure, elegant and structured reds, with fine potential for aging
Vintage
2009
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
A warm year with inconsistent ripening; the best reds offer immediate fruit and flesh, others show underripe tannins
Description
A warm year with inconsistent ripening; the best reds offer immediate fruit and flesh, others show underripe tannins
Vintage
2008
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Warm late season rescued a cooler-than-average vintage; ripe reds show good structure, purity and elegance
Description
Warm late season rescued a cooler-than-average vintage; ripe reds show good structure, purity and elegance
Vintage
2007
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A warm, dry year; wines offer flesh and immediate appeal
Description
A warm, dry year; wines offer flesh and immediate appeal
Vintage
2006
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Many outstanding reds; cool weather made austere, muscular Nebbiolos with aging potential
Description
Many outstanding reds; cool weather made austere, muscular Nebbiolos with aging potential
Vintage
2005
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Balanced and elegant reds, delivering fruit and ripe tannins for producers who worked well in the vineyard
Description
Balanced and elegant reds, delivering fruit and ripe tannins for producers who worked well in the vineyard
Vintage
2004
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Fresh, harmonious, perfumed reds; hitting its peak now
Description
Fresh, harmonious, perfumed reds; hitting its peak now
Vintage
2003
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Many unbalanced wines due to an extremely hot growing season, but some nice surprises. Barberas very successful
Description
Many unbalanced wines due to an extremely hot growing season, but some nice surprises. Barberas very successful
Vintage
2002
Score
72
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
A washout; many wines unripe or diluted. Early-drinkers
Description
A washout; many wines unripe or diluted. Early-drinkers
Vintage
2001
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Aromatic, structured and firm reds with racy character
Description
Aromatic, structured and firm reds with racy character
Vintage
2000
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Rich and opulent reds with round tannins and exciting fruit; more forward in style
Description
Rich and opulent reds with round tannins and exciting fruit; more forward in style
Vintage
1999
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Balanced reds with firm tannins and bright fruit
Description
Balanced reds with firm tannins and bright fruit
Vintage
1998
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Ripe, fruity and silky; very harmonious and refined
Description
Ripe, fruity and silky; very harmonious and refined
Vintage
1997
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Superripe, opulent, flamboyant wines
Description
Superripe, opulent, flamboyant wines
Vintage
1996
Score
98
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Textbook Barolo and Barbaresco; structured, fruity, racy reds
Description
Textbook Barolo and Barbaresco; structured, fruity, racy reds
Vintage
1995
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Very good quality, but some hail damage; stick to top producers
Description
Very good quality, but some hail damage; stick to top producers

Notable older vintages: 1990, 1989, 1988, 1978, 1974, 1971, 1967, 1964, 1961, 1958



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