2002

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 pro...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.