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Many belieeve that Amarone is best drunk by its 10th birthday when the wine is still all about roundness, softness and harmony. A simpler version usually with less wood ageing showcases its friendlier side.Three styles dominate current production. The upshot of this activity accounts for the surprisingly wide spectrum of aromas and flavours typical of today’s Amarone.

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As such, Muffa nobile or noble rot can confer expansive and developed aromas of macerated fruits plus the honeyed notes typical of botrytised wines and, in addition, boosts glycerol levels, enhancing the wine’s velvety texture.

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Indeed some continued to accept the presence of a small proportion of the fungus in its ‘larval’ or nascent form, ie: before full sporulation. Others dug their heels in and remained faithful to the time-honoured ways. Many producers went back to the drawing board: the rediscovery of long-forgotten grape varieties more ‘complete’ fermentations heading towards a drier style experiments with different-sized barrels and wood types, etc – all aimed at reshaping the wine’s identity. High alcohol and sugar levels make the wine a tricky match with food and, given the massive upsurge in production, Amarone had to find a place at table to keep pace with the consumer’s changing lifestyle. Amarone’s traditional role as vino da meditazione (a post-prandial to be sipped while discussing the finer things in life) was called into question. The vintage for Mendoza Malbec was particularly brilliant and has even been described as a classic year.īoth Armagnac and whisky are available from this year, and are likely to be drinking well.Over the first decade of the new millennium, the number of bottles produced annually tripled and now averages above 18 million. The South African harvest was hugely reduced but some good wines were made and both Argentina and Chile enjoyed excellent harvests. The New Zealand vintage appeared to be slightly more beset with problems from extreme rain and heat but some good wines, particularly Chardonnays were made. It is perhaps too early to tell just how good the Australian vintage is and it is also likely to vary from region to region, but so far it appears promising. The biggest issue most likely to be encountered is possibly a slight lack of acidity in some wines due to the intense heat of the summer.Īfter suffering devasting wildfires in 2017, California was blessed with a calm growing season and the 2018 wines look set to be of very high quality, although a few more years are probably needed to determine the vintage character. S pain also enjoyed a large, generally healthy harvest and some good Riojas were made.īoth Germany and Austria enjoyed very fine vintages with wines exhibiting good fruit character in both whites and reds. Port also looks set to have a very good year but, again, further time is required. Most Italian wines require a touch more time to truly see how the vintage panned out. It is perhaps worth trying other varieties like Pinot Gris which really shone this vintage.īoth the Italian regions, Piedmont and Tuscany, enjoyed good years although neither were completely without their challenges. Although some very good wines were produced, overripe grapes and a lack of acidity was a problem.Īlsace also enjoyed a great vintage but the heat made it difficult, in some cases, for Riesling. Out of all the French wine regions, the Rhône valley probably suffered the worst from the heat. Neighboring Beaujolais also enjoyed a phenomenal vintage.Ĭhampagne enjoyed a splendid vintage, making some particularly rich and ripe wines although, due to the intense summer heat, they were perhaps less zingy than usual.

Although a few did suffer from a slightly overcooked character and a lack of acidity. Although Sauternes did produce some admirable wines and ones that are likely to stand the test of time, ultimately, they lacked the nuance and depth of truly great years.īurgundy produced some very good wines, both reds and whites. However, as so often the case, a great year for dry Bordeaux reds and whites means a poor year for the stickies. The 2018 wine vintage was, overall, very successful.Īlthough many regions, like Piedmont and Barolo in particular, have not yet released their 2018 vintage, the signs are all there that it’s going to be a great year for much of Europe.įor Europe, the 2018 summer was a particular sizzler, in some cases rivaling that of 2003, and had a profound effect on many of the wine regions.īordeaux, in particular, has all the makings of a legendary year particularly for the wines of the left bank but time will ultimately tell. 2018 Château Laroque | ©Wine, Words & Videotape

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