When it comes to Champagne, the word vintage takes on an important meaning and on most occasions signifies that the wine inside the bottle will be of superior quality. For those of you new to the world of Champagne, it is important that we fully understand what 'Vintage' means:
"Most people will mistake the word vintage for meaning old, as per vintage clothing / vintage cars, though when it comes to Champagne a vintage label can be as new as only three years old. How comes? Well, the word vintage in Champagne simply means that all the grapes used to make the wine were from the harvest of one year only. Whereas non-vintage (NV) Champagne, which most of the annual production is classified under, you can use multiple grape jucies (blends) from multiple years. A vintage year is declared when the Champagne producer(s) decide that it has been a great harvest and the grape juice is likely to exceptionally good thus a small percentage of their production will go to the making of a vintage label for that year."
Vintage Champagne (millésime) will go through a longer production process (36 months minimum compared to NV at 15 months) and makes up usually only 5% of the overall Champagne production of that year - It's rarity both in years produced and production levels means that it is more expensive than most Champagnes on sale.
Vintage Champanges are usually released 3 to 4 times a decade and the year in which the grapes that made it were picked is stated on the label (only vintage Champagnes can state a single year). You can find multi-vintage blends which will mention more than one year, these are not classified as a true vintage.
Vintage Champagne labels are known to improve with age thus hold a longer life period compared to NV. Though when released by the wine-maker they might be ready to open and enjoy, they are also greatly appreciated with further ageing where significant development in aromas and flavours can take place.
Which are the greatest ever Vintage Years in Champagne?
2012
2008
2002
1998
1996
1995
1990
1988
1985
1982
1979
1976
1973
1969
1966
1964
1961
1959
1955
1953
1949
1947
1945
