Comet vintages

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The Great Comet of 1811, as drawn by William Henry Smyth

Comet vintages are years during which an astronomical event, involving generally a "

winemakers have attributed successful vintages and ideal weather conditions to the unexplained effects caused by the comets.[1] Some of the most heralded vintages in the last couple of centuries—such as the 1811, 1826, 1839, 1845, 1852, 1858, 1861, 1985, and 1989 vintages—have coincided with a notable appearance of a comet.[2] There is no scientific basis for any effect of comets on viticulture
, but the term nevertheless remains in use.

The term "comet wine" is sometimes used in the wine world to describe a

remuage.[2][4]

Effects of the comets

There is no accepted

twins in a particular area. While many of the phenomena associated with comets tend to be negative, the association of comets and wine has almost always been held as beneficial by viticulturists and oenologists.[5]

1811 vintage

Despite officially banning the importation of bottled French wines, such as Champagne, Tsar Alexander I was said to have sought out the Veuve Clicquot Cuvée de la Comète

The 1811 comet vintage has had the most lasting notoriety. The comet that year was the

Cognac, the vintage was considered one of the greatest in history, with many producers today including images of stars on their labels as an homage to the 1811 vintage. Notable wines from this include the 1811 Château d'Yquem, which received a perfect 100-point wine rating by wine critic Robert Parker at a 1996 tasting over one hundred and eighty years after it was bottled.[2] In Germany, the 1811 vintage was so successful that producers along the Rhine would label their wines as "comet hock".[1]

The 1811 bottling of vintage Champagne from the

Napoleon's invasion of Russia, despite a decree from Tsar Alexander I of Russia banning the importation of French wine in bottles, Louis Bohne, lead sales agent for Veuve Clicquot, was able to smuggle a large quantity of the 1811 Cuvée de la Comète into Königsberg. As word of the wine's quality spread, Bohne found eager customers among the Russian elite,[7] with even the Tsar himself seeking out the wine.[6]

Literary references

There have been several references in literature to the 1811 vintage, which was often described as the "Year of the Comet". It is referenced in the title of

Château Lafite is central to the story line.[9] In The Uncommercial Traveller Charles Dickens
refers to a clergyman as one "acquainted with 'Twenty port and comet vintages".

Other notable comet vintages

During its 1986 return Halley's Comet was visible in late 1985 which has been called a "comet vintage"

The 1858 comet vintage attributed to the

Rheingau.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c The New York Times archives (August 13, 1872). The Comet
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-307-34635-8
  3. ^ Brewer's Dictionary "Comet wine[permanent dead link]" Accessed: December 20th, 2008
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-671-68702-6
  5. ^ The New York Times archives (July 19, 1874). The Spectre of the Skies
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-671-68702-6
  7. ISBN 0-06-073792-1
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0143129318
    .
  9. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence, The New York Times, (June 21, 1991). At the Movies: Wine as Hero
  10. ^ The New York Times archives (August 27, 1874). Influence of the comet on the German vintage
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