Vintages: Germany and Austria

German and Austrian Vintages

The power of comparison offers a richness of context. Via sheer assembly of data, patterns emerge, which can overcome any bias from a single source.

Listed below are important vintages from 1971-2015, in both Germany and Austria. Six sources have been cited, with good vintages in bold and bad vintages underlined. Beyond the initial summary, read on to see the details of each rating.

Sources

1. Jancis Robinson: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/vintages
2. Robert Parker: https://www.robertparker.com/resources/vintage-chart
3. Berry Brothers Rudd: http://www.bbr.com/vintages
4. Decanter: http://www.decanter.com/learn/vintage-guides/
   • Article image courtesy Decanter.com.
5. Wine Spectator: http://www.winespectator.com/vintagecharts/search
6. Wine Enthusiast: http://www.winemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vintage_Chart_2017.pdf

In Summary

Germany

• ’10s
  • 2015: Good. (healthy yields)
  • 2014: Bad. (cold and wet, short harvest)
  • 2011: Good. (healthy yields, favorable harvest)
• ’00s
  • 2009: Good – Very. (warm, dry season and harvest)
  • 2005: Good – Very. (lower yields, good botrytis, multi-region quality, sunny)
  • 2001: Good – EPIC. (strong ripeness, Indian summer, hot August, cool September, good botrytis)
  • 2000: Bad. (Septemer rains, widespread rot, initial promise in spring/summer)
• ’90s
  • 1999: Good. (good yields)
  • 1994: Good. (variable, good quality overall)
  • 1990: Good – Very. (Healthy spring. Good autumn conditions, with botrytis.)
• ’80s
  • 1989: Good. (Excellent harvest.)
  • 1987: Bad. (Less ripe.)
  • 1982: Bad. (Late budding, then rain at harvest. Rot.)
  • 1980: Bad. (Cold winter delayed budding. Lots of rain, then November frosts.)
• ’70s
  • 1978: Bad. (Rain in April/May, delaying budding. Underripe grapes.)
  • 1976: Good. (Ripe, rich wines)
  • 1971: Good – EPIC. (Early budding. Early flowering, hurt by weather, thus reduced crop. Rain in July/August assisted with vine development. Sunshine + Light Rain led to high must weights, for mid-October harvest. Perfect weather at harvest. November mist benefited botrytis.

Austria

• ’10s
  • 2015: Good. (healthy harvest)
  • 2014: Bad. (rain, cold, rot)
• ’00s
  • 2006: Good. (big wines)
  • 2000: Bad. (low RP rating)
• ’90s
  • 1997: Good. (high RP rating)
  • 1990: Good. (high RP rating)
• ’80s
  • 1986: Good. (high RP rating)

 

Germany

2010 – 2015

• DE 2015:
  • “Yields across the country met the ten-year average, though they varied from region to region. In the Mosel, for instance, quality is especially promising but yields were 8% down on 2014. The Rheingau is also tipped for excellence, while reds from Baden are expected to be powerful and dark.” -JR
  • “95R” -RP
  • “94” -WE (highest score of ’10-15)
• DE 2014:
  • “Too cold and too wet’ is the general summary for Germany in 2014. Yields were higher than the much smaller preceding vintage, but quality is surmised as ‘good, bad and ugly’ by Michael Schmidt, with the proviso that the better producers are inevitably the better performers.”
  • “78I” -RP
  • “7” -BBR
  • “91. 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.” -WS
  • “88” -WE (lowest score of ’10-’15)
• DE 2013:
  • 79I” -RP
  • “89. Erratic weather, including some rain at harvest, resulted in a small crop; top producers relied on careful selection in the vineyard to make rich and minerally wines” -WS
• DE 2011:
  • “Extremely good quality, with yields back at average after two more depressed years. There is palpable excitement about these wines, with top quality examples across the board from trocken Riesling and Spätburgunder and record-breaking noble whites.” -JR
  • “85R” -RP
  • “95. Ideal harvest conditions delivered fruit-forward, open-knit and balanced wines with opulent flavors and textures.” -WS

2000 – 2009

• DE 2009:
  • “Amongst the greatest vintages, 2009 is proving very alluring at a very early stage. The growing season was dry, warm and reliable. The wines are ripe and appealing but 12% down on volume compared to 2008.” -JR
  • “95I” -RP
  • “10” -BBR
  • “97. Warm, dry weather at harvest; exceptionally balanced wines, with plenty of pure fruit, minerality and creaminess.” -WS
  • “95” -WE (2nd highest score, ’00-’09)
• DE 2007:
  • “Outstanding wines in all quality levels, showing a fine balance of ripeness, fruity acidity and mineral flavours, as well as great ageing potential.” -Decanter
• DE 2006:
  • “95I” -RP
  • “7” -BBR
• DE 2005:
  • “Exceptional vintage combining the luscious fruit of 2003 with the minerality and structure of 2004. Quantities were low but, to compensate growers financially, noble rot took hold very rapidly in the autumn so that large quantities of Beerenauslese and TBA were made, of especial note in the Saar.” -JR
  • “94R” -RP
  • “10” -BBR
  • “Exceptionally good, 4/5. The current mood in Germany ’s wine estates and cooperatives is one of great satisfaction – not least because the 2005 vintage is already acclaimed as being exceptionally good. ‘This year is unique: seldom has there been such unanimous praise from all 13 wine-growing regions about the quality of the grape crop,’ said Armin Göring, managing director of the German Wine Institute in Mainz. ‘The majority of must weights are of Prädikat wine quality and some come very close to those of vintage 2003.’
    Göring attributes this positive outcome to the extraordinarily sunny year. According to the German Weather Service, the collective number of sun hours recorded from March through October exceeded the long-term average for an entire year. This enabled the grapes to ripen about two weeks ahead of schedule. Precipitation during the harvest in September helped speed up the harvest so that the grapes could be gathered while still healthy. Franconian wine-growers claim that it was the shortest harvest in history.” – Decanter
  • “98. Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most.” -WS
  • “96” -WE (Highest score of ’00-’09, tied with 2001)
• DE 2003:
  • “Uncomfortably hot year for the Riesling vine, and even more of an assault on varieties such as Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder with their naturally lower acid levels. But some exceptional wines were made at the top of the tree.” -JR
  • “91I” -RP
  • “94. Ripe, opulent wines; best in Mosel, Nahe and Rheingau. Terrific BA and TBA, though not much botrytis” -WS
• DE 2001:
  • “A very great, long-term vintage with remarkable levels of both grape ripeness (thanks to a wonderful Indian summer) and acidity (thanks to a nerve-wrackingly wet but cool September). A high proportion of botrytised sweet wines were made – in fact there was such a shortage of basic QbA wine that considerable amounts were declassified to satisfy market demand.” -JR
  • 91R -RP
  • “10” -BBR
  • “A great year: clean, concentrated, structured wines worthy of aging. 5/5. A cool and humid spring in Germany retarded budding but warm and sunny weather returned at the end of May and flowering was successful in June. August was exceptionally hot and September was wet and cool enough to prevent the spread of grey rot. October came in with a roar with sunshine and temperatures above 25 C throughout the month, followed by morning mist in some regions in the first two weeks of November to encourage botrytis and fantastic Ausleses, BAs and TBAs. A ‘dream’ year for Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and a fine year for the other burgundian grapes.” -Decanter
  • “98. Best vintage since 1971. Ripe, healthy grapes made pure, harmonious wines at all quality levels; best in middle Mosel.” -WS
  • “96” -WE (Highest score of ’00-’09, tied with 2005)
• DE 2000:
  • “Very difficult vintage. Early optimism was finally dashed by September rains which severely compromised the health of the grapes. In many cases the earliest-picked grapes were the best because they were the least affected by rot. Early-picked Spätburgunders were relatively unscathed.” -JR
  • “76C” -RP
  • “7” -BBR
  • “Early promise gave way to rain and widespread rot. Eastern regions and Riesling did best. Regional differences mean overall rating is a very rough guide only. 3/5. An early bud-break, early and successful flowering, then a fine summer in which sun and rain alternated in an ideal manner raised high hopes that 2000 would be a great vintage. In early September the grapes’ development was fully 2-3 weeks ahead of the average. Then, in late September, it began to rain and did not stop for almost a month. Rot spread fast and wide, particularly in the southerly regions where the grapes were already very ripe and soft. Further north in Germany the Riesling grapes survived this phase rather well and in many places the fine weather of late October and November enabled them to reach a high level of ripeness.” -Decanter
  • “82. Plagued by rain and rot, with outstanding results from a handful of growers. Variable quality; choose carefully.” -WS
  • “85” -WE (lowest score of ’00-09)

1990 – 1999

• DE 1999:
  • “86E” -RP
  • “8” -BBR”
  • “A large vintage of excellent quality. Very good in Franken after three difficult years. 4/5″ -Decanter”
  • “90. Rich and round, with ripe but lower acidity resulting in forward, appealing wines.” -WS
• DE 1997:
  • “10” -BBR
  • “88. Pure, clear wines with lower acidity and little botrytis; best in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.” -WS
• DE 1994:
  • “Horribly variable, but Riesling showed its class with superb quality from the good estates.” -JR
  • “94R” -RP
  • “8” -BBR
  • “86. Solid quality, high acidity, medium extract; focus on top estates” -WS
• DE 1991:
  • “85. Crisp, racy acidity, but uneven quality.” -WS
  • “85” -WE (lowest score, ’90-99)
• DE 1990:
  • “Europe’s wonder year: a perfect autumn with plenty of late-picked sweet wines after a botrytis bonanza.” -JR
  • “96R” -RP
  • “10” -BBR
  • “A great vintage which produced rich and concentrated wines of impressive longevity. 5/5. Unique! The weather in spring was perfect. The budding was around 15th April, the flowering around 21st June and temperatures of up to almost 40C. at the beginning of August meant that the development of the Riesling was only held back by very low humidity. A brief dramatic change of temperature with heavy rainfall at the end of August caused premature botrytis, which reduced the potential crop by up to one third. However, those grapes that remained on the vine benefited from this rain and the sunshine which followed in September and October.” -Decanter”
  • “97. Powerful, great acidity and extract, harmonious.” -WS
  • “95” -WE (highest score, ’90-99)

1980 – 1989

• DE 1989:
  • “A phenomenal harvest. The late-harvested Rieslings show profound complexity. Probably best in the Mosel.” -JR
  • “91C” -RP
  • “9” -BBR
  • “A rich, ripe vintage but some wines lacked sufficient acidity to age well. 4/5. A rich, ripe vintage but some wines lacked sufficient acidity to age well.” -Decanter
  • “92. Outstanding for late-harvest, botrytized wines; others tough and unexceptional.” -WS
• DE 1988:
  • “92R” -RP
  • “93. Balanced, firm; best in middle Mosel.” -WS
• DE 1987
  • “5” -BBR
  • “A less ripe year although many top growers managed to produce a number of attractive wines. 2/5. A mild spring led to an early budding, but two months of rain delayed the flowering until July: then copious rain and little sunshine until the middle of September seemed to have wrecked the growers hopes of a fine vintage. However, the fine weather which followed right through to the end of the vintage allowed the Riesling to recover and a few good long lasting wines including fine Ausleses were made.” -Decanter
  • “83. Light, high acidity; good.” -WS.
• DE 1985:
  • “Classy and stylish, these show how well Riesling ages.” -JR
  • “87. Racy, well-structured; some problems in Rheingau, Pfalz.” -WS
• DE 1984:
  • “70R” -RP
  • “74. Unripe, aggressive acidity.” -WS
• DE 1982:
  • “78C” -RP
  • “4” -BBR
  • “A deeply disappointing year. 3/5. After a long cold winter, the budding was late but warm summer weather followed and the flowering in early June could not have been better. As in Bordeaux, the summer was long and hot and it looked as if there would be a great vintage, until October when the Riesling vintage started and rain set in to last for nearly a month. During this period the acidity dropped and both bad rot and good botrytis set in. It was not until the 6th November that the vintage could be properly resumed and it stayed warm and dry until the end of the picking.” -Decanter
  • “78. Diluted, soft.” -WS
• DE 1980:
  • “68I” -RP
  • “4” -BBR
  • “Few wines of lasting quality were made this year. 1/5. A miserable year for the Riesling! The cold winter delayed the budding; the flowering was late and spoiled; it rained continuously from the end of July to the end of September, with storms, hail and floods in August. Finally, the Riesling vintage started at the end of October and was cut short by sharp frosts at the beginning of November, which prevented any further ripening of the grapes.” -Decanter
  • “65. Very green, unripe, thin.” -WS

1970 – 1979:

• 1978:
  • “70R” -RP
  • “5” -BBR
  • “Another disappointing vintage throughout Germany. 1/5. Non-stop rain in April and May delayed the budding and the flowering in June was dreadful. Cold rain continued through July, August and September and it was only a hot, mild October and early November that allowed some grapes to ripen.” -Decanter.
  • “68. Green, thin.” -WS
• 1976:
  • “An excellent vintage with very ripe, rich wines. 5/5” -Decanter
  • “96.  Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis.” -WS
• 1971:
  • “98R” -RP
  • “A great vintage, with best wines showing magnificent balance of richness and acidity. 5/5. The budding was early and the flowering started early but was affected by bad weather which reduced the size of the potential crop. Summer showers in July and August enhanced the development of the vines and indicated a very early start to the ripening process. The ideal balance between the amount of sunshine and gentle rain caused must weights to soar, so that the vintage could be started in the middle of October. Perfect weather continued right through to the end of the vintage in the second half of November and during this period the early morning mist encouraged botrytis to develop.” -Decanter
  • “97. Powerful, elegant, superb structure.” -WS

 

Austria

 

2010 – 2016

• AT 2016:
  • “Officially described as ‘outstanding quality, characterised by particularly delicate fruit-driven aromatics and fresh acidity,’ early signs of quality are good. Yields in Steiermark and Burgenland were reduced by frost and hail in April – in the former region by up to 80%. Then a wet summer gave rise to plentiful mildew, although conditions in early autumn were much more favourable and the resultant wines are thought to be of good quality, though not destined for long ageing.” -JR
• AT 2015:
  • “After the challenges of 2014, the 2015 harvest was far better. It was generally warm across the country, creating flavourful wines from all varieties. Both whites and reds are expected to display strong typicality with fuller-than-average body.” -JR
  • “95E” -RP
• AT 2014:
  • “Excessive rainfall and generally poor weather conditions made this the worst Austrian vintage in recent years.” -JR
  • “78E” -RP (early-maturing and accessible)
  • “87. Thick-skinned Grüner did best in a growing season plagued by rain; Riesling affected by gray rot. Only the most careful vintners harvested healthy grapes.” -WS
• AT 2011:
  • “Generous yields were welcome following several lean years. Hot weather caused resulted in relatively high alcohol levels, while acidity levels are low. Whites tend to be full bodied with good ageing potential and all red varieties fared well, with some declaring this vintage the best thus far for Austrian red.” -JR
  • “90. An easy-to-drink vintage with open-knit Grüner Veltliners; Kremstal performs well.” -WS

2000 – 2009

• AT 2006:
  • “91I” -RP
  • “95. Immense structures, with intense fruit and minerality.” -WS
• AT 2005:
  • “87I” -RP
  • “92. Creamy and rich; ripe Rieslings and viscous Grüners.” -WS
• AT 2000:
  • “85C” -RP

1990 – 1999

• AT 1999:
  • “95R” -RP
• AT 1997:
  • “96R” -RP
• AT 1990:
  • “94R” -RP

1980 – 1989

• AT 1986:
  • “96R” -RP