Vintage guides

Region: California Cabernet Sauvignon

Year Rating Drinkability Style More
1977 starstarstarstarstar drink now Rain interrupted the harvest but a number of good Cabernets were made more...
1978 starstarstarstarstar drink now A good vintage for rich, concentrated Napa Cabernet more...
1979 starstarstarstarstar drink now An uneven vintage of patchy quality more...
1980 starstarstarstarstar drink now An under-rated vintage which produced some good North Coast Cabernet more...
1981 starstarstarstarstar drink now An unspectacular year more...
1982 starstarstarstarstar drink now Rain at harvest was a problem but there were good Cabernets from Napa and Sonoma more...
1983 starstarstarstarstar drink now A poor vintage with dreadful weather although some good Napa Cabernet was produced more...
1984 starstarstarstarstar drink now Some wines were short on acidity but the finest were beautifully concentrated more...
1985 starstarstarstarstar drink soon An excellent year with many top-quality wines more...
1986 starstarstarstarstar drink now A very good year with a number of full-bodied, well-structured wines more...
1987 starstarstarstarstar drink now An excellent Cabernet vintage more...
1988 starstarstarstarstar drink now Lean, indifferent wines more...
1989 starstarstarstarstar drink now Northern vineyards were hit by rain at harvest time but good wines were made in the Sierra Foothills more...
1990 starstarstarstarstar drink now A superb vintage in most regions more...
1991 starstarstarstarstar drink now Another good year for Napa Cabernet more...
1992 starstarstarstarstar drink now A good vintage for quantity and quality more...
1993 starstarstarstarstar drink soon A mixed vintage with a number of very good wines more...
1995 starstarstarstarstar drink soon A good vintage which produced rich and elegant wines more...
1996 starstarstarstarstar drink soon A very reduced crop but some good wines were produced more...
1997 starstarstarstarstar keep A huge crop of largely very fine wines more...
1998 starstarstarstarstar keep Terrible weather was a problem in the north but conditions in the Central Coast were ideal more...
1999 starstarstarstarstar keep A mixed vintage but some wines had very good depth of colour and good concentration more...
2000 starstarstarstarstar keep Lacks the complexity, age-worthiness and ripeness of 97 and 99, but there's more of it more...
2001 starstarstarstarstar keep Big, full wines of concentrated colour and flavour that should last well, especially those from the Napa Valley. more...
2002 starstarstarstarstar keep Concentrated, flavourful and well balanced more...
2003 starstarstarstarstar keep Small yields of small berries with intense flavours produced a wine style of concentration with aging potential more...
2004 starstarstarstarstar drink soon In the best cases from Napa and Mendocino, well-structured wines with deep flavour concentration offer excellent aging potential more...
2005 starstarstarstarstar keep Really structured, classy wines with backbone and balance more...
2006 starstarstarstarstar keep Looks to be a strong, good - if not great - vintage; wines are charming and up-front. more...
2007 starstarstarstarstar keep Outstanding to classic vintage, with intense varietal flavours, rich, softish tannins and modest alcohol levels. Early maturing. more...
2008 starstarstarstarstar keep Well-balanced, full-flavoured wines from a rollercoaster season. Napa has the edge (4 stars?) on Sonoma and Central Coast regions. Best are built for keeping. more...