Before you spend a great deal of money on a bottle of wine you should check the vintage of the wine.
Here are some websites with vintage information.
1. Decanter.com’s Vintage Guide
Vintage records start in different years for different regions. 1960 onwards: Médoc and Graves, Red Burgundy, Red Rhône, Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, Sauternes and Barsac, Vintage Port, White Burgundy. 1970 onwards: Germany, Italy Piedmont, Italy Tuscany, Spain Rioja, Vintage Champagne. 1971 onwards: Red Australia. 1976 onwards: California Cabernet Sauvignon, California Merlot. 1985 onwards: Oregon Pinot Noir, Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State Merlot. 1990 onwards: Red South Africa.
2. eRobertparker.com Vintage Search
4. Wineloverspage World Wine Vintage tables
On their website they note:
The following tables cater to the reader interested in “drinking” wines, not investment-grade “fine wines”. For the benefit of the latter group I have included links to specialist wine purveyers or information sites at the bottom of the relevant table. In the final analysis it is up to the individual to make his or her own choice depending on personal perceptions. Vintages ranked as average (or below) indicate that the consumer should be “trying before buying” not least because the ranking can still encompass excellent individual wines benefiting from special climatic or winemaking circumstances.
So make your own judgments in assessing the vintage quality.
