Champagne vintage rating from 1815 to today
Differences, quality and shelf life
The following is a comprehensive and detailed examination of the Champagne vintages from 1815 to the present day. This study provides an in-depth overview of the different weather conditions, specific circumstances and quality characteristics of the individual vintages. Both the strengths and weaknesses of the Champagne vintages are emphasised. The vintages are generally assessed according to the two main regions of the ChampagneThe northern and southern Champagne regions. Nevertheless, it should be noted that such an analysis can only ever give a first impression, as there are always Champagne that differ from the typical characteristics of a vintage.
A vintage champagne can epitomise the supreme skill of a winemaker. However, this requires a particularly good vintage, characterised by ripe grapes with a high concentration of extract, a balanced structure, fruity notes and sufficient acidity. The variance in weather conditions and annual weather patterns has a significant influence on the quality of Champagne vintages. In contrast to German winegrowers, who continuously produce vintage Champagne, a Champagne winemaker only creates vintage Champagne in particularly good years. Vintages that lack maturity, fruit, structure or acidity are not classified as vintage champagnes, but are used as reserve wines or for non-vintage-specific champagnes. This approach guarantees consistently high quality and enjoyment.
This background explains why not every vintage produces a vintage champagne. Even if the cuvée of a champagne in the following year consists of a similar selection of grapes, the flavours of the vintages vary considerably.
Champagne stretches over an area of around 150 kilometres in a north-south direction, which leads to considerable differences in the locations of the vineyards. This variability means that an assessment of Champagne vintages can only provide a general overview and a certain stylistic direction of a vintage. The differences between regions and grape varieties are too great to allow a detailed and standardised assessment. For this reason, not all winegrowers and champagne houses produce a vintage champagne for every year. The high quality standards prohibit the creation of a vintage champagne from every year.
Due to the great distance between the wine-growing regions of northern and southern Champagne, the ratings of the Champagne vintages are divided separately: Champagne Nord comprises the regions of Montagne de ReimsVallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, while Champagne Sud represents the wine-growing regions of the Côte des Bar.
Champagne enjoyed great popularity from the very beginning, especially in England in the 19th century. At the end of the 18th century, Champagne was significantly more expensive than Bordeaux wines. The assessment of 19th century Champagne vintages is not fully documented; only vintages for which reliable data is available and which have been thoroughly researched have been included.