- The Chinese zodiac has historically impacted fine wine demand in Asia.
- 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon, with previous vintages under the same sign being 2012, 2000, 1988 and 1976.
- We examine the best wines from these ‘Dragon’ years and other associated labels.
As the Lunar New Year draws near, that of the Wood Dragon, the fine wine market is feeling the influence of the Chinese zodiac. Historically, the zodiac has had an impact on buying, particularly in Asia, with increased demand for wines from previous vintages carrying the same zodiac sign or those symbolically linked to it. Which will be the trending ‘Dragon’ wines this year?
Past ‘Dragon’ vintages
The last four ‘Dragon’ vintages were 2012, 2000, 1988 and 1976.
2012
In terms of growing season, the most recent 2012 ‘Dragon’ year was challenging in many fine wine producing regions, including Bordeaux and Burgundy, which led to mixed quality. However, it is widely considered as one of the greatest Champagne vintages this century, with Tuscany and the Rhône also excelling in some areas. Famous 100-point (Wine Advocate) wines include M. Chapoutier Ermitage l’Ermite from the Rhône (rated by Jeb Dunnuck), L’Eglise-Clinet from Bordeaux (William Kelley), Pingus (Luis Gutiérrez) from Spain and Screaming Eagle (Robert Parker) from California.
2000
The 2000 vintage was brilliant in Bordeaux with many of the wines now reaching maturity. This classic vintage saw Parker award Pavie, La Mission Haut-Brion and Pétrus 100-point scores, with Lafleur receiving the same perfect score from Neal Martin, and Cheval Blanc from Antonio Galloni. The 2000 was also another legendary year for Champagne, with highly rated wines including Krug Clos du Mesnil, Louis Roederer Cristal and Dom Pérignon P2. In Burgundy, the vintage was largely seen as one for early consumption due to low acidity, but many of the wines are now drinking perfectly. The appellations that shone were Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis.
1988
A great year for the sweet wines of Bordeaux, 1988 Sauternes and Barsac have stood the test of time. Initially considered a Right Bank vintage, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (The Wine Independent) recently wrote that wines ‘from Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, and Pessac-Léognan […] should be drunk soon’. 1988 is another vintage to drink soon in Burgundy that produced classic, long-lived wines with good depth of fruit. The year was much more abundant in Chardonnay than in Pinot Noir, and hence better for reds than for whites.
1976
Going back close to 50 years, the 1976 vintage was a mixed bag for much of the wine world. In France, Champagne and Alsace fared better than Bordeaux and Burgundy, and Germany enjoyed a fantastic year. The most significant event was the Judgement of Paris tasting, which put California on the fine wine map. In terms of 100-point wines, Robert Parker’s 1976 favourites were Penfolds Grange and Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline.
Beychevelle – the most famous ‘Dragon’ wine
When it comes to associations, Château Beychevelle is an apt choice for the ‘Dragon’ year as its Chinese name means ‘dragon boat’. The wine’s label also depicts a ship with the head of a griffin. Its 2012 vintage is ‘one of the stars of St. Julien’, according to Parker, who described it as ‘elegant and powerful, rich and intense, but light on its feet’. He recommended drinking it between 2019 and 2051.
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