Here’s how the Wine Advocate says the vintages compare:
When I first wrote on the seemingly blockbuster vintage duo of 2019 and 2020, I didn’t have a chance to see many 2020s. There were certainly producers who thought highly of them and were more excited about 2020 than 2019, including Wiemer. With this group of wines, I’m seeing more 2020s, which is making me appreciate 2019 more. So far, the 2019s seem superior, while the 2020s lack that energetic core that I expect to see in the Finger Lakes.
Kelby Russell, Red Newt’s winemaker, as quoted last year in the New York Rosé article that led off my seasonal coverage, predicted that the 2019s would be longer-term wines and slower developing, while the 2020s would be immediately accessible and consumer favorites. I think he got it absolutely right, at least from what I’m tasting now. He said, “What I'm seeing in the cellar is wines that are already explosive aromatically and structurally open, which means they are going to show spectacularly right out of the gate. We saw this with how consumers (and certain critics) responded to the 2016s.”
The 2020s are fat in mouthfeel, seemingly ready to roll and not necessarily showing much of a backbone. I wonder whether most will age well, especially when compared to the 2019s. So far, I greatly prefer the 2019s, granting that the discussion is hardly over and everyone has somewhat different terroirs and decision-making. If you put a gun to my head today, though, I’d say the 2020s are a little overrated in hype, while the 2019s are walking the walk.
I agree. As great as the 2020 is, this 2019 exceeds it in every measure. It’s riper (at 13%), deeper, darker, richer and more complete…but still a Pinot Noir of just perfect elegance (even delicacy), complexity and finesse, and with truly amazing length.
It’s frankly hard to believe that the cold Finger Lakes district could even produce a Pinot Noir like this…or that anybody could at only $35.
