Vintage declarations

Appears in
Le Cordon Bleu Matching Wine with Food
Le Cordon Bleu Matching Wine with Food

By Le Cordon Bleu

Published 2010

  • About
Some wines that are not usually sold as products of specific vintages are occasionally released in costly vintage-dated versions. The most important are Champagne and port.
  • In exceptional years, and only then, a small quantity of Champagne may be set aside for later release as a vintage wine. This will be more expensive and is usually intended to be cellared. Although not necessarily superior to a top blend, vintage Champagne should have the character of the specific year. Thus, vintages such as 1976, 1982 and 1989 are exceptionally rich and powerful, while years such as 1983, 1988 and 1993 will be leaner, more austere, and, in some cases, more intense.
  • Vintage port is produced only in outstanding years. Rich in sugar, tannin and alcohol, such wines are intended to be cellared, and can easily age for 20 years or more, developing more and more complexity the older they get. In some countries, however, such as the USA, many consumers like to drink them young so as to enjoy their primary fruit flavours. Although vintages are only “declared” in top years, sometimes port producers slip up - 1975, for example, proved to be a great disappointment.