x

News

Wilhelm Weil's report on Germany / Looking back, 2002 will be remembered for its very stormy weather - not only in Germany. Fortunately, the Rheingau was spared from violent storms, downpours and floods. The year will also go down in history as the second warmest since 1860, when weather data was first recorded on a regular basis.

After early and rapid flowering, balanced temperatures and precipitation in July and August in the Rheingau provided ideal growing conditions for the Riesling vines. The summer weather continued into September, with warm days and cool nights, leading to optimal ripening of the harvest.

 


Unfortunately, there was no repeat of the “Golden October” that we experienced in 2001. This would undoubtedly have allowed the 2002 vintage to qualify as the vintage of the century. However, thanks to the quality preservation measures that we practice in our vineyards, as well as selective harvesting, the variable climatic conditions from mid-October did not negatively affect our overall quality.
As such - even without the benefit of favorable October weather - 2002 is a phenomenal vintage. During the regular harvest period, the exceptionally ripe and healthy harvest yielded top-notch Kabinett and Spätlese qualities: superb dry wines, including a “Premier Cru” from the Gräfenberg site. In due time the grapes began to shrivel and we were able to harvest berries with must weights of up to 200° Oechsle, ensuring a supply of succulent, sweet wines.

During a brief frosty intermezzo in the second week of December, we harvested Eiswein - and thus, for the 14th year in a row, Weingut Robert Weil was able to harvest all possible quality categories, from QbA to Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein.
Overall, the high degrees of ripeness and extract, along with the very lively and ripe acidity of the 2002 harvest, resulted in wines rich in fruit and concentrated flavor. The 1976 vintage is the most recent predecessor with average must weights as high as those of 2002. The grape must weights for our dry “Gutswein” (house wine) at the start of the harvest and during the main harvest, for example, varied from 85° to 98° Oechsle.

In 2002, yields averaged 55 hl/ha, a little more than usual.

Close

Bordeaux

BORDEAUX: 2002 A wonderful vintage of pure, rich, elegant reds and soft, rounded whites.

An early start to flowering was followed by a variable summer with a bit of everything, from cold to hot to hot and back again. A long period of dry weather was beginning to be a problem when the rain of early September arrived, replenishing the vines. When the wind turned to the north, the grapes were dried and the harvest could begin on September 16 under a clear blue sky. 2002 is rightly a popular vintage among Burgundy aficionados. What's not to love about the pure fine fruits of the forest and the strawberry aromas in the best red wines and the fresh mineral tones of great whites? Wines to enjoy or keep for another ten years or more.

Read more
Close

Burgundy

2002 VINTAGE in Burgundy

A Great Year 

The trade is unanimous: the harvest was exceptional and 2002 is destined to be a great vintage for Burgundy. A dry summer, a sunny September, splendid grapes with highly concentrated sugars - everything came together to produce structured and complex wines with outstanding aromatic potential.
As early as the beginning of September, the sugar content in the grapes was often at exceptionally high levels and they had attained a degree of maturity indicative of a good balance between sugar and acidity in both the Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir, as well as in the Gamay and Aligoté. 

Well-matured grapes have produced - on the evidence of early tastings - deeply-coloured red wines with a garnet tint, and with really well-structured tannins. Depending on degree of maturity, the wines evoke sustained aromas of red and black fruits. Thanks to yield control and careful harvesting, they present a wide diversity of expression. 

The white wines are intense and heady, richly fragrant in their blend of fruit and mineral components. They are rounded, long in the mouth, balanced and harmonious. 

Both reds and whites of the 2002 vintage fully express their respective terroirs and promise fine ageing potential. 

As Hubert Camus, President of the Interprofession and himself a wine-grower at Gevrey-Chambertin, puts it: "In 2002, Burgundy's growers and négociants have every prospect of obtaining remarkable wines." 

Growing conditions during the year were characterised by low rainfall. Maturation took place in warm and sunny weather punctuated by occasional rainstorms. These weather conditions aided concentration in the grapes and kept them healthy. The harvest period enjoyed an ideal combination of sunshine and cool temperatures.

Read more
Close

Champagne

A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.

Read more
Close

California

The 2002 California vintage will be remembered as a long, mostly mild growing season, followed by warm weather near the end of September that pushed the ripening level upward, concentrated fruit flavors and condensed the harvest. An early April frost and May rains gave way to a mild summer with ideal growing conditions—warm days and cool, even cold, nights. Overall, the grape crop was balanced, showing excellent intense colors and flavor concentrations. While per-acre tonnage was generally lower than average, the overall yield of the entire Napa Valley appellation was average to above average.

Read more
Close

Australia

Australia 2002 was a cold year with plenty of winter and spring rain to support the vines for the year. Summer and fall were completely dry. The summer was the coldest on record. Fall had one of the warmest endings. All of this meant that we had very low yields of grapes and produced high quality wines. The grapes had a very good scent (nose and taste, more floral than usual), good concentration and good acidity. A great year for whites and maybe a few reds. However, it was important to pick the grapes very ripe and keep the nitrogen to a minimum.

Read more
Close

Italia

Italy Vintage Report by Tb: 2002 proved to be the most trying agricultural season since 1992. Spring arrived late and May saw record rainfall; It was a cold and wet start. In Tuscany, a hot June didn't help much, as average temperatures from July to October remained below the normal average and rains were heavier than usual. The crops were even harvested in the rain. In the Piedmont, the entire growing season was cold, wet and plagued by hail. The late-flowering Nebbiolo grapes from Piedmont, however, were saved by an Indian summer, and the Barolos and Barbarescos ultimately performed relatively well. The wines of this vintage should be consumed young.

Read more
Close

Vintage Report

Report from the Bordeaux vintage 2002 of Château Palmer: After a dry and mild winter, bud break occurred at the end of March. The weather in late May was rainy and cold (less than 15°C) in Palmer during flowering, which caused millerandage (abnormal fruit set) and coulure (shot berries). Only Petit Verdot, a late-ripening grape variety, was spared. Veraison (color change marking the start of the fruit ripening phase) began very early and relatively slowly. However, things accelerated thanks to the good weather which set in on August 11. The rain in August had little effect on the grapes due to the accumulated water stress affecting the vines during the first 6 months of the year. The feeding and growth of the vine stopped as the plant's vigor was directed towards the ripening of the grapes, which became very concentrated. September was very sunny with dry winds and cool nights. Spared by a violent hailstorm and heavy rain that hit on September 20 (only 5 mm of precipitation in Palmer), the grapes were picked at full ripeness, with excellent sugar and a greater concentration of phenolic compounds than n any recent vintage.

The vintage took place under radiant skies without a drop of rain. Given the high sugar levels and the ease with which excellent color and tannins could be extracted from the skins, fermentation took place at low temperatures with moderate pumping over and fairly short maceration. The wine is quite powerful and fruity, extremely fresh, and displays a nice balance between acidity, alcohol and tannin.

 

Bordeaux by Tb / The year 2002 gave hope for a good vintage based on the hot period at the start of the year. June dashed hopes as rainy weather hampered fertilization. Merlot had more than its share of rain, so the harvest was small. The thick-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon has done well, and producers from Médoc and Graves have nothing but good things to say about their wines. The level of quality is illustrated by Parker giving more than 90 points to more than 40 wines. Latour and Ausone deserve special mention. The 2002 vintage suffered from low sales in 2001, leading producers to increase their 2002 prices to increase demand for 2001.

Read more
Close

Vintage Report

 

 

 

Read more
Close

Champagne vintage report by Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon and Salon: The 2002 harvest: The spring was hot and dry, without significant frost and with almost perfect flowering. The summer was marked by long sunny periods, interspersed with regular cloudy and rainy periods. The surprisingly perfect weather just before harvest offset the heavy rains in late August and early September. The vines were healthy and dehydrating the grape berries helped them reach new heights of ripeness. The harvest began between September 12 and 28.

 

Vintage Report by Salon: What a year 2002 turned out to be! In Champagne, particularly in Mesnil-sur-Oger, the weather conditions were particularly unstable, oscillating between cool and hot, rain and drought: but no severe frosts, no devastating downpours, and almost no hail. As a result, the vines could not have been healthier. Pollen measurements at flowering indicated a heavy harvest – perhaps too heavy – with clusters gaining weight quickly. Would the quality be up to par? As careful growers thinned the crop, the problem resolved itself naturally as the summer progressed, with beautiful warm days concentrating the fruit and restoring perfect balance. The harvest began in mid-September, on the 16th in Mesnil-sur-Oger, in cool conditions with a bright blue sky. Chardonnay grapes, harvested at good yields, proved rich and powerful, with each grape a reflection of its conditions. Add to this the human element – supreme effort, art, love – and the result is a wine of refinement, precision, balance; shimmering, captivating like a samurai sword. For the image of battle could not be more apt given the boldness and power, the serene tension and assurance present in this 2002 vintage, here for us now to savor. Not just the soul of Salon, but its triumph.

 

 

Read more
Close

 

 

Read more
Close

The best wines of the 2002 vintage

Name Tb Producer Location
1 Dom Pérignon 100 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
2 Krug Vintage 100 Krug Champagne, France
3 Dom Pérignon P2 100 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
4 Harlan Estate 100 Harlan Estate Napa Valley, United States
5 Beckstoffer To Kalon - 'The G.T.O' 100 Carter Cellars Napa Valley, United States
6 Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 100 Abreu Vineyards Napa Valley, United States
7 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon 100 Colgin Cellars Napa Valley, United States
8 The Napa Valley Reserve 100 The Napa Valley Reserve Napa Valley, United States
9 Cristal 99 Louis Roederer Champagne, France
10 Krug Clos du Mesnil 99 Krug Champagne, France
11 Cristal Rosé 99 Louis Roederer Champagne, France
12 Tychson Hill 99 Colgin Cellars Napa Valley, United States
13 Cristal Vinothèque 99 Louis Roederer Champagne, France
14 Cristal Rosé Vinothèque 99 Louis Roederer Champagne, France
15 Screaming Eagle 99 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley, United States
16 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 99 Billecart-Salmon Champagne, France
17 Richebourg 99 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
18 Insignia 99 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley, United States
19 Richebourg 99 Méo-Camuzet Burgundy, France
20 Chambertin 99 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
21 Chevalier-Montrachet 99 Domaine D'Auvenay Burgundy, France
22 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 99 Jacques Selosse Champagne, France
23 Salon 98 Salon Champagne, France
24 Romanée Conti 98 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
25 IX Estate 98 Colgin Cellars Napa Valley, United States
26 St. Eden 98 Bond Estate Napa Valley, United States
27 Corton-Charlemagne 98 Coche Dury Burgundy, France
28 Chambertin 98 Dugat-Py Burgundy, France
29 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 98 Louis Jadot Burgundy, France
30 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 98 Shafer Vineyards Napa Valley, United States
31 Belle Epoque Blanc de blancs 98 Perrier-Jouët Champagne, France
32 La Muse 98 Verite Wines California, United States
33 Dominus 98 Dominus Estate Napa Valley, United States
34 Richebourg 98 Domaine Jean Grivot Burgundy, France
35 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 98 Château Montelena Napa Valley, United States
36 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques 98 Domaine Armand Rousseau Burgundy, France
37 IX Estate Syrah 98 Colgin Cellars Napa Valley, United States
38 Montrachet 98 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy, France
39 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva 98 Quintarelli Giuseppe Valpolicella, Italy
40 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 98 Spottswoode Winery Napa Valley, United States
41 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 98 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Burgundy, France
42 Meursault Les Rougeots 98 Coche Dury Burgundy, France
43 Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red 98 Blankiet Estate Napa Valley, United States
44 Rare 97 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, France
45 Comtes de Champagne 97 Taittinger Champagne, France
46 Dom Pérignon Rosé 97 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
47 R.D. Bollinger 97 Bollinger Champagne, France
48 La Tâche 97 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
49 Montrachet 97 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
50 Millésimé 97 Jacques Selosse Champagne, France
51 Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 97 Krug Champagne, France
52 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Bryant Family Vineyard Napa Valley, United States
53 Hill of Grace 97 Henschke Eden Valley, Australia
54 Montrachet 97 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Burgundy, France
55 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 97 Domaine Georges Roumier Burgundy, France
56 Jacquesson Millesimes 97 Jacquesson Champagne, France
57 Amour de Deutz Brut 97 Deutz Champagne, France
58 Clos De Vougeot 97 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
59 Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons Le Mesnil 97 Pierre Peters Champagne, France
60 Batard-Montrachet 97 Domaine Ramonet Burgundy, France
61 Clos Vougeot 97 Rene Engel Burgundy, France
62 Fleur du Passion 97 Diebolt-Vallois Champagne, France
63 Musigny 97 Louis Jadot Burgundy, France
64 Musigny 97 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
65 Le Montrachet 97 Olivier Leflaive Burgundy, France
66 La Romanée 97 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Burgundy, France
67 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 97 Domaine de Chevalier Pessac Leognan, France
68 Melbury 97 Bond Estate Napa Valley, United States
69 Charmes Chambertin 97 Claude Dugat Burgundy, France
70 Château La Conseillante 97 Château La Conseillante Bordeaux, France
71 La Romanée 97 Bouchard Père & Fils Burgundy, France
72 Beckstoffer To Kalon 'The O.G.' 97 Carter Cellars Napa Valley, United States
73 Volcanic Hill 97 Diamond Creek Vineyards Napa Valley, United States
74 Clos des Vougeot 97 Domaine Frederic Esmonin Burgundy, France
75 Corton-Charlemagne 97 Louis Jadot Burgundy, France
76 Corton-Charlemagne 97 Domaine Leroy Burgundy, France
77 Chambertin 97 Domaine Denis Mortet Burgundy, France
78 Musigny 97 Domaine Georges Roumier Burgundy, France
79 Montrachet 97 Louis Jadot Burgundy, France
80 Red label vintage 97 Lanson Champagne, France
81 Amour de Deutz 97 Deutz Champagne, France
82 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque 97 Moët & Chandon Champagne, France
83 Number 11 97 Kracher Neusiedlersee, Austria
84 Sir Winston Churchill 96 Pol Roger Champagne, France
85 Dom Ruinart Rosé 96 Ruinart Champagne, France
86 Vieilles Vignes Françaises 96 Bollinger Champagne, France
87 La Grande Année rosé 96 Bollinger Champagne, France
88 Chambertin 96 Domaine Armand Rousseau Burgundy, France
89 Grange Hermitage 96 Penfolds South Australia, Australia
90 Bâtard-Montrachet 96 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy, France
91 Comtes de Champagne Rosé 96 Taittinger Champagne, France
92 Chevalier-Montrachet 96 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy, France
93 Meursault 96 Coche Dury Burgundy, France
94 Brut Millésimé 96 Palmer & Co Champagne, France
95 Grands Echézeaux 96 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy, France
96 Clos de Tart 96 Mommessin Burgundy, France
97 Just for the love of it 96 Sine Qua Non California, United States
98 Meursault-Perrières 96 Coche Dury Burgundy, France
99 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 96 Domaine Dujac Burgundy, France
100 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling TBA 96 Weingut Robert Weil Rheingau, Germany
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register