People often ask, “Is this a good vintage?” The thoughtful oenophile would answer, “Good for what?” Are you cellaring the wine for 10-20 years? Are you saving it for a future occasion? Are you drinking it tonight? Great wines from great vintages generally do not equate to immediate drinking enjoyment; they take time to mature. Great wines from “good” vintages can be enjoyed earlier, but have a shorter overall lifespan.
In our experience, great vintages are exciting, but we need something to drink while we’re waiting. In lesser vintages, a good producer is still making some excellent wine that’s ready to drink, and it may be a better value. Our job is to secure the great stuff, and seek out the gems and “sleepers,” the overlooked values that will not be hyped by wine critics. Wine adventurers know a good thing when they taste it; they do not allow “vintage charts” and scores to get in the way of a delicious, well-priced wine.