Germany - 2005 and 2010 (for the latter, esp. at the Auslese and GKA level)
Bordeaux - 1979 and 1996 (esp. for Cabernet based wines). I might say 1985 but (1) I have not had that many (the few I have had in recent years have been outstanding, in particular the LLC) and (2) it really was well rated when released but I did not pay that much attention as I had bought a lot of 1982s).
Red Burgundy - 2000 and 2016.
Loire Cabernet Franc - Have not had enough of them, but would 2014 quality?
Howard, I wouldn’t think 1985 Bordeaux would qualify as a real surprise. Maybe that such a forward vintage would age so well and become so interesting? I’ve had many excellent examples in the last few years that I felt are on a long plateau of deliciousness.
Real surprises for me to the upside among wines known since release:
1997 and 2004 white Burgs
2013 red Burgs (CdN)
2000 red and white Burgs
1998 and 2008 Loire whites
1995 Champagne
1999 Bordeaux (2007 and 2011 might be in this camp too but they are a little young)
1998 and 2000 Italian reds are drinking quite well now. They were overshadowed by 1997, 2001, and to a somewhat lesser extent 1999, but have proven to be very nice.
Agreed, and I’d add that 2005 and 2010 were well recognized vintages for German Riesling so no surprise there either.
For red burgundy, definitely agree with 2000. I also think 2007 red burgundies consistently outperform my expectations, even if they are generally not built for the long haul. Interested to hear peoples’ thoughts on 2013 but my assumption was that they will require substantial time in bottle to mature.
The occasional lesser 2013 has been relatively forward, but I have not tackled any of the grander ones yet. I think they may start to drink reasonably soon though I suspect that the real successes of the vintage will be for the long haul
I may be a little colored as I have more recently had a killer 04 VCC, Ducru and La Conseillante. I’m not putting one over the other just yet. I went back to the well to buy more of that VCC.
'11 N. Rhone
'13 Red Burgs
'09 White Burgs
'04 Bordeaux
'09 Champagne
For the long run, I think '12, '13, '14 red burgs are going to be really good–they just got unlucky to be stuck between the great vintages of '09/'10/'15/'16. But I think '12, '13, '14 will trounce a lot of less heralded vintages with enough time.