What are the best champagne vintages?
The essentials
The finest Champagne vintages are 1928, 1929, 1945, 1955, 1990 and 1996, described as ‘millennium vintages’. Among the exceptional recent vintages, 2002, 2004 and 2008 (rated 9.5/10) stand out. The 1945 vintage remains unique, with a perfect score of 10/10.
- What is the best vintage of champagne of all time?
- Several vintages stand out as exceptional: 1928, 1929, 1945, 1955, 1990 and 1996 are described as ‘millennium vintages’ in Champagne. Of these, the 1945 vintage is the only one to have been awarded a perfect score of 10/10.
- What is the best vintage of champagne since 2000?
- Since 2000, the highest-rated vintage Champagnes have been the 2019 and 2008 vintages, both scoring 9.5/10, followed by the 2012 at 9/10. The years 2002 and 2004 also feature on the historic list of exceptional vintages from the Champagne appellation.
A champagne’s vintage is more than just a date: between the perfect 1945 (10/10) and the mediocre years, choosing the right vintage can make all the difference.
9 min read
Les Meilleurs MillésimesTop vintages in Champagne- Vintages 2010 to 2019 -- Vintages 2000 to 2009- 1990 to 1999 vintages -- Vintages 1980 to 1989 -- Vintages 1970 to 1979 -- Vintages 1960 to 1969 -- Vintages 1960 to 1969 -- Vintages 1950 to 1959 -- Vintages 1940 to 1949 -- Vintages 1930 to 1939 -Average trends over the last 6 vintages for Champagne appellationsChampagne appellationChampagne hillsidesCôteaux de CoiffyHaute-MarneRosé des Riceys
The data in the table represent average vintage trends for all the wines in the appellation.
Discover the greatest vintages of Champagne here.
Please note: the data in the table represent average trends for all the wines in each denomination. Vintages can vary greatly from one wine to another, depending on many factors: color, location, terroir, winemaker's skills...
Please note: the data in the table represent average trends for all wines in each denomination. The vintages of a given denomination can be very different from one wine to another, depending on many factors: color, location, terroir of the estate, skill of the winemaker...
Les Meilleurs Millésimes
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The best vintages for the Champagne appellation were: 1929, 1934, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008.
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The years 1934, 1949, 1959, 1964, 1975, 2002, 2004 provided exceptional vintages.
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The years 1937 and 1947 are considered particularly exceptional, and are referred to as vintages of the century.
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The years 1928, 1929, 1945, 1955, 1990, 1996 are considered the best of all. These years are known as millennium vintages.
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Top vintages in Champagne
Vintages 2010 to 2019
2019
9.5/10
19/20
2018
8/10
16/20
2017
5/10
12/20
2016
7/10
14/20
2015
8.5/10
17/20
2014
7/10
14/20
2013
7/10
14/20
2012
9/10
18/20
2011
7.5/10
15/20
2010
6/10
12/20
Vintages 2000 to 2009
2009
8/10
16/20
2008
9.5/10
19/20
2007
7.5/10
15/20
2006
6/10
12/20
2005
7/10
14/20
1990 to 1999 vintages
1999
6.5/10
13/20
1998
7.5/10
15/20
1997
6.5/10
13/20
1996
8.5/10
17/20
1995
7/10
14/20
1999
6.5/10
13/20
1998
7.5/10
15/20
1997
6.5/10
13/20
1996
8.5/10
17/20
1995
7/10
14/20
Vintages 1980 to 1989
1989
8/10
18/20
1988
9.5/10
19/20
1987
3.5/10
7/20
1986
5/10
10/20
1985
7/10
16/20
1984
8/10
18/20
1983
9.5/10
19/20
1982
3.5/10
7/20
1981
5/10
10/20
1980
7/10
16/20
Vintages 1970 to 1979
1979
9.5/10
19/20
1978
9.5/10
19/20
1977
5/10
10/20
1976
8/10
16/20
1975
8/10
18/20
1974
4.5/10
9/20
1973
7.5/10
15/20
1972
5/10
10/20
1971
8/10
16/20
1970
8.5/10
17/20
Vintages 1960 to 1969
1969
8/10
16/20
1968
3.5/10
7/20
1967
4/10
8/20
1966
7/10
14/20
1965
4.5/10
9/20
1964
7.5/10
15/20
1963
4/10
8/20
1962
8.5/10
17/20
1961
6.5/10
13/20
1960
6/10
12/20
Vintages 1950 to 1959
1959
8.5/10
17/20
1958
5/10
10/20
1957
4/10
8/20
1956
3.5/10
7/20
1955
8.5/10
17/20
1954
6.5/10
13/20
1953
8/10
16/20
1952
7/10
14/20
1951
2.5/10
5/20
1950
6/10
12/20
Vintages 1940 to 1949
1949
7/10
14/20
1948
5.5/10
11/20
1947
8.5/10
17/20
1946
5/10
10/20
1945
10/10
20/20
1944
4.5/10
9/20
1943
8.5/10
16/20
1942
6.5/10
13/20
1941
5.5/10
11/20
1940
4/10
8/20
Vintages 1930 to 1939
1949
3/10
6/20
1948
4.5/10
9/20
1947
8.5/10
17/20
1946
3.5/10
7/20
1945
5/10
10/20
1944
7/10
14/20
1943
6.5/10
12/20
1942
4/10
8/20
1941
2.5/10
5/20
1940
3/10
6/20
Average trends over the last 6 vintages
for Champagne appellations
Champagne appellation
2013
3.5/5
Very good vintage
2012
3/5
Great vintage
2011
4.5/5
A great vintage
2010
5/5
Medium vintage
2019
4/5
Great vintage
2008
5/5
Excellent vintage
Champagne hillsides
2013
3/5
Good vintage
2012
3/5
Great vintage
2011
4.3/5
Great vintage
2010
5/5
Medium vintage
2009
4/5
Great vintage
2008
5/5
Excellent vintage
Côteaux de Coiffy
2013
3/5
Good vintage
2012
3/5
Great vintage
2011
4.3/5
Great vintage
2010
5/5
Medium vintage
2009
4/5
Great vintage
2008
5/5
Excellent vintage
Haute-Marne
2013
3/5
Good vintage
2012
3/5
Great vintage
2011
4.3/5
Great vintage
2010
5/5
Medium vintage
2009
4/5
Great vintage
2008
4.5/5
A great vintage
Rosé des Riceys
2013
3/5
Good vintage
2012
3/5
Great vintage
2011
4.3/5
Great vintage
2010
5/5
Medium vintage
2009
4/5
Great vintage
2008
4.3/5
Very good vintage
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