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Vintage Charts

France

France Alsace

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Vintage Score Drink Window Description
Vintage
2021
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A cooler, more “classic” year that presented challenges, as spring frosts and summer rain–induced mildew reduced production by 20 percent across the region, with some growers losing nearly 90 percent of their crop. A dry fall enabled the remaining grapes to reach good ripeness, with lower alcohol, racy acidity and pronounced minerality. Leading producers achieved excellent quality with their top wines, particularly Riesling (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
A cooler, more “classic” year that presented challenges, as spring frosts and summer rain–induced mildew reduced production by 20 percent across the region, with some growers losing nearly 90 percent of their crop. A dry fall enabled the remaining grapes to reach good ripeness, with lower alcohol, racy acidity and pronounced minerality. Leading producers achieved excellent quality with their top wines, particularly Riesling (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2020
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Another warm growing season in which vines suffered stress from lack of rain, leading to lower yields. Despite higher alcohol levels, acidities are high as well, so wines show impressive freshness in addition to ripeness and weight; a very good year for Pinot Noir (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
Another warm growing season in which vines suffered stress from lack of rain, leading to lower yields. Despite higher alcohol levels, acidities are high as well, so wines show impressive freshness in addition to ripeness and weight; a very good year for Pinot Noir (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2019
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A hot, dry summer refreshed by August rains enabled perfect ripeness, yielding wines that show great balance between freshness and richness, with good concentration, structure and ageability. Due to late harvest rains, very few sweet wines were produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
A hot, dry summer refreshed by August rains enabled perfect ripeness, yielding wines that show great balance between freshness and richness, with good concentration, structure and ageability. Due to late harvest rains, very few sweet wines were produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2018
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
An abundant crop, somewhat curbed by dry, hot weather starting in late June; despite the heat wave, top producers and hillside vineyards fared well, producing rich, vibrant wines, with Pinot Gris excelling (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
An abundant crop, somewhat curbed by dry, hot weather starting in late June; despite the heat wave, top producers and hillside vineyards fared well, producing rich, vibrant wines, with Pinot Gris excelling (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2017
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Severe frost in late April significantly reduced yields, but less so on hillside sites; excellent conditions during the summer and harvest resulted in concentrated wines of fine balance (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
Severe frost in late April significantly reduced yields, but less so on hillside sites; excellent conditions during the summer and harvest resulted in concentrated wines of fine balance (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2016
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Erratic conditions during the growing season resulted in mildew and/or drought conditions. Leading producers made wines with good intensity in graceful, lighter-bodied frames, with Pinot Gris showing well; little or no VTs or SGNs produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
Erratic conditions during the growing season resulted in mildew and/or drought conditions. Leading producers made wines with good intensity in graceful, lighter-bodied frames, with Pinot Gris showing well; little or no VTs or SGNs produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2015
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Top producers countered drought conditions during the growing season to produce vibrant, balanced wines with up-front personality. Gewürztraminer excelled; little to no VTs or SGNs were produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
Top producers countered drought conditions during the growing season to produce vibrant, balanced wines with up-front personality. Gewürztraminer excelled; little to no VTs or SGNs were produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2014
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Successful Riesling and Pinot Gris; light-bodied and lithe in style. Gewürztraminer suffered due to the Asian fruit fly, and little to no VTs or SGNs were produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
Successful Riesling and Pinot Gris; light-bodied and lithe in style. Gewürztraminer suffered due to the Asian fruit fly, and little to no VTs or SGNs were produced (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2013
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink
Description
A small crop of racy whites, but generally lighter in stature; rainy October, but top sites and producers were successful. Not a year for VTs or SGNs (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note):
Description
A small crop of racy whites, but generally lighter in stature; rainy October, but top sites and producers were successful. Not a year for VTs or SGNs (See all ratings)

Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note):
Vintage
2012
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
A reduced crop of pure and elegant whites with good ripeness. Pinot Gris excelled; favor top producers for Riesling and Gewürztraminer (See all ratings)
Description
A reduced crop of pure and elegant whites with good ripeness. Pinot Gris excelled; favor top producers for Riesling and Gewürztraminer (See all ratings)
Vintage
2011
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Accessible wines; the best show balance and grape-specific flavor profiles (See all ratings)
Description
Accessible wines; the best show balance and grape-specific flavor profiles (See all ratings)
Vintage
2010
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A small crop, but top wines offer fine concentration and balance firm structure with finesse (See all ratings)
Description
A small crop, but top wines offer fine concentration and balance firm structure with finesse (See all ratings)
Vintage
2009
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Lithe, lively dry wines, offering fine concentration and balance; VTs and SGNs show great purity (See all ratings)
Description
Lithe, lively dry wines, offering fine concentration and balance; VTs and SGNs show great purity (See all ratings)
Vintage
2008
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Racy dry whites that pair intense acidity and backbone with pure fruit flavors; very little botrytis (See all ratings)
Description
Racy dry whites that pair intense acidity and backbone with pure fruit flavors; very little botrytis (See all ratings)
Vintage
2007
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Vibrant wines with great balance, purity and overall elegance; outstanding VT and SGN (See all ratings)
Description
Vibrant wines with great balance, purity and overall elegance; outstanding VT and SGN (See all ratings)
Vintage
2006
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Firm, dry wines with up-front flavors and character; high-quality VT and SGN, particularly Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris (See all ratings)
Description
Firm, dry wines with up-front flavors and character; high-quality VT and SGN, particularly Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris (See all ratings)
Vintage
2005
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ripe wines with great balancing acidity. Very good Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer and outstanding VT and SGN (See all ratings)
Description
Ripe wines with great balancing acidity. Very good Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer and outstanding VT and SGN (See all ratings)
Vintage
2004
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Great clarity, finesse and balance for top wines; some are dilute as a result of high yields (See all ratings)
Description
Great clarity, finesse and balance for top wines; some are dilute as a result of high yields (See all ratings)
Vintage
2003
Score
88
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
Exceptionally hot and dry year with little botrytis; many wines lack structure. Stick to top producers (See all ratings)
Description
Exceptionally hot and dry year with little botrytis; many wines lack structure. Stick to top producers (See all ratings)
Vintage
2002
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ripe, vibrant whites with high acidity; fine Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris, excellent VTs and SGNs (See all ratings)
Description
Ripe, vibrant whites with high acidity; fine Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris, excellent VTs and SGNs (See all ratings)
Vintage
2001
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Indian summer resulted in ripe, elegant wines, some enriched by botrytis; great VTs and SGNs (See all ratings)
Description
Indian summer resulted in ripe, elegant wines, some enriched by botrytis; great VTs and SGNs (See all ratings)
Vintage
2000
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ripe and vibrant; botrytis allowed fine late-harvest wines. A great Riesling year (See all ratings)
Description
Ripe and vibrant; botrytis allowed fine late-harvest wines. A great Riesling year (See all ratings)

Notable older vintages: 1989, 1988


Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended

A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.

Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.

SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR