We’ve posted before about how to pick and choose the right vintage wines for your portfolio this year. But of course, wine is also about enjoyment, not just potential investment income.
So while it’s true that wine is a stable asset that offers great returns, those returns don’t always have to be financial. World-class wine makers put a huge amount of care into creating these wonderful wines. For us, this means you should enjoy them as those makers intended: in a glass, with a meal and with friends.
A quick guide to the five vintage wines to enjoy in 2020
Knowing which vintage wines are at their best in a particular year isn’t always easy. But it is well worth making the effort to research which wines are reaching their peak right now. Do you pick out that ’99 Bordeaux, or the ’98? A single year can make all the difference between enjoying a classic or drinking it way past its best.
With that in mind, here is Ideal Wine Company’s guide to the five vintage wines that we think you should drink this summer. Enjoy!
- Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes, 2001
We love dessert wines here and this vintage is at its best this summer. This 2001 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes from Bordeaux is wonderful: sweet, yet still light and complex. This wine is the perfect accompaniment to a summer pudding or even blue cheese.
- Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, 2008
The better-known Napa Valley is the star of Californian winemaking. But Anderson Valley, with its cooler climate and excellent wineries, is also well worth checking out. If you’ve invested in a bottle of Goldeneye Pinot Noir from 2008, now is the time to enjoy this excellent vintage. Ripe and fruity, this tasty red is now just right.
- Conti Capponi Villa Calcinaia Chianti Classico, 2010
The year 2010 was poor for winemakers in the Chianti region. The weather wasn’t good, and yields were low. Despite this, producers still made some great wines from the harvests that were available. And this Chianti Classico from Conti Capponi Villa Calcinaia is perfect right now. From the heart of Italian wine making country, this is one to enjoy on a warm summer evening. Pair it with some chargrilled lamb.
- La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890, 2001
If you have a bottle of 2001 Rioja in your wine rack, now is the time to enjoy it. It was a fantastic year for Rioja producers, with lower volumes than previous years, but exceptionally high quality. Our pick is the 2001 Gran Reserva 890 from the team at La Rioja Alta, which is intensely fruity yet refined and complex,
- Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
Australia’s Coonawarra region produces some of the best reds in the country. The region is famous for concentrated, fruity red wines. This vintage won’t break the bank, and it’s perfect to drink this summer. It is a classic rich and ripe Australian Cabernet Sauvignon and it has aged beautifully over the years. Make the time to savour this one in 2020.
