Wine Vintage Ratings

Scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate

Australia - Red
Robert Parker Chart
01 00 99 98 97 96 95 94
95 88 88 95 88 90 87 90

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California - Cabernet Sauvignon
WS - November 15, 2003
2002 87-88* Mixed quality from a cool vintage NYR
2001 95-100* Great richness, should rival 99 and 97 among recent stars NYR
2000 85-89 Tricky harvest, uneven quality; best in Napa Drink or hold
1999 96 Small crop, very rich and complex out of barrel Hold
1998 86 Highly variable, a few stars; being selective is the key Drink or hold
1997 98 Grand wines, deep and potent; surpassing 1994 for best of the decade. Hold
1996 94 Ripe, complex, elegant and supple Drink or hold
1995 94 Rich, complex and flavorful Drink or hold
1994 96 Ripe, dark, high extract; supple tannins Drink or hold
* Preliminary, based on barrel samples

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California - Chardonnay
WS website - June 9, 2002
1999 94 Rich, structured, concentrated Drink or hold
1998 85 Atypically lean and austere; for fans of high acidity Drink or hold
1997 96 Grand again; very ripe, complex, flavorful wines Drink or hold
1996 97 Tremendous flavors, finesse and concentration Drink or hold
1995 97 Great depth, richness, complexity and finesse Drink

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California - Zinfandel
WS - June 15, 2003
2001 90 Excellent year, superior quality, best since '97 Drink or hold
2000 84 Cool weather, uneven ripening, mixed quality Drink
1999 89 Solid, rich and ripe, with high alcohol levels Drink or hold
1998 83 Mixed quality; best are well-balanced Drink
1997 90 Best are ripe and potent, but quality varies Drink or hold
1996 87 Mixed quality; best are well-balanced and fruity Drink or hold
1995 95 Brilliant fruit; ripe, complex, intense, balanced Drink or hold

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France - Bordeaux
WS March 31, 2003
2001 86-91* Very good clarets, with cool fruit and modern, silky tannins.
Underrated by many		 NYR
2000 99 Postmodern classic year, with well-structured reds. Built for longevity.
Particularly great for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc,
but Merlot also excellent. A benchmark		 Hold
1999 83 Aromatic, delicate and fruity. Stick to top estates; rest mediocre Drink or hold
1998 90 Split vintage: monumental for Pomerol, St-Emilion and those who picked
before rain (98 points); the rest good but slightly diluted (83 points)		 Drink or hold

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France - Northern Rhone
WS - Dec 15, 2003
2002 77-82* Rain and sun spurred rot, making it hard to pick ripe
and clean grapes		 NYR
2001 85-89 Great racy, rich whites, (Condrieu, Hermitage); elegant Syrahs Drink or hold
2000 88 Clean, pure Syrahs, but lacking some opulence Drink or hold
1999 95 Super Côte-Rôties, succulent St.-Josephs;
many voluptious, silky Syrahs		 Drink or hold
1998 89 Elegant and firm. Good fruit, balance and concentration Drink or hold

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France - Southern Rhone
WS - Dec 15, 2003
2002 72-77* Tart, dilute wines due to torrential rain at harvest,
but expect some pockets of decent wines		 NYR
2001 89 Great vintage of racy, balanced reds in Chateauneuf-du-Pape;
uneven in Cotes du Rhone		 Drink or hold
2000 93 Powerful and elegant; plump and ripe reds, silky tannins Drink or hold
1999 87 Many lovely Syrah-based reds, but rain and
unripe Grenache grapes made some lean wines		 Drink
1998 95 Dense and rich; blockbuster reds with ripe tannins Drink or hold

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