French Wine Vintage Rating Chart

Vintage rating chart for French wines: complete ranking by region and year

Mastering the art of selecting a great wine often begins with a careful reading of the years. The vintage, a reflection of a season's climate, shapes the quality of the wine just as much as the winemaker's work. Whether you are a lover of Bordeaux red wines or a passionate enthusiast of white Burgundy wines, consulting a vintage chart remains a valuable reflex for identifying the best years within the various French wine regions and anticipating the aging potential of a bottle.

Key takeaways: 

• The vintage = the year the grapes were harvested (not the bottling year), with at least 85% of the stated year required

• The scores are regional averages out of 20; a rigorous winemaker can excel even in a lesser year

• Universal vintages to know: 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2015 can be recommended without hesitation in virtually every region

• Chart covering 1930 to 2022 across 9 regions: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Northern/Southern Rhône, Champagne, Loire, Alsace, with Beaujolais as a supplement

• Legendary historic vintages: 1945 (Victory), 1947, 1961, 1978, 1982, 1990 — absolute benchmarks for aging

What is a vintage? Definition and rules

The vintage corresponds exclusively to the year the grapes were harvested, not the year of bottling. A wine aged for 18 months in barrels and then bottled two years after harvest always bears the vintage of the harvest year.

Displaying the vintage is not mandatory. When blending several years, regulations require that at least 85% of the wine comes from the stated year, except for vintage Champagnes where 100% of the grapes must come from the indicated year. This practice allows estates to maintain a consistent style from one year to the next, particularly during difficult vintages.

Non-vintage wines are common in Champagne (a blend of several years), as well as for certain naturally sweet wines or liqueur wines.

Why use a vintage rating chart?

A vintage chart offers a clear and concise overview of wine quality in the main wine regions. The scores assigned allow you to anticipate the aging potential, the peak of a wine, or its immediate readiness for drinking.

Every vintage has its own identity. Some make a lasting impression on the palate, such as 2005, 2009 or 2010 in Bordeaux, while others stand out for their finesse or freshness, such as 2014 in white Burgundy. With this wine-by-year ranking, choosing a bottle becomes more reliable, whether for immediate enjoyment or to thoughtfully build a cellar.

How do you read a vintage rating?

Vintage ratings, established by professional tasters, are generally expressed out of 20 points (or out of 100 for Anglo-Saxon critics such as Robert Parker). They summarise the climatic conditions of each growing season.

Here are the commonly used reference levels:

Important: these scores are regional averages. They do not take into account microclimates, grape selection at harvest or the winemaking choices of each estate. A rigorous winemaker can produce an excellent wine in a year that has received a low rating.

What makes a good vintage? Key climatic factors

A "good year" depends on a combination of favourable conditions throughout the growing season:

• Cold winter to allow the vine to rest

• Mild and moderately rainy spring for good vine health and uniform flowering

• Sunny summer without excessive heat, with some rainfall to prevent water stress that would hinder ripening

• Dry harvest, ideally preceded by a light rainfall 3 to 4 weeks before picking

• Cool nights at the end of the season to preserve acidity and aromatic freshness

Heatwave vintages (such as 2003) produce rich but sometimes heavy, low-acidity wines. Late vintages expose grapes to high climatic risks towards the end of the cycle. Years marked by hail or violent storms can devastate a vineyard within minutes.

Vintage rating chart: All French regions

This chart covers the main vintages from 2003 onwards for the leading French wine regions: Bordeaux reds, Bordeaux whites/sweet wines, white Burgundy, red Burgundy, Northern Rhône, Southern Rhône, Champagne, Val de Loire and Alsace. Scores are given out of 20.

Indicative scores established from climatic trends and professional tastings. They represent regional averages.

The finest vintages by wine region

Bordeaux: Reds and whites

The greatest vintages for Bordeaux red wines are 1982, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2016. These years combine optimal ripeness with perfect balance, producing powerful wines with silky tannins capable of very long aging. On the left bank (Médoc, Graves), Cabernet Sauvignons achieve full phenolic ripeness, avoiding any herbaceous aromas.

For dry white Bordeaux, 2010 and 2015 are benchmarks. As for Sauternes and sweet wines, the finest vintages are 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2018 — wines with exceptional aging potential.

Years such as 2013 are more modest for red wines. A discerning enthusiast can look towards second wines or estates that have successfully carried out their selection, while remaining vigilant about the provenance and storage of the bottles.

Burgundy: Whites and reds

In Burgundy, the variations between years are particularly striking, as the region sits at the crossroads of continental, maritime and Mediterranean climatic influences. Appellation wines are almost never blended across multiple vintages (except Crémant de Bourgogne).

White Burgundy: 2014 stands out with a vivid, mineral style, marked freshness and remarkable length. 2019 and 2020 are also fine successes. It should be noted that 2016 saw very reduced volumes due to frost.

Red Burgundy: 2009, 2015 and 2019 are consistently praised for their richness, aromatic generosity and rounded tannins. Pinot Noir exemplarily captures the climatic subtleties of each vintage.

Côtes-du-Rhône: North and South

The Northern Rhône (Syrah: Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage) and the Southern Rhône (Grenache blends: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas) do not always respond in the same way to the same climatic conditions. 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2020 are among the finest vintages for both sub-regions. 

Champagne

Champagne produces predominantly non-vintage wines by blending several years, aiming for a consistent style. Vintage Champagnes are only produced in the finest years. 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2021 are considered excellent Champagne vintages, offering freshness, complexity and aging potential. 

Loire

The Loire Valley is home to a wide range of grape varieties (Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Melon de Bourgogne...) that do not always respond identically to the same climatic conditions. 2005, 2010, 2014 and 2016 produce exceptional age-worthy wines, particularly the Cabernet Francs from Bourgueil, Chinon and Saumur-Champigny. The 2011 and 2012 vintages required rigorous selection.

Alsace

Alsace, sheltered by the Vosges mountains, benefits from a particularly dry and sunny microclimate. The Riesling and Gewurztraminer wines from 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2017 are among the most highly regarded vintages, combining concentration, mineral freshness and aging potential.

Beaujolais

The best of Beaujolais was revealed in 2005 and 2009 with exceptional vintages. From 2014 to 2019, enthusiasts also enjoyed fine vintages to savour soon after production. 2022 is considered a very good aging year for the Beaujolais Crus.

Exceptional vintages across all French regions

Certain years have achieved near-universal acclaim across the entire French wine-growing landscape. Among the most recent, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2015 are the four vintages that can be recommended without hesitation in virtually every region. Further back in time, 1990, 1996, 2000 have also left a lasting impression on enthusiasts.

Practical tips for using this vintage ranking

Relying solely on the vintage ranking can cause you to miss some wonderful discoveries. Certain producers excel even in years with an average reputation, thanks to strict grape selection and recognised expertise.

A few best practices:

• Cross-reference multiple sources: Hachette guides, Parker scores, Bettane & Desseauve, Wine Spectator

• Consider the estate: the identity of the producer and their terroir remain decisive

• Check the storage conditions: even a great vintage can disappoint if proper storage conditions have not been maintained

• Match the desired style: a powerful Bordeaux vintage will appeal to lovers of intensity, while a cooler year will better suit those who prefer finesse

• Consider the evolution: some early-maturing vintages may have passed their peak, while others are still closed

Bear in mind that an excellent year in one region may be unremarkable elsewhere. 2010, outstanding for Bordeaux red wines and Southern Rhône wines, is less so for certain white Burgundies. The influence of the local microclimate always remains predominant.

Frequently asked questions about vintage ratings and wine quality

What does a vintage chart genuinely add to wine purchasing?

A vintage chart provides a comprehensive overview of wine quality across different years in each wine region. It allows you to quickly identify the best vintages and adjust your choices according to your desired aging potential or preferred style. Used alongside personalised advice and knowledge of individual estates, this chart effectively guides you towards successful cuvées.

• A quick indication of the potential of each year

• A guide to avoiding unpleasant surprises

• Optimising purchases for aging or immediate drinking

Is the vintage ranking sufficient to choose a great wine?

Vintage rankings are a useful guide, but they are never sufficient on their own. The identity of the producer, the terroir and storage conditions remain essential. Even in a lesser year, a wine from a great estate can surpass the average. Always check the condition of the bottle and take your own criteria into account when making your selection.

• Evaluating the producer alongside the vintage

• Check the storage history

• Always taste as soon as possible

Does vintage rating vary by wine type?

Yes. An exceptional vintage for red wines will not necessarily be remarkable for whites. In Bordeaux, certain years benefit Cabernet Sauvignon more, while others favour Merlot. In Burgundy, the situation often differs between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This is why it is essential to consult a chart that distinguishes between colours and regions.

Are there perfect vintages for all wine regions?

No vintage shines everywhere in the same way. Some years favour the north, others the south. It is therefore necessary to tailor your choice not only to the overall vintage ranking, but also to the specificities of each wine region.

• Bordeaux and Burgundy react differently in the same year

• The impact of the local climate alters the expression of grape varieties

• Always check the targeted region in your vintage chart