Piedmont wine vintage guide
A summary of Piedmont vintages from 2019 back to 1990, written by Decanter contributing editor Stephen Brook, including vintage ratings and whether to drink now or keep in your cellar.
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Piedmont wine vintage guide: vintages to drink and to keep
Piedmont vintages to drink up soon: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2012
Piedmont vintages ready to drink: 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014
Ratings are from one to five stars.
Vintage: 2019
Rating: 4*
A mixed year, with heat, rain, and some disease. Expertise in the vineyard was rewarded with fresh fruity wines.
Vintage: 2018
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Rating: 4.5*
A hot season but fresher than 2017 after an Indian summer.
Keep
Vintage: 2017
Rating: 4*
Extreme heat led to opulent wines with lowish acidity. Many excellent wines but not a vintage for the long term.
Keep
Barolo 2017 vintage report: 120 wines tasted | Barbaresco 2017 full report (2020)
Vintage: 2016
Rating: 5*
Very warm weather in early September and October fully ripened the grapes, which remained healthy. Exceptional vintage for Nebbiolo.
Keep
Barolo 2016 ‘classico’ late releases tasted| Barbaresco 2016 & Riserva 2014 (2019) | Barolo 2016 ‘MGA’ late releases tasted
Vintage: 2015
Rating: 5*
Torrid July but cooler, moister conditions in August and September brought the grapes to ripeness, especially in Barbaresco. A small crop of charming wines.
Keep
Barolo 2015 vintage report (2019)| Barbaresco 2015 & Riserva 2013 | Barbaresco Riserva 2015 full report (2020)
Vintage: 2014
Rating: 4*
After a stormy summer, a fine September saved the vintage, although hail did much damage. Yet top growers produced fine, elegant wines. Better in Barbaresco.
Drink or keep
Barolo 2014 vintage report| Barbaresco 2016 & Riserva 2014 (2019)| Barbaresco 2014 vintage report
Vintage: 2013
Rating: 4.5*
A cool summer and an abundant crop that need to be thinned to achieve full ripeness. A year of fragrant, elegant wines that are now gaining in structure.
Drink or keep
Barberesco Riserva 2013 report| Barbaresco 2015 & Riserva 2013| Barolo 2013 vintage report
Vintage: 2012
Rating: 3*
Hail and sunburn were just some of the problems this year, and growers had to respond adroitly in the vineyards. Some fine wines, but others are soft and forward.
Drink up
Vintage: 2011
Rating: 4.5*
Hot humid conditions led to wines that are ripe and sumptuous, but already beginning to drink well. Excellent wines from Barbaresco.
Drink or keep
Vintage: 2010
Rating: 5*
Superb weather in late summer and September, giving slow ripening. The wines are vibrant and structured, with admirable tension and ageability. Marginally less successful in Barbaresco.
Keep
Barolo 2010 vintage guide | From the archive: Barolo 2010 panel tasting results (2018)
Vintage: 2009
Rating: 4.5*
A hot year, delivering lush succulent wines, but with moderate acidity. Can already be enjoyed for their abundant fruitiness.
Drink or keep
Barolo 2009 vintage guide | From the archive: Barolo 2009 panel tasting results (2018)
Vintage: 2008
Rating: 4.5*
A difficult summer with some hail, but September was fine. Wines with firm tannins and rich fruit. Excellent in La Morra.
Drink or keep
From the archive: Barolo 2008 panel tasting results (2018)
Vintage: 2007
Rating: 4*
Warm weather led to an early harvest of fruity grapes with fairly low acidity. Many delicious wines, best enjoyed young.
Drink up
Vintage: 2006
Rating: 5*
A tricky growing season but a classic year, delivering bold, tannic, and sometimes austere wines that will repay cellaring.
Drink or keep
Barolo 2006: panel tasting results (2020)
Vintage: 2005
Rating: 4*
The cool August and some autumn rains made this a tricky vintage, but the best wines, especially from Barbaresco, are fresh and lively.
Drink or keep
Vintage: 2004
Rating: 4*
A mild summer was followed by a dry autumn, yielding fruity wines with immediate appeal. But they have evolved fast.
Drink up
Vintage: 2003
Rating: 2.5*
Intense summer heat, although refreshed by late August rains, led to super-ripe wines high in alcohol. Many cooked and dry wines.
Drink up
Vintage: 2002
Rating: 1.5*
Hail after a poor August damaged grapes. Only the most selective growers made decent wines.
Drink up
Vintage: 2001
Rating: 5*
After a hot summer, a cool September slowed ripening. Those who waited made superbly structured wines with excellent balance.
Drink or keep
Vintage: 2000
Rating: 4*
A hot late summer led to very ripe wines with moderate acidity and some jamminess. Appealing but initially overrated.
Drink up
Vintage: 1999
Rating: 4.5*
A fine vintage despite some September rains. Elegant and balanced wines with ageing potential.
Drink or keep
Vintage: 1998
Rating: 4*
A hot summer and cool September, but the grapes did ripen, although the wines are tannic and sturdy.
Drink or keep
Vintage: 1997
Rating: 3.5*
A hot and precocious summer led to some overripeness, though fresher in Barbaresco. Plump wines with immediate appeal, but limited structure.
Drink up
Vintage: 1996
Rating: 5*
Storms and cool spells meant the summer was imperfect, but a fine September brought full ripeness. Excellent in Barbaresco. Robust, structured wines with high acidity.
Drink or keep
1996 Piedmont: A retrospective
Vintage: 1995
Rating: 4.5*
A cool summer with sporadic hail. But the autumn was fine and the crop healthy. Elegant wines that lack some weight.
Drink
Vintage: 1994
Rating: 3*
A decent summer, but September proved cool and damp. Selection required to avoid rot. Patchy wines.
Drink up
Vintage: 1993
Rating: 3*
An Indian summer in October couldn’t make up for an uneven summer and wet late September.
Drink up
Vintage: 1992
Rating: 2*
A wet, cool growing season led to lightweight wines.
Drink up
Vintage: 1991
Rating: 2*
Heavy September rain killed expectations after a good summer. Forgettable.
Drink up
Vintage: 1990
Rating: 5*
A perfect September led to an easy and healthy harvest in early October. Superb wines.
Drink
See also
All Piedmont latest releases
Decanter collector’s guide: the rise of Piedmont
All Tuscany latest releases
Stephen Brook has been a contributing editor to Decanter since 1996 and has won a clutch of awards for his writing on wine. The author of more than 30 books, his works include Complete Bordeaux, now the definitive study of the region and in its third edition, and The Wines of California, which won three awards. His most recently published book is The Wines of Austria. Brook also fully revised the last two editions of Hugh Johnson’s Wine Companion, and he writes for magazines in many countries.