exceptional vintage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exceptional vintage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a wine or other product that is of outstanding quality from a particular year or production period. Example: "The 2015 Bordeaux is considered an exceptional vintage, praised for its rich flavors and complexity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In all, exceptional wines from an exceptional vintage.

The New York Times - Food

It's one of the great wines of Bordeaux and of the world, and 1986 was an exceptional vintage.

The New York Times - Food

This summer, Cornish brewer St Austell released a spectacularly good brew called Tamar Creek, which thanks to being fermented over locally sourced, foot-mashed cherries, tastes more like an exceptional vintage port than beer.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It looks like we're going to have an exceptional vintage, and the rest of France will as well," said Count Alexandre de Lur Saluces, head of Château d'Yquem, which makes the most famous of sweet Sauterne wines.

The New York Times

An exceptional vintage year.

Forbes

Choosing between the two is like choosing between exceptional vintage wines.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

There are still exceptional vintage-jeans sales -- like a May 2001 auction on eBay in which Levi's paid $46,532 for the 1880's Nevada jeans that Sights later made 501 replicas of at a retail price of $400 each.

The New York Times - Magazine

In exceptional vintages, a selection of the best grapes is used to make Monfortino.

The New York Times - Food

Lafite had a series of exceptional vintages in the last half of the 1990's, and the Carruades shared in that good fortune.

The New York Times - Food

As for the Select Reserve Red, produced only during exceptional vintages, Mr. Drozd has a clear bead on what he has generated.

The New York Times

One night, he went on the air and coyly revealed, by way of humanizing himself, that he had a terrible weakness for clarets of exceptional vintages.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exceptional vintage" to describe wines or other aged products from a year known for superior quality. For example, "The 1982 Bordeaux is an "exceptional vintage", highly sought after by collectors."

Common error

Avoid using "exceptional vintage" loosely to describe anything old. It specifically refers to products from a year recognized for superior quality, especially in wine. Using it for just any old item can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceptional vintage" functions primarily as a descriptive term. Ludwig shows it modifies a noun, typically referring to wine or other aged products to denote high quality and specific year of origin. It acts as an adjective phrase specifying the quality of the vintage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exceptional vintage" is a descriptive term used to denote high quality and value in products, particularly wines, that come from a specific year known for its superior conditions. Ludwig AI indicates that this term is grammatically correct and most often found in News & Media contexts. While interchangeable with phrases like "superior year" or "top-tier vintage", it's important to use it accurately, applying it only to products where the vintage year genuinely signifies exceptional quality. Remember, it’s not just about age, but the specific conditions that made that year's production stand out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

top-tier vintage

Highlights a vintage that ranks among the highest quality.

superior year

Focuses on the year being of high quality, omitting the explicit reference to "vintage".

outstanding year

Emphasizes the year's remarkable quality, similar to "superior year".

remarkable harvest

Highlights the quality of the yield from a specific harvest, instead of a product.

excellent production year

More explicitly refers to the production aspect and year quality.

prime season

Implies a peak period of quality, broadening the context beyond just wine.

banner year

An idiomatic expression for a particularly successful year.

finest season

Emphasizes the superior quality of the season.

notable production

Focuses on the quality of the production itself, rather than the year.

premier cru

Refers to a specific, high-quality classification, typically in wine.

FAQs

How can I use "exceptional vintage" in a sentence?

You can use "exceptional vintage" to describe a wine or other product that comes from a year known for its high quality. For example: "The 2018 Burgundy is considered an "exceptional vintage" due to the favorable weather conditions that year."

What are some alternatives to "exceptional vintage"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "superior year", "outstanding year", or "top-tier vintage".

Is it correct to use "exceptional vintage" to describe something other than wine?

While primarily used for wine, "exceptional vintage" can be applied to other aged products where the year of production significantly impacts quality, such as spirits or even certain types of cigars.

What makes a vintage "exceptional"?

An "exceptional vintage" typically results from favorable environmental conditions during the growing season, leading to grapes or other raw materials of superior quality. This translates to a final product with enhanced flavors, complexity, and aging potential.