Champagne vintages: See Champagne AOC. | Champagne region. 

1988 Generally firmer wines than 1989, with less ripe acidity (Tom Stevenson, (March 1996, p.12).  

1989 ‘Probably superior to 1988, but both years suffer inconsistency. Neither in the same league as 1985, let alone 1990. The best [in 1989] are very ripe and concentrated,’ (Tom Stevenson: March 1996, p.12). 

1990 ‘The ripest since 1959 and the best quality since at least 1964. Lusciousness, finesse, great longevity

2002: The 2002 Champagne vintage ‘may turn out to be one of the really great vintages of the past 30 years…splendid maturity at 10.7º average natural alcohol (a full degree above normal levels), but with good acidity and a perfect sanitary state in the vineyards. The Pinot Noirs are quite exceptional, powerful, gras, and of superb texture,’ says Michael Edwards (World of Fine Wine 22). 2002 is ‘the classic vintage of the immediate future,’ says Tom Stevenson (World of Fine Wine 22). 2002 is ‘very definitely a Pinot Noir year’, with Aÿ especially successful says Tom Stevenson (in Wine Report 2008 p.34).

2003: The earliest harvest since records began. Giles Fallowfield reported that growers in the Côte des Barrs village of Bligny began picking on 18 August. The previous record was from 1822, when picking began on 20 August.

2021 Pierre Larmandier from Champagne Larmandier-Bernier reported this: “April 6th 2021, buds have benefited from the sun and summery temperatures of this early spring. Around 6pm, a snow shower suddenly brings us back to winter. Then a very cold (about -2°C) night gives very little chance to the delicate small leaves that were only starting to break. Today, we estimate at least 30% damage but, as the buds have yet to develop, we have to wait for a few weeks to be able to assess our losses. We are not equipped to fight against frost, our insurance is our 4+ years of stock in the cellar.  If such extreme episodes were to happen more often, we will think of protecting ourselves. Indeed we experience white frost almost every year but this year, as in 2003, the frost is a wintery one: a black frost. This is a type of frost caused by the move of a cold (negative temperature) air mass. Temperature can drop a few degrees in a matter of minutes.’

Bibliography

Giles Fallowfield ‘Hot weather leads to early grape-picking in Chamoagne’, Harpers Wine & Spirit Weekly 19 September  2003, p.8

Michael Edwards, ‘Vintage Champagne-A year to remember?, World of Fine Wine 22 2008 p178-86.

Tom Stevenson, Wine Report 2008 ed.Tom Stevenson (Dorling Kindersley, 2007), p.34. 

Tom Stevenson, ‘Golden Opportunity’, Wine Magazine (March 1996, p.12