Wine vintage rating 2000
1980 Difficult weather conditions - it was now becoming apparent that the winegrowers were making greater efforts to ensure the quality of the wines despite this. At the same time, 1980 is not so long ago that good wines have completely degraded (a moderate wine from the super year 1959 can be more difficult to drink than a well-preserved 1980s).
The spring of 1980 was similar in Piedmont, but the summer was hot and the autumn was wet. The same applies here: the Barolo from the top winemakers is pleasant to drink. Even more interesting, if available, a healthy Brunello di Montalcino (or high quality Chianti) from Tuscany.
Weather in the year 1980
Good filling levels, good wine quality
Of course, the good condition of a wine from an old vintage depends on excellent storage. Above all, the wine must not have frequently changed cellars. Ideally, the wine will have rested in one and the same wine cellar.
But also the cork that sits in each individual bottle is very important. A perfect cork has few pores and keeps the wine stable. If an inferior cork happens to have been used in a bottle, the porous surface will begin to soak up wine and allow micro-quantities of the liquid to evaporate over the decades. Poor fill levels are the result.
A poor fill level therefore also indicates a high risk that the wine bottle could soon begin to leak.
The fill levels explained:
In the bottle neck (high fill to base neck) about 2 cm is perfect for wines.
Top and upper shoulder, ([very] top shoulder), approx. 3 cm is very good for very old wines.
Medium shoulder (mid shoulder), about 4 cm is only acceptable for rare top wines and in individual cases.
Everything below the red line should not be offered any more.